CHICAGO _ Not only has Corey Crawford not been on the ice in Chicago since he was put on injured reserve Dec. 27, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said he hasn't talked to his goalie in a while.
"It's been quiet," Quenneville said before Sunday's 4-0 loss to the Red Wings, the 10th game Crawford has missed with what the team said is an upper-body injury.
As he has repeated during the last week, Quenneville said there was no update regarding Crawford's status or when he might return.
Crawford was last seen in a Blackhawks uniform on Dec. 23, when he was pulled after allowing three goals on seven shots against the Devils.
When asked whether Crawford's prolonged absence was cause for concern, Quenneville offered no details.
"Injuries are a part of the game," Quenneville said. "Everybody's got to deal with it."
Captain Jonathan Toews praised the play of the team's backup goalies _ Anton Forsberg and Jeff Glass _ before addressing Crawford's absence. The team has gone 5-4-1 without him.
"We're always concerned about our teammates first and our team second," Toews said. "Crow is trying to get better. He's one of those guys that we know we can rely upon as a person, as a teammate. ... He'll do what he can to get himself better, so he can get back to playing and ... help our team when he knows how to."
Quenneville said he was alarmed at first when Crawford went on IR for the second time in December, saying his absence is a "tremendous hole" and labeling him "arguably our key player all year."
"Obviously, you're missing him," Quenneville said. "We know how valuable the position is. As a team you have to have an awareness that, hey, you have to contribute on the defensive side of things a little more."
Despite his absence, Crawford was third in the NHL with a .929 save percentage and fourth with a 2.27 goals-against average entering Sunday.
While Quenneville offered no insight into Crawford, he said center Artem Anisimov had progressed from "OK" after skating before practice Saturday to "better today" before Sunday's game.
Anisimov has been on injured reserve since late December with an upper-body injury.
