Toews confident in Blackhawks backups in Qualifiers if Crawford's out

CHICAGO -- Jonathan Toews said the Chicago Blackhawks believe in their backup goalies if Corey Crawford is unavailable for them against the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers.

"We do feel confident in [Malcolm Subban], we do feel confident in [Collin Delia]," the Chicago captain said after he returned to practice Thursday. "Those guys are ready for the opportunity, they've played well when they've gotten NHL starts before. That's all we can really do is play our best defensive hockey, help out our goaltenders. We know those guys can do the job, and whatever happens to [Crawford], it's not fair to put that level of pressure on him right now."

Neither Subban nor Delia started a game for Chicago this season.

Subban was 9-7-0 with a 3.18 goals-against average and .890 save percentage with the Vegas Golden Knights, who traded him to the Blackhawks on Feb. 24. He played 70 seconds for Chicago against the Anaheim Ducks on March 3. Delia has not played an NHL game since he was 6-4-3 with a 3.61 GAA and .906 save percentage with the Blackhawks in 2018-19.

Crawford, who missed 80 games the previous two seasons because of concussions, has been out since training camp started July 13 and didn't participate in voluntary workouts that began June 8. He was 16-20-3 with a 2.77 GAA and .917 save percentage in 40 games before the NHL paused the season March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

As part of the NHL Return to Play Plan, a team is not permitted to disclose player injury or illness information.

"Give [Crawford] credit, he's always risen to the occasion," Toews said. "When he's gotten in tight spots or when he's been hurt, he comes back and plays great. I laugh, because the amount of preparation that a guy like me needs to go play at my best as opposed to a guy like [Crawford] who can just pop in there, it's almost the expectation for him and at the same time, it's not really fair."

General manager Stan Bowman said Tuesday the Blackhawks were "hopeful" Crawford could join them before they leave Sunday for Edmonton, the hub city for the 12 Western Conference teams in the Qualifiers. Chicago has an exhibition game against the St. Louis Blues on July 29 (6:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NHLN, NBCSCH+, FS-MW+, NHL.TV).

"Like we said at the outset, right now Corey's not here, so we're focused on the other four goalies," Bowman said of Subban, Delia, Kevin Lankinen and Matt Tomkins. "If and when Corey's ready, then we'll have that conversation. But I think it's best to stick with where we are today, and not jump too far ahead."

On Feb. 24, the Blackhawks traded goalie Robin Lehner to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who then traded him to the Golden Knights. Lehner, a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie in the NHL with the New York Islanders in 2018-19, was 16-10-5 with a 3.01 GAA and .918 save percentage in 33 games for Chicago.

The Blackhawks (32-30-8, .514 points percentage) are the No. 12 seed and will play the No. 5 seed Oilers (37-25-9, .585) in a best-of-5 series. Game 1 is Aug. 1. The winner will advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the loser will have a chance at the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft in the Second Phase of the NHL Draft Lottery, to be held Aug. 10.

Toews, who scored 60 points (18 goals, 42 assists) in 70 games this season, returned to practice Thursday after the center left early Monday and missed practice and a scrimmage Tuesday. Chicago was off Wednesday.

Defenseman Calvin de Haan also practiced Thursday after returning Tuesday from a family emergency that had kept him out since July 14. Defenseman Connor Murphy skated before practice Thursday after doing the same Tuesday.

"All those guys are a big part of our group, and we need them," coach Jeremy Colliton said. "We'll keep getting them ready best we can."