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Blackhawks Returning To Full Strength For Playoffs

 width=Center Brad Richards is ready to go.

Same for defenseman Kimmo Timonen.

And superstar forward Patrick Kane isn't far behind.

Not only does Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville expect his star right wing to play in Chicago's opening-round playoff series against the Predators, Kane might be ready for Wednesday night's opener in Nashville.

"Absolutely in the series," Quenneville said about Kane's return from a broken collarbone that has kept him out of the Blackhawks' final 21 games of the regular season.

"When? We'll have a better indication after tomorrow's practice."

 width=>>Final NHL Weekly Awards Handed Out

Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn, Winnipeg Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec and Ottawa Senators right wing Mark Stone have been selected as the NHL's top players for the week ending April 12.

Benn earned the First Star after a five-goal, 10-point week helped him capture the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's scoring leader. He registered at least three points in all three games last week, capping it with a three-goal, one-assist effort on Saturday against Nashville.

The 25-year-old British Columbia native picked up an assist with 8.5 seconds remaining on Saturday to finish with 87 points, surpassing New York Islanders center John Tavares for the scoring title.

Pavelec helped backstop Winnipeg to its first playoff berth since relocating from Atlanta, stopping all 83 shots he faced while posting a 2-0-1 record last week to claim the Second Star.

Stone also helped Ottawa to an unlikely playoff berth last week, notching four goals and an assist to pick up the Third Star. He scored a pair of goals on Saturday in a 3-1 playoff-clinching victory over Philadelphia to help the Senators finish a stunning 23-4-4 run to close the season.

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