Chicago Blackhawks goalkeeper Corey Crawford practiced Saturday after missing the start of training camp after a positive COVID-19 test.
Crawford, 35, said he was quarantined at his Chicago home.
“The first few days I started feeling symptoms was the most difficult,” Crawford said in a video conference. “The last two weeks, maybe a little bit more, were a little bit easier. But I still couldn’t do much in case there was something wrong with my lungs or my heart, so we had to check that first before I really started pushing on the gym or going on the ice. “
Crawford’s return is a great development for Chicago as he prepares for his qualifying series against the Edmonton Oilers and his high-scoring duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. But he has little time to catch up before Game 1 of his best series of five on August 1.
“Excited to be back,” said Crawford. “I’m going to try to get into it as quickly as possible and try to get the game back in shape.”
Crawford missed parts of the previous two seasons due to concussions. He had been playing well when the league closed, posting a .930 saving percentage in his last 17 games.
Crawford was on the net when Chicago won the Stanley Cup in 2013 and 2015. He is 48-37 with a .919 save percentage and an average of 2.28 goals against in 87 playoff appearances.
“We don’t have much time, so we have some urgency,” said coach Jeremy Colliton. “But he knows it and has already passed it before trying to recover from an injury and get in right away. So we will continue that process.”
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