Seabrook questionable, Toews ruled out against Dallas
Brent Seabrook, who missed the Blackhawks' 1-0 overtime loss to the Rangers on Friday with an upper-body injury, practiced with the team Saturday at Johnny's IceHouse West.
Seabrook, who is questionable for Sunday's game against Dallas at the United Center, missed just his 12th game since the start of the 2006-07 season.
"It's tough not to be out there with your teammates and battling with them," Seabrook said.
"They did a great job last night. Played a great game. Had a chance for two points in overtime there, but got one, which was huge for our group."
Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa and Richard Panik all missed practice. Hossa and Panik are fine, but Toews will not play Sunday, the ninth straight game he'll missed with what is reported to be a back injury. Coach Joel Quenneville had been confident Toews could return when the Hawks travel to New York to play the Rangers and Islanders this week, but now he's not as sure.
When Toews practiced at Johnny's on Dec. 2, he said he'd be playing if it was mid-April. Does Quenneville still believe that is the case?
"Knowing Jonny, I think he'd probably find a way," Quenneville said. "But we've got to do what's right long-term and we've got to do what's right now. We've got to make sure he's 100 percent and ready to go."
Crawford update:
Joel Quenneville said Corey Crawford is "doing all right" but didn't give a timetable for the goalie's return. Crawford was expected to miss 2-3 weeks after having an appendectomy on Dec. 3, meaning he should return between Dec. 17-24.
"I still think that being away and getting him back on the ice, it'll be some time to get him back to Square One," Quenneville said. "But he's excited about getting back in the equipment here soon."
Sad day:
Bill Dineen, the father of Blackhawks assistant coach Kevin Dineen, passed away Saturday in his home in Lake George, New York at the age of 84. Bill had a 20-year playing career in the OHA, NHL, AHL and WHL. The Blackhawks were his last NHL team. He played 41 games for the Hawks during the 1957-58 season.
He also won two Stanley Cups as a member of the 1954 and 1955 Detroit Red Wings.
After playing for the Hawks, Dineen played 13 seasons in the AHL and WHL.
Bill went on to coach the Houston Aeros to a pair of WHA championships, with Gordie Howe on both of those teams. He also coached the Philadelphia Flyers, with son Kevin as a player, from 1991-93.
"It is a sad day," Joel Quenneville said. "Bill Dineen was a tremendous man.
"Everybody that had the privilege to meet Bill and be around him loved the guy. He was probably one of the most liked persons you'd ever want to meet.
"Great family man. Kids are just like the dad."