Groin injury sidelined Hossa

Players rarely indicate the nature of their injuries, but Marian Hossa was pretty clear about what kept him out of Sunday’s game against Anaheim. He wanted to nip a groin injury in the bud and apparently did. He was to return to the lineup for Thursday’s home game against Columbus.

“At Minnesota (on Saturday) I was getting tight and more tired,” said Hossa after Thursday’s morning skate. “I thought it was a good idea to take a break and give it time to heal.”

Cam Barker, though, wasn’t ready to return to the lineup. He was to miss his fifth straight game because of what the club only refers to as an upper body injury. Barker said the problem isn’t in his head, negating a concussion. He participated in the morning skate, his third straight day on the ice.

“I’m almost ready. I’ll be back in the next couple games or so,” Barker said.