Seabrook back tonight, but Toews remains in limbo
It was a good-news, bad-news day for the Blackhawks on Wednesday.
Or maybe it was good news, no news.
While defenseman Brent Seabrook was back at practice and is expected to play tonight against the Predators in Nashville, captain Jonathan Toews remains out and still without the OK to skate or do much physical activity.
Seabrook and Toews suffered concussion-like symptoms from hits in last week's Vancouver game and have been slow to recover - Toews slower than Seabrook.
Even though Tuesday was a day off for the team, Seabrook skated and felt good enough to return to practice.
"I got hit in the neck and it just sort of rattled my brain a little bit," Seabrook said. "I had not so much headaches, more pressure in the head when I'd get up or move or jump or run.
"We just had to wait for that to subside and once it did I could work out, and that's what I did (Tuesday) with no symptoms. I could take the psych test today so I could practice. As far as I'm concerned, I'm ready to go."
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville didn't see any reason why Seabrook wouldn't play against the Predators unless there was an unexpected setback between Wednesday's practice and today's morning skate.
"If he continues on what happened from yesterday to today to tomorrow, he's cleared to go," Quenneville said following Wednesday's practice.
Toews will miss his third straight game, and it's almost certain he won't play Friday night against Montreal either.
Quenneville is not sounding any alarms yet over the health of the captain, considering the uncertainty of how long it takes for players to recover from concussions in that no two individuals respond alike.
"Johnny didn't skate today and he hasn't skated yet, so he's not going on the trip," Quenneville said. "These type of injuries, you just deal with it and time will tell. You can't prognosticate the extent of it or how far. It's case by case and you deal with it."
Quenneville was considering playing defenseman Jordan Hendry at forward against Nashville rather than recall Jake Dowell from Rockford.
Cristobal Huet starts in goal looking for his third straight win and his third this season over Nashville. Quenneville didn't rule out coming right back with Huet on Friday against the Canadiens, his old team.
"There is a chance and we'll think about it," Quenneville said. "We'll see how the game goes (tonight) and we'll definitely entertain that option.
"With goalies, sometimes you have to look at the whole situation. I think players generally like to get the chance to play against their former team and it's generally been the case where you give them that option, but this one we'll make that determination after (tonight's) game."
With his back-to-back wins over Nashville and Minnesota on Saturday and Monday, Huet has improved his save percentage from .844 to .885.
"I never felt I was out of a groove," Huet said of his earlier struggles. "I just wasn't getting the results."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Blackhawks game day</p> <p class="News">Nashville Predators at the Sommet Center, 7 p.m.</p> <p class="News"><b>TV: </b>Comcast SportsNet</p> <p class="News"><b>Radio:</b> WGN 720-AM</p> <p class="News"><b>What to watch:</b> The Hawks hope they have an edge in that the Predators played in Minnesota on Wednesday night. Nashville coach Barry Trotz split up the top line of Steve Sullivan, David Legwand and Martin Erat for the Wild game. The Preds still are without Jason Arnott (arm) and Jordin Tootoo (hip).</p> <p class="News"><b>Season series:</b> The Hawks lead 2-0, winning 3-1 in Nashville and 2-0 Saturday at the United Center.</p> <p class="News"><b>Next:</b> Montreal Canadiens at the United Center, 7:30 p.m. Friday</p> <div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=332527">Hossa's debut still on schedule<span class="date"> [10/29/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>