Crawford still has one hurdle before being cleared to return
Last Friday, Corey Crawford indicated he was ready to return whenever the Blackhawks coaching staff wanted to put him back into the net.
After practice at MB Ice Arena on Tuesday, however, Crawford and coach Jeremy Colliton both said there is still a test that must be passed.
Crawford, who is rehabbing from a concussion he sustained against San Jose on Dec. 16, said he hopes to take the test "around the end of this week."
Asked if there was confusion about what he said last week - that he felt 100 percent ready to go - Crawford responded by saying: "No, that's what I meant. I meant I was healthy and 100 percent. It was just getting timing and doing that test. …
"I mean it doesn't take long to do the physical test and whatever we have to do at the computer. So I wasn't really thinking about that stuff."
The test the Blackhawks have used in the past is the Gapski-Goodman Test. According to a Canadian study published in The Physician and Sportsmedicine, it shows that "adding physical exertion tests to concussion protocols can prevent nearly 15 percent of high-risk athletes from returning to sport too soon."
It was developed by head athletic trainer Mike Gapski and strength and conditioning coach Paul Goodman.
According to completeconcussions.com, "the test combines alternating aerobic and anaerobic states, and sport-specific vestibular and visual challenges designed to mimic a dynamic sporting environment. The GGT has been used as a final (return to play) test at the professional sport level for more than 5 years."
Even if Crawford passes, he was hesitant to say if he'd be able to play against Dallas on Sunday. He does plan on accompanying the team on a three-game road trip that begins in Anaheim on Wednesday.
A nice surprise:
After recording a hat trick during the Hawks' 8-7 victory over Ottawa on Monday, Alex DeBrincat now has 32 goals and is on pace for 44. This on the heels of a rookie season in which DeBrincat led the Hawks with 28 scores.
Coach Jeremy Colliton admitted he's surprised at what the 5-foot-7 DeBrincat has been able to achieve in such a short amount of time.
"Pretty hard to see that coming," Colliton said. "He doesn't go much time in between (without scoring). He gets really good looks, but he buries them. He has a special talent and it's fun to have him in the lineup."
Slap shots:
• Brent Seabrook, who missed Monday's game with an abdominal strain, did not travel to Feriot.
• The combined save percentage of the four netminders in the Hawks' 8-7 victory over Ottawa on Monday was .813.
He said it:
"I felt like I had 22,000 just looking right at me."
Slater Koekkoek, who took a penalty with 1:40 remaining in the Hawks' win over Ottawa on Monday.
Scouting report
Scouting report
Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena
TV: NBCSCH • Radio: WGN 720-AM
The skinny: The Red Wings are 2-4-1 in their last seven games, with one of those losses being a 5-2 setback to the Blackhawks Feb. 10. One of those wins, however, came at Nashville two days later. … Dylan Larkin (24) and Andreas Athanasiou (20) are the Red Wings' leading scorers. Larkin has 6 goals in the last 11 games. ... If Patrick Kane registers an assist, he will tie Adam Oates for the second-longest assist streak in league history at 18. Wayne Gretzky holds the record at 23.
Next: Colorado Avalanche, 6:30 p.m. Friday at the United Center
- John Dietz