Hartman starts with Toews and Kane, Hinostroza finishes there

Ryan Hartman was the latest player to get a chance to start with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Vinnie Hinostroza ended there.

During Friday’s loss to Washington, Hartman took the place of Nick Schmaltz on the Hawks’ top line and began there Sunday against Montreal. Not known for his skill, Hartman is more regarded for his toughness and energy, but Toews thought those attributes could still lead to opportunities.

“Regardless of who’s on those top two lines, we’re confident a guy like Hartsy can go out there and create offense if he keeps that work ethic up,” Toews said.

During the second, Hinostroza moved to the top line and was on the ice for Kane’s winner.

“I liked him,” Joel Quenneville said. “I thought Vinnie gave us some speed and some energy on that line. We’ve tried just about everybody in that spot. I thought he took advantage of it. Great chance.”

Bickell on Shaw

The recent announcement that Bryan Bickell has multiple sclerosis shook Andrew Shaw, but he’s confident his close friend and former teammate has the right support to get through.

“It’s a tough time that he’s going through obviously but he’s a strong kid,” Shaw said. “He’s going to compete and work through this. He’s got a great family around him. He’s in good hands.”

The Canadiens play Friday at Carolina and Shaw said he plans on having dinner with Bickell then.

Arty party

Artem Anisimov was back.

Anisimov centered a line with Artemi Panarin and Marian Hossa. Anisimov has eight goals and nine assists in 17 games but missed Friday’s game against Washington with an upper-body injury.

Anisimov had no points in 16:24 of ice time.

Don’t forget Danault

Shaw wasn’t the only former Hawk returning to Chicago.

Phillip Danault, who was dealt to Montreal last February for Tomas Fleischmann and Dale Weise, was a Hawks first-round pick in 2011 and has established himself as a key part for the Canadiens. In 15 games before Sunday, Danault had five goals, four assists and a plus-6 rating.

“He’s coming on. You’ve got to like his progress. I think that he’s a hard-working kid that finds his way around the rink. He’s responsible defensively,” Quenneville said. “Now we’re looking at the lines, they’ve got three lines that are very dangerous and balanced throughout their lineup. That line he’s with can produce and Phil’s got that two-way game that… it’s good progress for him.”

Danault has been centering a line with Max Pacioretty and Shaw.

More injury updates

Quenneville said Tyler Motte (lower body) is “progressing” and on the 2-3 week timeline the Hawks set after he was injured. Motte was hurt Nov. 6 against Dallas when he went into the boards while engaged with the Stars’ Radek Faksa.

As for Trevor van Riemsdyk, Quenneville said it was questionable whether the young defenseman would be on the upcoming road trip at all, and that he wouldn’t be on it “for sure” at the start. van Riemsdyk, who skated before the Hawks had their morning skate, has played in two games and suffered a right arm injury Oct. 21 at Columbus when he slammed into a goal post.

Hall of an honor

Hawks team historian Bob Verdi will be honored Monday at the Hockey Hall of Fame with the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award for excellence in journalism. Verdi was a staff writer and columnist for the Chicago Tribune from 1967-1997 and freelanced for the paper from 1997-2009.

He was named the Hawks’ team historian in 2010.

More cheers

Denis Savard was the first honoree of the Hawks’ “One More Shift” initiative. In full uniform, Savard stood with the Hawks on the ice during the national anthem. There was also a video and ice projection honoring Savard.

Savard, who was part of the 1993 Stanley Cup champion Habs, was intrigued by the possibility of a Hawks-Canadiens final.

“In 2013 it was close. Both teams had home ice. I was dreaming of that, to see a finals (between) Montreal and Chicago,” Savard said. “But yeah, it could happen. We know what we’re capable of doing. Montreal took some of our players now. They’ve built a lot more character in their locker room. You could see that along with Shaw and Danault the team has picked up their intensity during the course of their games. I’ve watched them play plenty of times this year already.

“That could happen. It would be a great finals but we’ll see. There’s a lot of hockey to be played here the rest of the year.”

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