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Toews returns when Blackhawks visit Wild

Mar 4, 2008 - 12:54 PM Chicago (31-28-6) at Minnesota (37-24-5) 8:00 pm EST

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) - Jonathan Toews won't let a sore and swollen mouth keep him out of the lineup at the most important time of the season.

Toews returns from injury on Tuesday when the Chicago Blackhawks visit the Minnesota Wild.

The 19-year-old Toews received nearly 50 stitches and lost a tooth when he was high-sticked in the mouth by Vancouver's Matt Pettinger early in the third period of Sunday's 4-1 victory.

Toews left the ice bleeding profusely and did not return but said on Monday that he plans on playing against the Wild with a face guard.

A potential candidate for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, Toews has 18 goals and 25 assists in 47 games this season for the Blackhawks - six points behind the Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Also a contender for the Calder Trophy is Chicago's Patrick Kane, who leads the club with 39 assists and 55 points.

The Wild enter Tuesday's contest after completing a three-game win streak with a 2-1 overtime victory against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.

Martin Skoula scored his third goal of the season with 1:15 left in the extra session as Minnesota improved to 21-6-5 in one-goal games this campaign.