The Chicago Blackhawks placed center Jonathon Toews on injured reserve this morning and have recalled forward Brandon Pirri from Rockford of the American Hockey League.

Toews left Saturday’s game against the Nashville Predators in the second period due to an upper-body injury.

Toews is second in the League with 27 goals and second on the Hawks with 50 points. He was picked for his third All-Star Game earlier this month.

“You certainly miss his leadership and how important he is to our team,” coach Joel Quenneville said Monday. “It changes the complexion of what our options are, but it’s part of it. You get tested along the way. Everybody goes through it, top guys out, key guys. It’s certainly going to test us.”

“Guys are going to have to step up and try to fill the void,” added teammate Patrick Kane. “We have to make sure we’re focused and worry about the task at hand. He plays in every situation, key player, a guy you definitely miss if he’s out of the lineup. You can’t replace a player like (Patrick) Sharp or Toews, but there are some guys who can step up, and they have. These are big opportunities for myself and a lot of guys here.”

Taking Toews’ place in the middle of the top line — at least to start tonight’s game against Nashville — will be Dave Bolland.

“I don’t want him to change how he plays,” Quenneville said Monday. “He doesn’t have to be Johnny or an offensive type of guy. Play to your strength.”

Scott Hartnell’s best week ever just got even better.

First, the Flyers’ forward had a five-goal weekend, including a natural hat trick Sunday against the Boston Bruins. And both games came with his father, Bill, in attendance as part of a father-and-son trip hosted by the team.

On Monday he was named the NHL’s Second Star of the Week.
And Tuesday, he received an invitation to the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game, the first All-Star Game invite of his NHL career.

Scott Hartnell

Left Wing – PHI

GOALS: 25 | ASST: 19 | PTS: 44
SOG: 126 | +/-: 18

The NHL announced Hartnell, who leads the Flyers with 25 goals and is first in the League with 13 power-play goals, was selected to replace injured Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews. The Hawks placed Toews on injured reserve Tuesday due to an upper-body injury.
“It definitely was a surprise to get the phone call late (Monday) night and be selected,” Hartnell told NHL.com from Florida, where the Flyers will play the Panthers on Tuesday night. “I just had a smile on my face. It’s our father’s trip here, so he was sitting here with me. A real special night.”

Playing on the Flyers’ top line with All-Star Claude Giroux and future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr, Hartnell is having a career season. His 25 goals are just five shy of his previous best of 30 set in the 2008-09 season.
“He’s having one of the best seasons of his career and I think he’s one of the best power forwards in the League,” Giroux said.

Hartnell said he had a trip to Las Vegas planned for this weekend, but said postponing it wouldn’t be a problem.

“I had something lined up to get away for a few days, get away from hockey,” he said, “but in the back of my mind I had my fingers crossed, maybe I’d get a call. There’s a lot of good players in the NHL these days, and if it wasn’t me it could have been two or three other guys. I feel pretty fortunate and pretty lucky. Going there, I was thinking about the skills competition. Hopefully I don’t get too nervous out there. I can’t wait. I’m super excited.”

Hartnell said he’d even take part in the Bridgestone Fastest Skater competition at the 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Skills Competition, a joke considering Hartnell now sells shirts for charity based on the hashtag #HartnellDown, which was started by a Flyers fan as a knock on Hartnell’s lack of skating ability. Hartnell loved the joke and created the website Hartnelldown.com, which features a large Hartnell Down-O-Meter, which keeps track of how many times he falls to the ice.

“I haven’t really thought about it too much,” he said of which event he’d participate in. “Just whatever I do, I hope I score a goal or hit the target or skate as fast as I can. Just going to enjoy the moment and be with the best players in the NHL.”

Hartnell will join Giroux, defenseman Kimmo Timonen and rookie teammates Matt Read and Sean Couturier in Ottawa for All-Star Weekend. He said being able to enjoy the game with Timonen, his closest friend on the team, and Giroux, his linemate, makes the event that much more enjoyable.

“I gave (Giroux) a big hug last night,” Hartnell said. “He’s a big part of me being selected, me having a great year so far. We have a lot of chemistry, a lot of good times on and off the ice. I’m pretty fortunate (to play with him). And to see Kimmo go, 36 years old, his fourth or fifth All-Star Game, to see him get recognized for his hard work, all the shots he blocks, all his passes.”

Hartnell also said his dad will be sticking around a little bit longer now to make the trip to Ottawa. Hartnell said his mom will join them in Ottawa, as will a brother who lives in the city and works for the Canadian government, as well as another brother, who will fly in from Halifax, N.S.

“He (his father) is extending his trip a few more days to come out to Ottawa,” Hartnell said. “Hopefully he can keep this wave of luck going tonight in Florida.”

Toews was injured during the second period of the Blackhawks’ game Saturday against the Nashville Predators. On Monday, Chicago coach Joel Quenneville announced Toews would miss Tuesday’s game against Nashville and said it was “not likely” he’d be able to take part in any of the All-Star Weekend events.

“We have some time off. Have some extra days there,” Quenneville said. “Hopefully he gets some rest. We’ll get a better assessment after (the All-Star break).”

Hartnell is the fourth player added to the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game roster due to injury. On Monday, Edmonton forward Jordan Eberle and Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang were added as replacements for injured Minnesota forward Mikko Koivu and Winnipeg defenseman Dustin Byfuglien. Also, Minnesota forward Nick Johnson was added to the rookie roster in place of injured Edmonton forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

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