Blackhawks place forward Marian Hossa on injured reserve

The Blackhawks suffered a blow this week when they placed forward Marian Hossa on injured reserve with an apparent leg injury.

It’s been a tough week for the Chicago Blackhawks. Three straight losses, including a defeat at the hands of the red-hot Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, dropped the Blackhawks into second place in the Central Division when the Dallas Stars defeated the Washington Capitals.

The Stars and Blackhawks both have 77 points, though Dallas has three games in hand.

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Chicago’s down week continued on Sunday, when the club placed forward Marian Hossa on injured reserve with an apparent left leg injury. Hossa will be out of the lineup for at least seven days after was injured during the Blackhawks’ loss to the Ducks on Saturday, when he was met by a stiff hip check from Anaheim defenseman Hampus Lindholm.

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Hossa has 10 goals and 18 assists in 54 games this season. With 496 career goals, he is four tallies away from becoming the 44th player in NHL history to score 500 career goals.

In Hossa’s place, Chicago has recalled forward Vincent Hinostroza, a native of the Chicago suburbs who’s currently leading the team’s AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, in scoring with 27 points in 41 games.