Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford is expected to miss 2-3 weeks while recovering from an appendectomy surgery, according to coach Joel Quenneville after Saturday’s game.
Crawford had the procedure Saturday at a Philadelphia hospital after doctors discovered he was suffering from acute appendicitis. The team announced the news Saturday before its game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Scott Darling started in goal against Philadelphia, and Chicago signed Eric Semborski to an amateur tryout agreement to serve as his backup for the matinee contest. Semborski played club hockey with Temple University in Philadelphia, and also suited up for the Empire Junior Hockey League’s Jersey Wildcats.
For an idea of how NHL players recover from appendectomies, here’s a look at some examples of past players to undergo appendectomies from SB Nation’s Pat Iversen:
Pacioretty returned 8 days after his appendectomy. Tlusty needed 3 weeks. Jamie Benn was less than 2 weeks. Modano (39) back after 19 days.
— Mancomb Seepgood (@Pat_Iversen) December 3, 2016
As a goaltender, Crawford’s recovery is a bit trickier than a skater, but he’s still in that 2-3 week timetable.
The Hawks elected not to call upon goaltending coach Jimmy Waite or call up Lars Johansson from the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League. Waite, 47, often steps in the crease during Hawks’ practices when Crawford or Darling is unable to dress, but he’s getting up there in age.
Meanwhile, Johansson is 3-4 with a .913 save percentage and 2.49 goals-against average in 8 games for Rockford in his first season of North American hockey. He signed a one-year deal with Chicago after leading Frolunda HC to the Swedish Hockey League Championship and Champions League titles.
Calling upon someone from Rockford to fly into Philadelphia that quickly this morning would’ve been challenging, though. So the Blackhawks went with a random 23-year-old as their backup, and presumably they’ll recall Johansson from the AHL sometime this weekend to back up Darling for the time being.