On Thursday, the Chicago Blackhawks made the move to recall goaltender J.F. Berube from the Rockford IceHogs as Jeff Glass cleared waivers. Glass will be sent to the IceHogs after clearing waivers.
Glass Era Ends, Berube Getting A Look
After allowing four goals against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night, Jeff Glass was placed on waivers yesterday and will be re-joining the IceHogs ahead of their home weekend action. In his time with the Blackhawks, Glass had a 3-6-3 record in 12 starts with a 3.31 GAA and a .898 save percentage. Although Glass started hot when he first joined the Blackhawks in late December, going 3-1-1 in his first five NHL appearances, Glass gave up 27 total goals over his final nine appearances with an 0-5-2 record. A fantastic story of a player persevering, and at 32 years old, finally making it to the NHL, Glass’ luster wore off quickly and his true worth to the team as an AHL option, rather than an NHL one has been realized.
On the flip-side, Chicago will be giving J.F. Berube a second look in the NHL this year, just two games after returning from a lower-body injury that forced him to miss two months of the season with the IceHogs. Berube only had one chance in December to make an impression on the Blackhawks in relief of Anton Forsberg against the Washington Capitals. Berube made 12 saves on 14 shots faced as the Blackhawks fell to the Capitals that night, 6-2.
This season with the Rockford IceHogs, Berube has a record of 7-8-0 with a 2.37 GAA and a .920 save percentage in 15 appearances. While Berube is 0-2-0 in his two starts since returning from injury, both games saw him make 27 saves on 29 shots (2.06 GAA, .931 save percentage).
With the Blackhawks recalling Berube and already having Anton Forsberg in the mix with Corey Crawford still being far enough away from a return from his own injury woes, the future considerations for the Blackhawks backup and maybe even a starting role could be on display over the next few games. Forsberg this season has been only adequate as an NHL backup with a 5-10-3 record, 3.07 GAA and a .907 save percentage. While his record is unflattering, goal support from the Blackhawks skaters has not been there for him or for Glass this season.
If the Blackhawks shut down Crawford with the season inching closer and closer to the edge of the abyss, Berube and Forsberg find themselves playing for their futures with Chicago over the next two months.
What’s Next?
The Blackhawks are back in action on Thursday night, taking on the Anaheim Ducks in Chicago. Puck drop at the United Center is set for 7:30pm Central time. The IceHogs get back at it on Saturday night against the Cleveland Monsters in Rockford. Puck drop at the BMO Harris Bank Center is set for 6pm Central Time.