Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews, Brent Seabrook return to lineup

The captain is back for the Chicago Blackhawks.

After missing nine games with a back injury, Jonathan Toews will return to the lineup against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. He'll be joined by defenseman Brent Seabrook, who missed two games with an upper-body injury.

Toews skated for the first time in a while Sunday, and the determination was made that he would travel with the team. He had been frustrated by the progress of his recovery but said that he finally turned a corner.

"The last three days have been really good days where I really feel I got over the hump and feeling confident that I can go in and get contact in the game," Toews said, according to CSN Chicago.

He suffered the injury Nov. 23 against the San Jose Sharks. Toews has four goals and eight assists in 21 games this season. The Hawks kept the ship sailing with a 5-2-2 record while he was out.

"It's always been one of the qualities that's great about our team, resilience and guys are ready to step up and assume more responsibility," Toews said, according to the website.

During the early skate Tuesday, Toews centered the top line with wingers Marian Hossa and Ryan Hartman. Coach Joel Quenneville said that he will monitor Toews' minutes Tuesday night.

Seabrook got hurt in the second period of the Nov. 6 victory against Arizona. He awkwardly tumbled into the boards after a hit by Jordan Martinook.

Seabrook, who has two goals and 14 assists in 28 games, missed just one regular-season game last season.

The Blackhawks are still without captain goaltender Corey Crawford, who is recovering from an emergency appendectomy. His replacement, Scott Darling, has been stellar, however, allowing two goals during his past three games.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.