NEW YORK _ Even though the Blackhawks are in the middle of a three-game road trip, there was a significant development for the team back in Chicago.
Goaltender Corey Crawford skated for the first time since he underwent an appendectomy Dec. 3 in Philadelphia. At the time, Crawford was given a two-to-three week timetable for recovery.
"He felt pretty good," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "We'll continue to see how he progresses today and go from there."
Crawford did not take shots but was able to get out on the ice and move, Quenneville said.
The Hawks plan on making sure Crawford is fully healed before he comes back in net. It is the same approach they used with Jonathan Toews, who returned to the lineup this week after a nagging back injury sidelined him for nine consecutive games.
"You want to make sure you're more than ready when you come back, especially with goalies," Quenneville said. "They want to come back and play as early as possible, but at the same I think they know their body when they're 100 percent and getting cleared medically is part of that as well."
Quenneville also said Crawford will have to practice and take shots in a full practice before he returns to the ice. The good thing for the Hawks is that Scott Darling has played so well in Crawford's absence there is no need for Crawford to rush back. Darling has allowed just three goals in his last four games.
