Veteran defenseman Brent Sopel, who has played the last few games in pain after taking a series of hard hits and blocking numerous shots, will sit out Tuesday night's game at Edmonton with Jordan Hendry taking his place. Coach Joel Quenneville made the decision after the morning skate.
``It's for maintenance (of Sopel's injuries) and Jordan getting into the lineup,'' Quenneville said.
Sopel, who participated in the morning skate, missed most of last season after undergoing elbow surgery. He had missed only one previous game -- on Oct. 21. Hendry, usually the Hawks' lone healthy scratch, watched the last five games after playing seven in a row. While he's been up with the Hawks for all 53 games, his appearance against the Oilers will be only his 24th of the campaign.
Dave Bolland joined the Hawks in Edmonton and was also in the morning skate. Both he and Quenneville are targeting the next home game -- on Feb. 3 vs. St. Louis -- for his return to the lineup. He played in 13 early-season games before undergoing November back surgery.