Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville said the team will recall goaltender Collin Delia from the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs after backup netminder Anton Forsberg was hit by a puck during Thursday’s practice in Ottawa.
Quenneville said Forsberg’s injury is not “significant,” reports Mark Lazerus of The Athletic.
Cam Ward will be Chicago’s starting netminder when the team faces the Senators in their season opener Thursday at Canadian Tire Centre. The IceHogs are in Cleveland ahead of their opener Friday, and It’s unknown if Delia will return to the IceHogs in time for the game or if Kevin Lankinen will start.
Delia went 17-7-2 with a .900 save percentage and a 2.72 goals-against average in the regular season for the IceHogs. His play continued as he was the backstop for the IceHogs as they won seven consecutive Calder Cup playoff games on their way to the Western Conference Final. He finished the playoffs with a 7-3 record with a 2.34 GAA and .924 save percentage.
The 24-year-old Delia was 1-1 with the Hawks last season, earning a win with a 27-save performance against the Jets in March. The occasion was overshadowed by emergency backup goalie Scott Foster, who stepped in after Delia suffered an injury in the third period.
Forsberg, 25, was 10-16-4 with a 2.97 GAA and .908 save percentage in 35 games last season as Chicago’s backup and starter after Corey Crawford went down with a concussion in December. Crawford is expected to return to action Oct. 18 against the Coyotes.