CHICAGO -- Blackhawks forward Brad Richards will miss the final three regular-season games due to an upper-body injury but is expected to return for the playoffs, coach Joel Quenneville said Tuesday.
Quenneville didn't reveal when or how Richards suffered the injury. Richards played 15:21 of ice time in the Blackhawks' last game against the St. Louis Blues on Sunday. He has 12 goals and 25 assists in 76 games this season.
Chicago's Kyle Baun will make his NHL debut in place of Richards against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Baun signed with the Blackhawks on March 26 after completing his junior season at Colgate.
"We've been around him here for a week or so and watching him practice there," Quenneville said of Baun. "He's got a lot of enthusiasm to his game, and we like the way he moves out there. ... One thing he does bring is some quickness and he's one of those hard players that you look forward to seeing. But he's got a lot of enthusiasm. I'm sure he can't wait to get out there tonight."
Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said Tuesday he would be OK if Baun or Mike Paliotta, who recently signed with the Blackhawks after playing at Vermont, played in any of team's final three regular-season games despite their playoff position still being undecided.
The Blackhawks are in third place in the Central Division with 102 points.
"We've done it in the past," Toews said. "It's nothing new. I think it's always fun to see a young guy like that get a chance and be excited to play. It's just a couple of games -- good preparation for whatever might be to come for those young guys. Obviously they've had great careers and deserve a chance to be here."
Blackhawks defenseman Kimmo Timonen will not play against the Wild and is considered day to day after suffering an upper-body injury on Sunday. Forward Daniel Carcillo is also day-to-day with an upper-body injury. He last played on March 25.