Hawks’ Pisani close to returning

Fernando Pisani was back at practice Wednesday for the first time since suffering a concussion Feb. 11 at Dallas.

Pisani, who passed all the NHL-mandated testing for concussions, will be a game-time decision Thursday night against Nashville, according to Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville.

“I feel good, Pisani said. “I skated and haven’t had any problems. I feel 100 percent.”

Pisani’s head snapped back violently into the boards after he was hit by Stars defenseman Mark Fistric.

“To be honest, I didn’t really watch (the replay),” Pisani said. “I felt it, so I didn’t think I needed to see it again. It was one of those hits where I just got caught in a vulnerable position and my head hit the boards, from what I was told. I feel good now and that’s my focus.

“I just got hit and then I was on the ice. That’s what I remember. I got cleared to play and we’ll see how it goes from here.”

The Hawks might want Pisani to skate in a few more practices before he plays.

“He passed everything,” Quenneville said. “That’s why they have certain criteria and level of passing as far as the baseline testing before you can get him on the ice in a full practice.”

Leddy update:

Apparently the Hawks sent rookie defenseman Nick Leddy back to Rockford for the day Tuesday without announcing it.

Joel Quenneville said the plan was to recall Leddy on Wednesday but that the defenseman caught the flu.

“We’ll see (Thursday) whether he’s going to be able to go or not,” Quenneville said.

Keep it rolling:

Another day and another critical Western Conference showdown for the Hawks, who can tie the Predators in the standings with 70 points with a third straight win at Bridgestone Arena.

Joel Quenneville returns to the bench and is looking for the Hawks to play like they did in the final two periods of Monday’s 5-3 win at St. Louis.

“The recipe of being fully engaged like we were the last 40 minutes at St. Louis, that’s where we all have to be at,” Quenneville said. “Now we have four games coming up against four teams in the same air space as we’re in, so it’s a huge test for us.”

The Hawks haven’t won three games in a row since Jan. 7-12.

“It’s not ho-him mode,” defenseman Brian Campbell said of the importance of each game now. “They’re not must-win games, but it’s pretty darn close to it.

“It’s a good challenge and something to play for. It’s too bad we had to put ourselves in this situation.”