Crawford making ‘good progress’
Corey Crawford is making such good progress from his groin injury that he might travel to St. Louis with the team for Saturday’s game.
Crawford won’t play, however.
“Real good progress,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “He felt good (Friday) and had a much more intense workout than he’s had the last times on the ice. Over the next couple, three days we’ll get him more with the guys as we go along here. We like the progress. He feels much better.
“He may come (to St. Louis), but he’s not playing.”
Meanwhile, Nikolai Khabibulin remains out indefinitely and there is no timetable for his return.
“It’s tough to say right now,” Quenneville said. “We haven’t heard much of the progress, where you get an indication (when) you get him on the ice. So that’s where it’s at. I don’t want to say it’s any longer than that, but I can’t give a better answer than that.”
Antti Raanta started Friday against Colorado and Quenneville will reassess the situation after the game.
“He could (play both games), but we’re just looking at today’s game,” Quenneville said. “I thought the guys looked good out there this morning and I think they took advantage of the time away.”
It’s possible Jason LaBarbera could get his first start at St. Louis.
Quenneville is looking at this weekend as a measuring stick for his team.
“It’s a couple of big games and you’re looking at L.A. after (on Monday), so we’re coming out with three tough games, three tough opponents and very meaningful games in the standings, where all things could sort themselves out at the end,” Quenneville said. “It’s a great challenge for us.”
Toews battles on:The pucks might not be going in for Jonathan Toews, but the Hawks captain is producing points with linemates Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp.#147;I think for some situations I could probably shoot the puck more, but I think there are a lot of times where I know those two guys are going to be open and I#146;m trying to get them the puck as much as I can,#148; Toews said. #147;If we score as a line, that#146;s the important thing.#147;I think for myself, I#146;d like to find a way to get back on the score sheet that way and get that confidence back. It#146;s just taking advantage of opportunities. I tell Hoss and Sharpie to shoot the puck when you get the chance and we#146;ll get rebounds and second opportunities if they don#146;t go in. I#146;ve got to start thinking the same way.#148;Quenneville isn#146;t worried about the captain.#147;Johnny goes in stretches where it#146;s going in for him and sometimes, whether he#146;s getting assists or goals or neutralizing the top guys on the other team,#148; Quenneville said. #147;He knows how he#146;s contributing to the team game. I think everybody has stretches where they go in the net a littler easier than other times. I#146;m sure he#146;ll have some stretches where it keeps going in. We hope so.#148; Impressed with Roy:Patrick Roy made his first trip to the United Center as the head coach of the Avs.Roy played for Joel Quenneville when the Hawks coach was an assistant in Denver.#147;He had an unbelievable career,#148; Quenneville said. #147;I didn#146;t know he#146;d be in the coaching business afterward, but of all the players I#146;ve coached, as far as his intelligence level, it was as high as any player I#146;ve coached.#147;He viewed the game at a different level and saw things rather easily and assessed the game real quick. He#146;s very astute of what goes on technically in the course of a game and I think he relates that to his team real well.#148;Blackhawks game dayBlackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center, 7 p.m. SaturdayTV: Channel 9Radio: WGN-AM 720The skinny: The Blues are tough to beat at home as the Hawks discovered early in the season when St. Louis scored in the last minute for a win. The Blues could be without leading goal scorer Alex Steen, who is questionable with an upper body injury. Vladimir Sobotka, Jordan Leopold and Ryan Reaves are out.Next: Los Angeles Kings at the United Center, 7 p.m. Monday.— Tim Sassone