The Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane is expected to be in the lineup for Game 1 of Chicago’s opening-round playoff series against the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night. Both Kane and Joel Quenneville, the Blackhawks’ coach, confirmed that the right wing was ready to return after Tuesday’s practice. Kane, who broke his collarbone in February, received medical clearance to play on Monday.
u25a0 The Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Cooke has an injury that has clouded his availability for Game 1 of the first-round playoff series against the St. Louis Blues. Cooke did not practice Tuesday because of what Mike Yeo, the Wild’s coach, described only as “discomfort.