Hawks say Crawford could be skating soon
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville updated the status of all four of his goalies Friday.
Corey Crawford is making significant progress from his right leg injury suffered Sunday against Florida and could be skating again soon.
“He’s progressing very well,” Quenneville said. “If he’s not on the ice this weekend, then we’ll see how he is early next week.”
Nikolai Khabibulin is also progressing but nowhere near ready to get back on the ice. Khabibulin has been out since Nov. 17 with a leg injury.
With three games in the next four nights, Quenneville didn’t rule out rookie backup Kent Simpson getting a start.
“He’s definitely under consideration,” Quenneville said.
Rookie Antti Raanta will make his fourth straight start Saturday in Toronto.
“Over the course of the year you get challenged, and we’ve got to find out what he’s capable of,” Quenneville said. “That’s why he’s here and we’re happy to have signed him over the course of the summer when there were a lot of teams after him.”
Who’s counting?Joel Quenneville can tie Pat Quinn on the all-time wins list with his 664th victory at Toronto.#147;I#146;ve been fortunate to work with some good teams along the way,#148; Quenneville said. #147;I don#146;t think too much about it. There are a lot of coaches in our league right now that have coached a lot of games as well. I#146;m just happy to be coaching.#148;Extra work:The Hawks spent a little more time working on the penalty kill Friday.#147;I#146;m not going to get into the details of what we need to change. That stays in the room,#148; Jonathan Toews said. #147;But when it has to be a difference maker, we have to be much better than we have been up until now.#148;The Hawks have scored power-play goals in seven straight games.Tip-ins:Former Hawks forward Jamal Mayers officially announced his retirement on Friday through the NHL Players Association. Mayers played 14 seasons and won a Stanley Cup with the Hawks last year. ... Philadelphia#146;s Brayden Schenn was fined $2,230.77 for his cross-check to the back of Kris Versteeg#146;s head on Wednesday. That was the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement.Blackhawks game dayBlackhawks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre, 6 p.m. SaturdayTV: Channel 9Radio: WGN-AM 720The skinny: The Maple Leafs have lost three in a row and haven’t won in regulation in their last 12 games. Defenseman Dion Phaneuf returned Thursday from a two-game suspension for a hit on Boston’s Kevan Millar. Now center David Clarkson has a hearing Saturday morning for a hit to the head of St. Louis’ Vladimir Sobotka on Thursday. Antti Raanta makes his fourth straight start in goal for the Hawks.Next: Los Angeles Kings at the United Center, 6 p.m. Sunday.— Tim Sassone