Crawford returns to IR

The Chicago Blackhawks have placed goaltender Corey

Crawford on injured reserve for the second time this month.

Coach Joel Quenneville says Crawford is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury. He says he will have a better idea about when Crawford might be able to return when he gets back on the ice.

It’s unclear when the injury occurred. On Saturday, Crawford allowed three goals on seven shots before he was replaced by Anton Forsberg in the first period of Chicago’s 4-1 loss at New Jersey.

The Blackhawks also recalled forward David Kampf and goaltender Jeff Glass from the minors on Wednesday.

Crawford also went on IR on Dec. 1 with a lower-body injury. He missed three games before returning Dec. 8.

MORE GREEN FOR BLUES GM

The St. Louis Blues have signed general manager Doug

Armstrong to a four-year contract extension with a team option for a fifth year.

Armstrong, who is also the team’s president of hockey operations, is in his 10th season with the Blues. Since he became GM in 2010, the team has a 337-185-56 regularseason record (fourth-best in the NHL since the 2010-11) and has reached the playoffs six years in a row.

Armstrong spent 17 years with the Dallas Stars, including his final six as GM.

HABS NOT HEALTHY

The Montreal Canadiens took a limited lineup with them for their three-game road trip.

Defencemen Shea Weber (foot) and David Schlemko (flu) did not make the trip, which takes the Habs to Carolina, Tampa Bay and Florida. Forward Ales Hemsky and backup goalie Al Montoya remain out indefinitely with concussions. Montreal head coach Claude

Julien also noted Wednesday that quite a few players on the Canadiens are battling the flu.

The Canadiens have only 20 players on the trip — meaning there are only two spares.

The Canadiens called up defenceman Brett Lernout from the AHL’s Laval Rocket on Wednesday morning.

BURMISTROV GETS KHL JOB

After getting his release from the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday, Alex Burmistrov signed with Ak-Bars Kazan of the KHL on Wednesday.

Burmistrov was signed by the Canucks this summer to provide depth at centre but fell out of favour in recent weeks.

SIX FOR SUCKER PUNCH

Arizona Coyotes forward Zac

Rinaldo has been suspended for six games, without pay, for punching an unsuspecting opponent — Colorado Avalanche defenceman Samuel

Girard — on Saturday. Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Rinaldo will forfeit $22,580.64.