Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Corey Crawford dealing with head injury

Struggling Blackhawks looking for answers
Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) reacts after allowing a goal scored by Los Angeles Kings center Vincent Lecavalier during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 14, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford is out with a head injury.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported the 31-year-old Crawford, “is dealing with a head injury, and possibly something similar to the vertigo symptoms that Bryan Bickell was dealing with last spring. He’s still officially ‘day to day’ with an unspecified upper-body injury.”
Bickell was eventually diagnosed with an ocular issue but started feeling vertigo-like symptoms during the Stanley Cup Final between the Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning where he missed five of six games. As of September he said he still didn’t feel right.
Crawford last played on March 14. Coach Joel Quenneville has said he believes Crawford will be ready to return in time for the playoffs.
Scott Darling has proved a capable backup for the Blackhawks, but Crawford has put together arguably the best full season of his career. In 57 games he has a 2.32 goal-against average and .926 save percentage. Crawford, who has won two Stanley Cups, leads the NHL with seven shutouts. Crawford is also a veteran of 76 playoff games.
"I think that's the one area Corey's improved upon is that consistency,” Quenneville told ESPN in a January story about Crawford’s play this year. “I always feel his work ethic is high-end, but I think the education of being in that position, you see improvements. I think [that's] part of him getting better every year."
Since Crawford’s last game, a 5-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, Darling has gone 3-2-1.

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