The Bernstein Brief: Corey Crawford A Bigger Worry Than Duncan Keith?
By Dan Bernstein--
CBSChicago.com senior columnist
(CBS) Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith might miss some playoff games, after his indefensible decision to swing his stick's blade into an opponent's face. He'll earn a multi-game suspension for such a dirty, stupid play, and he's hurt his team's chances to win a title.
But there could be an even bigger impediment to that, and it's goalie Corey Crawford's slow recovery from some kind of head injury.
The Blackhawks are being typically tight-lipped, with coach Joel Quenneville only saying that he expected Crawford to return to the net in time for the playoffs, but he has no more idea than anyone when dealing with something as nebulous and unpredictable as head trauma. Crawford has been sidelined since March 14.
Depending on which report you have read, Crawford has either concussion-related symptoms or vertigo, or the latter is just another way of saying the former. Regardless, he's not yet skating. Scott Darling's a backup, too often with his angle just off enough, down in his butterfly a beat too early or lacking the athleticism to get the most out of his massive frame. He can't do what Crawford has done all year -- cover for a defense that's not as good as it has been in past seasons.
And even if Crawford is able to play again soon, who knows what toll the injury may take on his abilities? Tracking and stopping 100-mph slapshots and point-black redirects takes a clear head at the least.
Especially with the team's top defenseman missing because he chose to be an idiot.
Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. You can follow him on Twitter @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.
