Corey Crawford Set to Return, Brandon Saad Likely Out for Blackhawks Thursday
Crawford hasn't played since Dec. 2017
By James Neveau ••
Thursday is shaping up to be a remarkable day for the Chicago Blackhawks, and it has very little to do with their opponent on the ice.
All week long, it has looked like goaltender Corey Crawford will make his season debut for the Blackhawks when they take on the Arizona Coyotes, and he took another step toward that reality on Wednesday when he practiced with the team at MB Ice Arena.
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Crawford, who hasn’t played since Dec. 2017 after suffering a concussion, is expected to start Thursday’s game, and he’ll be looking to give a struggling defense a lift as they try to beat a lowly Coyotes squad.
With the happy news surrounding Crawford, there is also remarkable news on the other side of the spectrum, as all signs point to winger Brandon Saad being a healthy scratch for the game. Saad, who is making $6 million per season, has appeared in five games this season and has two assists, but he has been demoted to the fourth line, and head coach Joel Quenneville has repeatedly said in postgame media availabilities that the team needs more from the forward.
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MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 14: Nick O'Leary #83 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates his touchdown with teammates against the Chicago Bears in the first quarter of the game at Hard Rock Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
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MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 14: Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat and wife and actress Gabrielle Union attend the game between the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears at Hard Rock Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
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MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 14: The Chicago Bears celebrate a touchdown in the third quarter of the game at Hard Rock Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
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MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 14: Tarik Cohen #29 of the Chicago Bears celebrates a touchdown in the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
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MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 14: Kyle Fuller #23 of the Chicago Bears intercepts the ball against Albert Wilson #15 of the Miami Dolphins in the second half of the game at Hard Rock Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
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It appears that Luke Johnson will draw back into the lineup for the game, which is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night.
