Jonathan Toews out vs. Devils, doubtful for Flyers Saturday night

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The Blackhawks are 2-0-1 without injured center Jonathan Toews after beating the Panthers 2-1 in a shootout on Tuesday night at the United Center. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)

Center Jonathan Toews will miss his fourth consecutive game with an undisclosed upper-body injury when the Blackhawks play the New Jersey Devils tonight at the United Center.

Coach Joel Quenneville said the team is hoping to get a better evaluation of Toews once he resumes skating — hopefully Friday or Saturday, he said. But already he listed Toews as doubtful for Saturday night’s game against the Flyers in Philadelphia.

But Toews has not had a setback, Quenneville said. “No. I just think we want to make sure he’s ready to go when he hits the ice. [We’re] looking for progression there and it’s status quo. He’s starting to feel better and we’ll get a better idea when he gets on the ice.”

Center Artem Anisimov, who left the Hawks’ 2-1 shootout victory over the Panthers in the third period after he was hit in the heel with a puck, participated in the morning skate Thursday at the United Center and is expected to play against the Devils.

“I feel much better,” Anisimov said. “I had a good day yesterday and tried to skate this morning. It’s no problem”

Anisimov said he felt fortunate to miss less than one period because of the injury.

“When the puck hit me, I thought it was gong to be worse,” he said. “But it’s not. So I’m glad.”

The Hawks (15-6-3) are 2-0-1 without Toews, who suffered the injury in the second period of a 2-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 24. They beat the Ducks 3-2 and lost to the Kings 2-1 in overtime to finish the six-game circus trip, then beat the Panthers 2-1 in a shootout on Tuesday at the United Center.

“I think we’ve been responsible [with Toews out],” Quenneville said. “I thought we played real well [against San Jose and Anaheim]. Defensively, we were good against L.A. We played a reasonable game for the most part against Florida.

I think we have to play that way — a stingy game.We want to make sure there’s production when it’s there. We’ve generated some chances, but I still think if we play a tight game and be patient and let our offense. But we still think there’s enough offense to go around without Jonny or his line generating stuff.”

The Devils (10-7-5) have lost six of their last seven games (1-4-2). They are 3-7-3 on the road this season.

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