12:04pm: Corey Crawford is undergoing an appendectomy at a Philadelphia hospital. Team physician Dr. Michael Terry said Crawford “presented this morning with acute appendicitis.”
The team is expecting a full recovery and return to action, and will update Crawford’s status when more is known.
11:19am: Less than an hour away from puck drop, the Blackhawks have signed Eric Semborski to an ATO. He’ll back up Scott Darling against the Flyers. The 23-year-old Semborski previously played club hockey at Temple U.
Because of the tight turnaround, Semborski will wear number 50, which is usually worn by the goalie that he’s replacing.
10:30am: The Blackhawks will be without their captain and their starting goalie when they take on the Flyers on Saturday afternoon.
Just a day after placing Jonathan Toews on IR, coach Joel Quenneville announced that Corey Crawford is ill and will miss the game. Crawford is not only too sick to start, but he’s also unable to serve as backup for Scott Darling.
With the Blackhawks on the road and the game starting at noon, their options are slim. Chris Hine of the Chicago Tribune suggests goaltending coach Jimmy Waite. Waite played 11 seasons in the NHL (eight with the Blackhawks) as a backup goalie. Waite has previously filled in at morning skates if the team is down a goalie.
The Blackhawks also play tomorrow evening at home to the Winnipeg Jets.