The Blackhawks have ridden goalie Petr Mrazek hard this season, banking that his much-improved durability in recent years would continue to hold up.
On Saturday, it did not. Mrazek pulled himself 11 minutes into the first period against the Jets after making an awkward save while sliding left to right out of his crease. Interim coach Anders Sorensen later said Mrazek will ‘‘be out for a little bit.’’
Backup Arvid Soderblom replaced him and finished with 21 saves on 24 shots in the Hawks’ eventual 4-2 loss.
It’s concerning news, considering how many injuries — and groin injuries, in particular — Mrazek endured earlier in his career and how much his recent success has been predicated on his improved health. He has started 20 of the Hawks’ first 27 games, including five in the last 10 days, and has posted a .906 save percentage.
In his absence, the Hawks have no choice but to turn to Soderblom, who will get a bigger-than-expected opportunity to reestablish his place in the Hawks’ future plans. Both veteran goalies the Hawks planned to use this season — Mrazek and Laurent Brossoit (knee surgery) — are out.
It’s unclear who will join Soderblom to form the Hawks’ goalie tandem next week in New York. Prospect Drew Commesso is talented, but he’s 22 and has no NHL experience. He also has struggled in the AHL early this season, posting an .879 save percentage.
The Hawks might poke around for a veteran journeyman to sign or acquire cheaply, but those are hard to find at this time of year.
Mrazek wasn’t the only Hawks player who was injured Saturday. Defenseman Alec Martinez blocked a shot into his neck or face in the third period and also will miss some time, Sorensen said.
Without Martinez and Seth Jones, who is probably still a couple of weeks away from returning from a foot injury, the Hawks are running low on defensive depth, too.
Sorensen’s message after practice Friday echoed through Fifth Third Arena: ‘‘Effort is going to fix a lot of things.’’
One Hawks player who has been following that mantra already is Ryan Donato. Even on the many nights when the rest of the team has looked sluggish and lost, Donato’s work ethic and determination hasn’t wavered.
‘‘I’ve always said that my game, no matter who I play with, really doesn’t change that much,’’ Donato said recently. ‘‘I always come with the same mentality of trying to grind down the other team’s defensemen, holding on to pucks, battling in the ‘O’ zone and ‘D’ zone and getting myself to the net and getting chances to the net.’’
That consistent effort has translated to the box scores. He has a team-high 10 goals (plus five assists) in 25 games and is on pace for 48 points this season, which would shatter his previous career best of 31. Just as impressive, his 1.53 goals-per-60-minutes rate ranks 15th among 382 NHL forwards.
Donato isn’t one of the most vocal leaders on the roster, but he seems more involved and confident in that aspect this season compared to last. If his industriousness became contagious, it would help the Hawks.
‘‘Whenever I play with guys . . . I’m just saying: ‘Hey, let’s play simple. Make sure you shoot the puck when you have a chance. I don’t want you turning any shots into trying to make a play [and being] too cute,’ ’’ he said.
