Can Crawford's return boost Chicago Blackhawks' chances?
With 19 games remaining, the Chicago Blackhawks are 6 points out of a playoff spot and in 12th place in the Western Conference.
It's a huge mountain to climb, but their odds of somehow reaching the summit may have significantly improved thanks to Corey Crawford passing his return-to-play concussion test Monday.
Crawford, who missed 28 games after getting hurt against San Jose on Dec. 16, practiced with the team Tuesday at MB Ice Arena and hopes to start Wednesday at Anaheim.
"It's been another long wait," said Crawford, who also sat out the final 47 games of 2017-18. "It's always tough watching from the sidelines. … It's just going to be fun to play hockey again."
Coach Jeremy Colliton would not say who will start in net Wednesday, but Anaheim - the lowest-scoring team in the league - would seem to be an ideal opponent for Crawford to face after missing more than two months.
"He'll play on the trip," said Colliton, whose team goes on to face Los Angeles on Saturday and San Jose on Sunday before returning home.
"It's big. It's exciting," defenseman Connor Murphy said. "You're happy for him, first of all. What he's been through is not fun. You just want to see him around and he's such a great guy. Just a teammate that you want to have in your lineup every night."
Crawford missed the first five games of this campaign, then made his season debut against Arizona on Oct. 18. He made 27 saves that night in a 4-1 loss that dropped the Hawks to 3-1-2.
Crawford was spectacular in his next three starts, stopping 79 of 82 shots in wins over Columbus, Anaheim and New York.
Then the bottom fell out, and he went 3-13-2 with an .893 save percentage and 3.67 goals-against average over the next 19 games.
Not all of that was Crawford's fault as the Hawks were trying to get used to Colliton's new man-on-man system. Still, he didn't look as sharp as in years past.
What happens now is anyone's guess, but if Crawford can somehow turn back the clock, the Hawks might be able to right the ship in time and make one last push for the playoffs.
"He does play the puck really well - that is a factor," Colliton said. "Very composed back there.
"The other thing he brings is a calmness. Nothing's going to bother him, and that filters down to the rest of the team. We've been talking about don't get too high or low. Never give up. He's got that."
Said Crawford: "We've been playing so well that I just want to jump in and be a part of that and try and contribute as much as I can. Hopefully I get the good feelings back right away and just roll with it.
"That'd be nice."
Scouting report
Scouting report
Blackhawks vs. Anaheim Ducks, 9 p.m. at the Honda Center
TV: NBCSCH-Plus • Radio: WGN 720-AM
The skinny: Anaheim is 5-19-4 since Dec. 17, although the Ducks did beat Washington 5-2 on Feb. 17 and Minnesota 4-0 on Feb. 19. … Anaheim fired coach Randy Carlyle on Feb. 10 and put general manager Bob Murray in charge on an interim basis. … Ryan Getzlaf (11G, 28A) has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury. It is not clear if he will be able to play. … The Ducks have been held to zero or 1 goal 25 times, and have a league-low 136 goals. Through Monday, the next worst teams were the Kings (146), Stars (157) and Coyotes (161). … The Hawks and Ducks have split the season series.
Next: Los Angeles Kings, 3 p.m. Saturday at Staples Center
- John Dietz