The Chicago Blackhawks announced on Sunday that goaltender Petr Mrazek has been placed on injured reserve due to a left groin injury.
Mrazek left the game in the first period of Saturday’s 4-2 defeat against the Winnipeg Jets, and his absence has prompted the team to make adjustments. The 32-year-old netminder has a record of 7 wins, 11 losses, and 1 overtime loss this season, along with a goals-against average of 2.83 and a save percentage of .906 over 20 games.
In addition to Mrazek, the Blackhawks opted to rest several players during practice on Sunday. Defensemen Alex Vlasic (maintenance day) and Alec Martinez (neck issue), along with forward Craig Smith (maintenance), were all noticeably absent as part of routine team management.
To cover for the losses, the Blackhawks have called up goaltender Drew Commesso and defenseman Kevin Korchinski from their AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. Commesso is expected to serve as the backup for Arvid Soderblom while Mrazek remains out of action. Notably, veteran goaltender Laurent Brossoit, who had signed a two-year contract with Chicago during free agency, is also unavailable due to a right knee injury.
The Blackhawks are set to embark on a challenging three-game road trip beginning Monday night when they face the New York Rangers. Korchinski, only 20 years old, was picked seventh overall by Chicago in the 2022 NHL Draft and contributed five goals and ten assists in 76 games last season.