NHL teams
Scott Powers, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Corey Crawford to play Saturday

NHL, Chicago Blackhawks

CHICAGO -- Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford will start against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday after missing eight games with a lower-body injury.

Crawford has been out since he injured himself leaving a concert on Dec. 1. He is 12-5-1 with a 1.87 goals-against average and .929 save percentage this season.

"The timing's there, I'm seeing shots real well," Crawford said after the team's practice on Friday. "I'm good to go. ... I'm going to play [Saturday]."

The Blackhawks went 7-1-0 in Crawford's absence. Goaltenders Antti Raanta and Scott Darling each started four games during that span and combined for a .947 save percentage in the eight games.

Darling was reassigned to Chicago's AHL affiliate on Tuesday, and Raanta will back up Crawford on Saturday.

"I think we've been very fortunate with the consistency of our goaltenders this year no matter who has been in net," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said Friday. "Game in, game out, getting the job done. [Crawford] looked good today in practice. He's been pushing it to get in here. Give him a chance to get in here before the holiday."

Crawford was off to the best start of any of his NHL seasons prior to the injury. He ranks fourth in the NHL in goals-against average and seventh in save percentage.

He wasn't concerned about getting back to that level.

"Not thinking about it, thinking about the first shift, the first shot," Crawford said. "That's all I can worry about right now, focus on right now and being ready and worrying about that first shot."

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