The Chicago Blackhawks have recalled goaltender Jeff Glass from the AHL before the opening of their first-round playoff series against the Nashville Predators. The team announced the move Thursday morning.
Glass will serve as the emergency backup goaltender for the Blackhawks during the 2017 playoff run behind starter Corey Crawford and No. 2 goalie Scott Darling. The 31-year-old journeyman spent the past few months playing for Rockford in the AHL after joining the team midseason.
Crawford will start for the Blackhawks in Game 1 against the Predators. His spot should be secure for the postseason unless he runs into major issues like in 2015, when Darling pinch hit for him during the remainder of the first round against Nashville before Crawford returned for the final three series.
So Glass probably won’t play unless, well, there’s an emergency, but this was a move the team needed to make nonetheless. There are no roster or salary cap limits during the postseason, which is usually what prevents a team from hanging onto three goalies. In the playoffs, there is not going to be a need for Eric Semborski.