CHICAGO _ The Blackhawks placed center Marcus Kruger on injured reserve Wednesday with a concussion, making him the third Hawks player in 10 days to lose time to the serious head injury.
The Hawks recalled forward Luke Johnson from Rockford to take Kruger's roster spot. Johnson, who had one assist over 13 games in two previous stints with the Hawks, has four goals and three assists in 10 games with the IceHogs.
During the second period of Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Predators, former Hawk Ryan Hartman was backing up when Kruger approached him from behind. Kruger's head struck Hartman's elbow and he immediately fell to the ice, bleeding profusely. He left the game and didn't return.
Artem Anisimov suffered a concussion Dec. 9 against the Canadiens and missed four games before returning against the Predators. Goalie Corey Crawford remains out with a concussion after striking his head on a post Sunday against the Sharks.
Kruger and Crawford will be eligible to return Dec. 27 against the Wild.
