Chicago Blackhawk goalkeeper Corey Crawford practiced Saturday after missing the start of training camp after a positive COVID-19 test.
Crawford, 35, said he was in quarantine at his place in Chicago.
“The first few days I started feeling the symptoms, which was the hardest,” Crawford said on a video conference call. “The last couple of weeks, maybe a little bit more, was a little easier. But I still couldn’t really do much if there was something wrong with my lungs or my heart, so we had to get tested first. I really started pushing in the gym. Did or came on ice. “
Crawford’s return is a major development for Chicago as it prepares for its qualifying series against the Edmonton Oilers and their high scoring pair of Connor McDavid and Leon Drysettle. But he has little time to regain momentum before Game 1 of his best five series on 1 August.
“Excited to be back,” Crawford said. “Trying and try and get that game back in shape as soon as possible.”
Crasford missed parts of the last two seasons. He was playing well in the final 17 matches of the league, recording a save of 9.30 percent.
Crawford was in net when Chicago won the Stanley Cup in 2013 and 2015. He is 48-37 with a .919 save percentage and a 2.28 goals-against average in 87 career playoff performances.
“We don’t have a lot of time, so we have some urges,” coach Jeremy Collitan said. “But he knows that and he has already gone through it because of an injury trying to come back and recover. So we will continue that process.”
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