Blackhawks have two decisions to make if Crawford returns Thursday

After 9½ long months, it's looking more and more like Corey Crawford will make his return to the net when the Blackhawks host Arizona on Thursday.

"He felt good again today," coach Joel Quenneville said after practice Monday. "Between now and then, if everything goes right, hopefully he can go."

Crawford has missed 52 games since being placed on injured reserve Dec. 27 with a concussion. He worked out with goaltending coach Jimmy Waite when training camp began and has been practicing with his teammates for the last two weeks.

"I've been saying all along I'm just happy to see him being himself again," said Hawks captain Jonathan Toews. "He's such a great teammate and a fun guy to be around. He brings that energy every day. So that's No. 1.

"And to see him practice well and just compete and have the chance to get back in there, that's what everyone wants to do. That's what we're here for."

The Hawks have two decisions to make once Crawford returns:

• What to do with Anton Forsberg. If the Hawks don't want to carry three goalies - and Quenneville indicated Monday that they don't - they either have to trade Forsberg or place him on waivers. If he clears, he'll be assigned to Rockford.

• Should they ease Crawford in or give him the standard workload of a true No. 1 goalie? Quenneville didn't have an answer for that yet, saying, "We'll see how he's handling it. (Cam Ward has) done a pretty good job of doing what he has to do as well, so that could be part of the decision."

Big day:

Tuesday marks the 10th anniversary that the Blackhawks hired Joel Quenneville to be their coach. Quenneville is 449-243-95 (a .631 points percentage) and 76-52 in the postseason with the Hawks. His 887 overall wins are second all-time to Scotty Bowman's 1,244.