December 28, 2013|By Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune reporter
ST. LOUIS — There are times during games when Brandon Saad looks up and realizes he's not where he's supposed to be.
"Sometimes I find myself on the wrong side of the ice," the Blackhawks winger said. "Being used to going down the right side is going to come with time."
During most of his hockey career, the 21-year-old Saad has been a left winger, but recently he has found himself elsewhere. Since Bryan Bickell returned from a left knee injury Dec. 17 and took residence on the left wing with center Andrew Shaw, Saad has shifted to the right on that line.
"We've done a pretty good job for the most part," Saad said. "We do a good job of adjusting if we get switched up — Bickell just takes the other side. A couple of times you find yourself in a game where you're not used to playing that position and you're kind of out of position. Besides that, it has been pretty good."
Shifting positions is nothing new to Saad, who saw time at center in a failed training camp experiment. Despite the movement, Saad said it had not affected his play. His 13th goal late in the second period put the Hawks ahead 4-3 in their 6-5 shootout loss to the Blues on Saturday.
"I'm used to playing different sides, at least on the wings," Saad said. "Center was a different test, but for the most part it's not that big of an adjustment."
Coming soon: Antti Raanta started his ninth consecutive game for the Hawks while No. 1 goaltender Corey Crawford continues to recover from what a source said is a groin injury. Crawford made the trip to St. Louis and skated Saturday morning but did not dress for the game against the Blues.
"I don't foresee him (against) L.A. either," coach Joel Quenneville said of Monday night's game with the Kings at the United Center. "We expect him, hopefully, to be ready on that trip to the Islanders and New Jersey (on Thursday and Friday). That's what we're shooting for."
Blue line shuffle: Sheldon Brookbank returned to the lineup against the Blues after being a healthy scratch the three previous games. Brookbank replaced Michal Rozsival, while Michael Kostka was idle for the second consecutive game.
