Alex

'It's a work in progress': Alex DeBrincat not satisfied despite 60 points in 60 games

By any measure, Alex DeBrincat is having a remarkable season.

The Blackhawks sharpshooter has 60 points in 60 games and already has far surpassed last season’s 52-point total with 22 games remaining before Wednesday’s matchup against the Red Wings.

DeBrincat’s assessment of his season so far?

“It’s a work in progress,” he said.

DeBrincat’s modesty can be traced to a rookie season he felt was inconsistent and a teammate in Patrick Kane whose accomplishments are historic. Kane has 90 points this season and took an 18-game point streak and 17-game assist streak into Wednesday's game.

It's debatable whether DeBrincat’s rookie season was inconsistent. His longest stretch without a point was four games, which matches his longest stretch this season. He did have goalless streaks of eight games and 13 games, however. His longest streak without a goal this season is seven games.

“Seeing (a) guy like Kaner have 18 straight, that’s something you work towards,” DeBrincat said. “You want to be the best player on the ice every game, so there’s always room to improve. But it’s nice to get better."

DeBrincat grew up in suburban Detroit and had a hat trick in his lone game against the Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena during his rookie season.

“It’s nice playing in front of your family and friends,” he said. “No matter who you are, it’s always a fun game to play in.”

Two minutes from history: When Dylan Strome lost his stick and the Senators’ Matt Duchene looked like he was about to make a pass to an open teammate in front of the net, Dominik Kahun had no choice.

Kahun used his stick to impede Duchene and was called for hooking, his first penalty of the season as well as his NHL career. He was aware that no NHL player had ever gone an entire 82-game season without a penalty while playing in every game, but he said it wasn’t important to him.

“It would have been something special for sure,” he said. “I knew (it was) going to happen because there’s so many games. But I didn’t think about it like, ‘Today I can’t take a penalty because of the record.’ I just play and it just happened.”

It turned out to be a good penalty as the Hawks killed it off and ended up with an 8-7 victory.

Crawford goes to Detroit: When coach Jeremy Colliton met with the media on Tuesday shortly before the team left for the short flight to Detroit, he told reporters Corey Crawford would not be going.

But when the team took the ice for Wednesday’s morning skate, Crawford was there with his teammates.

“It was a little bit of a late change of plans,” Colliton said. “Just the fact that he was able to practice with us was another chance to get him out there and get him a little extra work too. Good to see him.”

There is still no timetable for Crawford, who hasn’t played since he suffered a concussion Dec. 16, to take the tests required for him to be medically cleared to play in games. Colliton said it could be next week.

jgreenfield@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @jcgreenx

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Cardinals' Alex Reyes: Tosses live BP

Reyes (lat) threw his first live batting practice session of the spring Tuesday, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

The Cardinals had suggested in the offseason that Reyes would be back to full health for spring training, so his ability to face hitters in the second week of camp is merely confirmation that the torn lat muscle he sustained last May is no longer a concern. It's possible that St. Louis still acts cautiously with Reyes' usage in the spring so as to save his bullets for the regular season, but the 24-year-old should still merit consideration for the club's Opening Day rotation. Reyes' chances of breaking camp as a starter in the big leagues may have improved after it was revealed Monday that Carlos Martinez (shoulder) would push back his throwing progression at least two weeks.

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Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora excited to get “explosive” Eduardo Nunez back at full-strength

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Red Sox manager Alex Cora has always viewed Eduardo Nunez as an explosive player. Now, with the infielder feeling healthier than he has in the last year, the Red Sox hope to reap the benefits of having him at full-strength.

“(He looks) excellent,” Cora said Wednesday. “More explosive. He has two knees now.”

Nunez tore the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in his right knee in Sept. 2017 and re-aggravated it during the playoffs that year. He was healthy enough to pass an intensive workout before the Sox re-signed him in spring training a year ago but was hobbled throughout the season, dealing with minor hamstring and ankle injuries as well.

“Last year was a little bit tougher, because we slowed him down after the workout here," Cora said. "We slowed him down and were able to build him up. He was able to finish strong.”

Nunez never went on the disabled list last season but didn’t appear to be at full strength for most of the year. He struggled offensively in the first half and had trouble with the unfamiliar task of playing second base in addition to looking sluggish as a runner at times.

“It wasn’t pretty in the beginning. It seems like he was still building strength with his knee,” Cora said. “The second half, he did a good job offensively. Obviously, he feels more comfortable at third base. He did well.”

Nunez had a few memorable moments in October, fielding the grounder that clinched Game 4 of the ALDS in New York and hitting a three-run home run in Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers. He spent most of the month performing what looked like an Evil Knievel routine, crashing into walls and putting his body on the line as the Red Sox rolled to a World Series title.

In 2019, the expectations for Nunez won’t include risking life and limb or playing through pain on a consistent basis. His role will be reduced a bit with the expected return of Dustin Pedroia and commitment to Rafael Devers at third base, but he’ll still be an important part of what shapes up to be one of the deepest infields in the major leagues.

Nunez was as productive as he was in 2018 while playing on one leg. The hope now is that he can be even better at full health.

“Nunie is an explosive player,” Cora said. “We’re gonna get that version of him this year.