Is Khabibulin's injury serious? Who knows?
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Welcome to the new ways of the NHL.
Want to know exactly what's wrong with Nikolai Khabibulin, who had to leave Wednesday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Sharks late in the second period? The Blackhawks don't have to say, thanks to the rule rubber stamped by Commissioner Gary Bettman last summer.
Khabibulin appeared to hurt either his groin, hamstring, knee or back -- take your pick -- as he sprawled to make a save with 26 seconds left in the period after performing spectacularly once again.
All the Hawks would say on Thursday was that Khabibulin is day to day and will remain on the trip.
"Nothing major," general manager Dale Tallon said.
However, Corey Crawford was recalled from Rockford and will be Cristobal Huet's backup today against the Ducks at the Honda Center.
The news could be worse for defenseman Aaron Johnson, who hurt what appeared to be his left shoulder in the second period when he was drilled into the boards by Mike Grier, who earned a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct.
The Hawks plan to put Johnson on the injured reserve list today.
Tallon said the club would hold off on any official injury announcement regardoing Johnson until today because of salary-cap issues, which Tallon was working on with the league office Thursday.
The loss of Khabibulin for any length of time would be a major blow considering he has lost only once in regulation (7-1-4) and owns a 2.46 goals-against average and .923 save percentage.
"For us it's unfortunate what happened to Johnson and Habby, but at the same time we have to try to put that behind us," Patrick Kane said. "Other players have got to step up now. It's time to step up for some players and prove they can play in this league and time to prove the ice time they can get, myself included. We're going to have to pick up the slack now."
The biggest spotlight now falls on Cristobal Huet, who has been mostly riding the bench behind Khabibulin after signing a four-year, $22.54 million contract as a free agent last summer.
Huet came in cold against the Sharks and didn't play poorly, although Patrick Marleau did beat him to the post on a stuff goal that tied the game with 11:44 to play after Jonathan Toews had scored twice to put the Hawks ahead.
Huet had little chance to stop Joe Thornton's overtime winner on a perfect give-and-go with Ryane Clowe.
"He did his job," Quenneville said. "It's tough that we didn't get a win for him."
For Huet, who now has a goals-against average of 3.08 with a .897 save percentage, today's start will be his first since Nov. 16, when he lost 6-5 to San Jose at the United Center.
Johnson's injury is going to hurt as well. He is the Hawks' plus-minus leader at plus-13 and was averaging a solid 14 minutes of ice time per night.
The Sharks felt Johnson put himself in a bad spot and that the major and game misconduct against Grier was too severe.
"I don't know if he didn't see me or what, but I guess I caught him by surprise," Grier said. "I hope he's all right."
"It was a dangerous hit," Quenneville said. "I don't think any intent was there, but (Johnson) was in a vulnerable spot."
The Hawks have six defensemen on the trip so no recall is necessary. Brent Sopel dressed as a seventh defenseman against the Sharks when Adam Burish was unable to play and filled in for Johnson following the injury.
Burish didn't practice Thursday because of his undisclosed injury, but the Hawks will have enough forwards today with Dustin Byfuglien set to return from his upper-body problem.
Today's faceoff
Blackhawks vs. Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center, 3 p.m.
TV: Channel 9
Radio: WGN 720-AM
At a glance: The Hawks, now 3-0-1 on their six-game road trip, play two of their next three games against the Ducks. They also will meet Wednesday at the United Center. Anaheim beat Colorado 4-1 on Wednesday behind 2 power-play goals from Teemu Selanne, who leads the NHL with 11.
Next: Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center, 3 p.m. Saturday.