More positive news on Hawks' Toews
Jonathan Toews was cleared for contact Sunday, and if everything goes off without a hitch, the Blackhawks captain may be cleared for game action, perhaps as soon as Thursday at Minnesota.
“We're hopeful (for Thursday), but there's no target,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “If he's ready, he'll be going. If not, we'll be patient.”
Toews (concussion) has missed 20 consecutive games. He participated in contact drills before Sunday night's game against the Wild.
“They're working hard out there,” Quenneville said, “the whole crew.”
The Hawks' last game of the regular season is Saturday afternoon at Detroit.
Making it count:
Things could get real interesting this week for the Hawks in the these final two games of the regular season.
Not only will they get Duncan Keith (suspension) back Thursday for their rematch against Minnesota, but the thought of Jonathan Toews back in the lineup as well makes these way more than tuneup games.
“Hopefully we get both back and we can become better as a team,” Patrick Kane said. “That's the biggest thing right now, working on these last two games, you want to move forward and get as high as you can in the standings, but I think for all of us in here, we want to be confident about our team going into the playoffs, no matter who we're playing or where we're playing at.
“Just get better as a team, get some confidence, get everyone rolling and get ready for the playoffs.”
After further review:
Dylan Olsen, whose hit on Darroll Powe near center ice late in the first period earned him a couple of minutes in the box for an illegal check to the head, may earn a review of the play by NHL top cop Brendan Shanahan.
Good cause:
The Blackhawks will distribute $25,000 in grants to winners of the inaugural “Eddie Olczyk Award,” created to support and offset the financial burden of young hockey players and teams in Illinois that may not have the means to play at a competitive level.
Late scratch:
Andrew Brunette was scratched from Sunday's game with a lower-body injury that Joel Quenneville described as short term.