Crawford placed on IR, Delia called up
Corey Crawford will miss at least four games after the Blackhawks placed their goaltender on injured reserve with a concussion Monday.
Collin Delia was recalled from Rockford.
Crawford was injured with 1:30 remaining in the first period during the Hawks' 7-3 loss to San Jose on Sunday after a violent collision with Dylan Strome. The impact drove Crawford's head back into one of the goal posts.
After laying on the ice for a few seconds, the stunned Hawks' goalie sat on all fours while head trainer Mike Gapski and Dr. Michael Terry rushed to his aid.
Crawford was escorted to the dressing room and replaced by Cam Ward.
Strome was skating full-speed while attempting to stop a semi-breakaway by Logan Couture. A split second after Crawford stopped Couture's shot, Evander Kane pushed Strome into Crawford.
"I know I was skating fast trying to get back, and me and Kane kind of went into him," Strome said. "I hope he's all right. …
"I don't think Evander Kane's trying to hit me into Crawford and hurt him. He's going for a puck; it was a breakaway. He's the second guy if there's a rebound. He's driving me in, and unfortunately I hit Crawford."
The Hawks, who were off Monday, had no further update on how long Crawford may be out. Coach Jeremy Colliton's squad hosts Nashville on Tuesday.
Crawford appeared in 28 games (27 starts) last season before going on injured reserve with a concussion on Dec. 27. The 33-year-old has played in 23 games this season, going 6-14-2 with a .902 save percentage and 3.28 goals-against average.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Delia leads the AHL with a .933 save percentage and is third with a 2.34 goals-against average in 17 appearances. He has allowed 2 goals or fewer in seven of his last 10 outings.
Keep playing:
The Blackhawks still led San Jose 3-2 after Corey Crawford was injured, but the Sharks scored 5 unanswered goals to claim their sixth victory in seven games. Three of those tallies came in a "terrible" second period in which the Hawks showed zero "passion," according to defenseman Connor Murphy.
"We've got to know that with the team we have here, we can't take periods off," Murphy said. "Other teams are pretty deep and they'll take advantage like that team just did."
Nobody admitted there was a letdown after Crawford was hurt. Whether there was or not, coach Jeremy Colliton wants his team to be mentally strong enough to overcome obstacles like that when they occur.
"I'd love for us to get to the mentality as a group that it doesn't matter what happens," Colliton said. "We just keep playing. Teams go through stuff as the year goes on, and if you want to get anywhere as a team, you're gonna have to overcome things."
Scouting report
Blackhawks vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m. at United Center
TV: NBCSCH • Radio: WGN 720-AM
The skinny: The Predators are dealing with injuries to Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson and D-man P.K. Subban, but are still 5-2-1 over their last eight games. Arvidsson (thumb) and Subban (upper-body) won't play against the Hawks, but could return within a week. Forsberg (14 goals in 26 games) is still about two weeks away from returning. ... Nashville lost 4-3 in overtime at Ottawa on Monday. ... Eight of Ryan Hartman's 9 goals have come in the last 23 games. ... Since defeating Minnesota on Nov. 18, the Blackhawks have been outscored 65-43 and are 3-for-41 on the power play in their last 14 games (2-11-1). ... The Hawks lost 5-2 in Nashville on Dec. 1 after the Predators jumped out to a 3-0 first-period lead, then were awarded a seven-minute power play after Duncan Keith instigated a fight with Miikka Salomaki.
Next: Dallas Stars, 7:30 p.m. Thursday at American Airlines Center
- John Dietz