Like a gambler hoping to end a run of bad luck by asking for a new deck of cards, coach Alpo Suhonen of the injury-hexed Blackhawks went back to shuffling his lines in Wednesday night’s game with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
Josef Marha, who was recalled Monday after coming off the Norfolk farm team’s injury list, was subbing for injured Chris Herperger and centering for Tony Amonte and Eric Daze on the first line.
Dean McAmmond moved from the third to the second line and was reunited with his linemates from earlier in the season, right wing Steve Sullivan and center Michael Nylander.
Center Steve Dubinsky went from the fourth line to the third along with winger Jean-Yves Leroux, forming a threesome with holdover Kyle Calder.
Left wing Bob Probert was dropped from the second line to the fourth to skate with center Blair Atchynum and right wing Ryan VandenBussche.
After participating in the morning skate, Herperger was scratched because of the bruised ribs he sustained when he was checked into the boards late in the first period of Tuesday’s 3-3 tie in Los Angeles.
X-rays taken Tuesday night were negative and Herperger is hoping to be back in the lineup Saturday night in San Jose.
Before the morning skate Herperger wanted to return against Anaheim. But during the light workout he still was having trouble breathing.
The latest injury is the second in 15 days for Herperger, who had replaced another injured center, Alex Zhamnov, the Hawks’ top center and fourth biggest point-producer.
On Jan. 21 Herperger sustained a concussion when he collided with Probert during a game-morning skating drill and missed three games.
That night Zhamnov suffered a fractured larynx when he was struck by a deflected shot. He has been on the injured list since.
The new combinations failed to click for any goals in the first period of Wednesday’s game and Anaheim took a 1-0 lead on Paul Kariya’s power-play goal.
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Due to the late start of Wednesday’s game, a result was not available for this edition.
