BLOG: Bowman Hopeful Crawford Can Return for Postseason

The Blackhawks are hopeful that Corey Crawford will be able to return.

Chicago's starting netminder has been absent from the opening nine days of Phase 3 training camp and the team -- by way of NHL rules during Phases 3 and 4 -- has only been able allowed to describe his absence as "unfit to participate."

On Tuesday, Senior Vice President/General Manager spoke optimistically about Crawford's ability to join the team in time to travel to Edmonton for the Qualifying Round and the playoffs.

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"We are hopeful on that," he said. "We'll be able to give you a better idea when we get closer to the weekend, but that's something that we're still shooting for. I don't have any definitive comments right now, but we're still hoping that's the case."

Crawford backstopped the Blackhawks to a 5-3-0 finish to the regular season as the go-to guy in net from the late February trade deadline until the NHL season was paused on March 12 with a .921 save percentage, fourth best in the NHL over that span.

The two-time Stanley Cup champion was playing his best hockey of the season down the stretch and would be a pivotal part of the Blackhawks lineup in the Qualifying Round matchup against the Oilers beginning on Aug. 1. With over four months since his last start and only a handful of days remaining until Game 1, Bowman said the team will address whether he can be in game shape in time if and when Crawford returns to the ice.

"At this point, nothing's been ruled out. We've still got a fair amount of time before Aug. 1 and the first game, so we're not thinking that far ahead right now," Bowman said. "We're really kind of here day-to-day and like we said out the outset, right now Corey's not here, so we're focused on the other four goalies. If and when Corey is ready, we'll have that conversation."

"If there's one guy who could step in, it would be him, especially being the goaltending position," defenseman Duncan Keith added. "We'll wait and see. Hopefully he comes back and stands on his head."