Hawks' Crawford returns to ice; hopes to play Thursday

When asked what it's like to miss multiple games due to injury, Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford didn't sugar-coat it.

“I don't know if there's anything worse in sports than when you're injured and you're watching the game in the room or on TV,” Crawford said. “It's pretty frustrating. I just want to get out there.”

Crawford has missed the last five games with an upper-body injury as Antti Raanta and Lemont product Scott Darling have manned the nets. For the first time since the injury, Crawford was on the ice with his teammates during Tuesday's morning skate before the Hawks took on Anaheim at the United Center. He faced some shots toward the end of the skate, and admitted his timing was “a little bit off.”

Crawford, who was off to a solid start with a .926 save percentage in four games, said he hopes to make the trip to Ottawa and play in Thursday's game against the Senators.

“I just want to get out there and play,” Crawford said, “but you have to be smart, too, and make sure I'm 100 percent before I go.”