NHL notebook: Hawks G Crawford plans Thursday return

Crawford hasn't been in the net since suffering a concussion on Dec. 23. The
33-year-old said his starting status will become official once he makes it
through Thursday's morning skate.

"It feels good to be back to myself," Crawford told reporters after
Wednesday's practice. "I'm feeling clear."

Crawford played in just 28 games last season when he went 16-9-2 with a 2.27
goals-against average. He was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 27, four days
after the concussion.

--Ottawa Senators rookie forward Brady Tkachuk will miss about a month after
tearing a ligament in his leg, the team announced.

Tkachuk, whom Ottawa took fourth overall in this year's draft, finished
Monday's game against the Dallas Stars and scored the game-winner in the third
period of a 4-1 victory, despite the injury.

Tkachuk, 19, has three goals and three assists this season, all coming in his
last three games.

--The Carolina Hurricanes demoted 2017 first-rounder Martin Necas to the
Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League.

The move comes a day after the No. 12 overall pick scored the first goal of
his career in a 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Necas, a forward, has
averaged just over 10 minutes of ice time a game through the Hurricanes' first
seven contests.

The Hurricanes also sent defenseman Haydn Fleury to Charlotte and recalled
forward Clark Bishop from the affiliate.

--Field Level Media