Cam Ward will start in net for the Blackhawks against the Bruins in the Winter Classic on New Year’s Day, head coach Jeremy Colliton announced Monday.
The game is scheduled for noon Central time at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.
Ward has split the starting goaltending duties with Collin Delia since No. 1 netminder Corey Crawford was placed on injured reserve Dec. 18 with a concussion. Crawford sustained his second concussion in less than a year after a collision in the crease caused him to hit his head against the goal post Dec. 16 against San Jose at the United Center in Chicago.
Ward has gone 2-1 in three starts since Crawford was placed on IR. He went 2-0 after that before allowing five goals in a 6-3 home loss to Florida on Dec. 23.
Chicago head coach Jeremy Colliton has since turned to Delia, who has stopped 76 of 80 shots in back-to-back starts. Delia has not allowed more than two goals in three wins since being called up from the AHL. The 24-year-old has made at least 30 saves in each win, including a 46-save effort against Minnesota on Dec. 27 at the United Center.