“In a perfect world, we’d like to get him back for the last couple [regular season] games,” Boudreau said. “I think this week will indicate this — by Monday, we’ll know whether we’ll be able to or not.

“We want him in at least three practices, good practices, before we ever put him in a game — minimum,” Boudreau said. “Quite frankly, I play him when [head athletic trainer] Greg Smith says he’s OK to play. I’ll be the first one to put him in.”

“I think if you look at the way the season and their careers have gone, that neither one has played 20 games in a row [in the NHL], you’re probably looking more at winning by committee than anything else,” Boudreau said. “If one gets extremely hot, you’re not going to take him out of the lineup. But in our situation here, we’ve seen, I think, [six] in a row the maximum that either one has played all year.”

“We’ve reached out and we’re gonna try to do something here,” Bowman said in the United Center’s Harris Club. “The timing is delicate and you don’t want it to become a distraction but we certainly have an interest in trying to get something done. I think he’s performed very well for us this year. Looking back from where he’s come – not only having a foothold in the NHL at the beginning, when he started a handful of games, but watching his progression as he’s gotten more responsibility, he’s risen to the challenge. That’s what you look for in goaltenders. When they get the increased workload, can they handle it? He’s kind of unflappable and doesn’t get rattled by much. I think that’s a strength of his. He’s obviously talented. He’s got the physical capabilities, but the mental side is important as well, and he’s been rock-solid for us.”