Blackhawks’ Crawford Day-to-Day

Jeff Curry-US PRESSWIRE

The Chicago Blackhawks were served another blow to their leading goaltender Corey Crawford. The five-year veteran suffered an upper-body injury in the first period of Thursday’s 3-0 victory over the St. Louis Blues and is considered day-to-day.

During the late minutes of the game’s first period, Crawford stumbled forward after a falling back into the net. Trainers immediately responded to the fall and he was taken off the ice. Ray Emery replaced Crawford in the second half.

“I don’t think there was a defining moment or blow,” head coach Joel Quenneville said.

This hasn’t been Crawford’s first injury this season. In fact, the 28-year-old goaltender missed four games earlier this month, but that the injuries were not related. That’s a big sigh of relief to Blackhawk fans, who don’t want to see Crawford miss any more time with lingering injury problems.

During Thursday’s game, Crawford stopped six shots in the first period. He boasts a record of 8-0-3 and allows a staggering 1.50 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage. In his career, he’s tallied 3,229 saves with a .91 save percentage.

In replacement, Emerson shut down the visiting Blues in Thursday’s matchup. He’ll need to save the Blackhawks on Friday as the team faces Columbus. But chances are, the league’s best offense, along with a number of different efficiencies (fourth in goals per game, first in goals against, 12th in power play percentage and second in penalty kill percentage) will prevail in this matchup.