Blackhawks' Crawford returns for regular season finale
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford will get one tuneup game before his club embarks on another Stanley Cup run.
The 31-year-old will make his first appearance between the pipes Saturday - against the Columbus Blue Jackets - since March 14, thanks to an unfortunate upper-body injury.
"It's very important to get a game in here before the playoffs," head coach Joel Quenneville said, according to NHL.com's Craig Merz. "You get three or four more practices before he plays a playoff game. It helps getting at least a start here and getting back on the on the ice as well. This is the next step."
Crawford's untimely departure from the team's lineup came while he was enjoying a season that saw him set a career-high with 35 wins in 57 games.
His career .921 save percentage and 2.21 goals-against average in the playoffs will be looked upon heavily as the team looks to repeat as Cup champs.