The good news for the Chicago Blackhawks is they have depth in goal to withstand the loss of Corey Crawford for a few weeks.That depth will be tested again as one of the leagues top rookies takes the United Center ice for the first time Sunday when the Blackhawks face red-hot Patrik Laine and the Winnipeg Jets.Chicago (16-7-3) returns home after a 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. But the loss overshadowed news before the game that Crawford -- a five-time 30-game winner -- will miss up to three weeks after undergoing an emergency appendectomy.Hes the best goalie in the league, him and Carey Price (of the Montreal Canadiens), you could put them in a category by themselves, backup Scott Darling said of Crawford. He brings it every night. Hes been great for us all year. And hes just a great guy. ... I hope hes getting better. The Blackhawks tweeted Saturday evening that Crawford traveled back to Chicago with the team. If Crawford misses three weeks, he could return Dec. 27 at home against Winnipeg. Until then, Chicago is scheduled to play 10 games -- including two matchups with the New York Rangers, who lead the league with 3.64 goals per game through Saturday.Darling, who hasnt started at home since Nov. 6, is 4-1-1 with a 2.81 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage overall this season. Hes won all three starts on Chicagos West Side, despite having allowed 10 goals on 105 shots faced.Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson isnt worried.We have plenty of confidence in (Darling). We all know how well he can play, and I think hes more than ready for an opportunity to play some games in a row, he said. ... I think hes going to be doing a great job as hes been doing, pretty much every time hes been playing for us.Since a loss in their season opener, Chicago is 10-0-2 at the Madhouse on Madison, having scored at least four goals seven times. Over those 12 games, Artem Anisimov and Marian Hossa have scored a team-best seven goals for the Blackhawks, and five of Hossas markers have come in the last five games.The Blackhawks may need a lot from their offense while the defense has the task of trying to slow down Laine, arguably the Jets best player -- certainly their most exciting -- since Teemu Selanne. Laine scored a goal and assisted on Bryan Littles game-winner 17 seconds into overtime as Winnipeg (12-13-2) topped the St. Louis Blues 3-2 on Saturday.It feels good ... but now we have to forget this game and focus on (Sunday), said Laine as the Jets look for back-to-back road wins for the first time this season.Laine, taken second overall in Junes NHL Draft, shares the NHL lead in goals with Sidney Crosby (16) and leads all rookies in points (23). One of those goals came in a 4-0 victory over the Blackhawks on Nov. 15 in Winnipeg.So far, Laine has not been as productive playing on the road. In 14 games, the 18-year-old has three goals and five assists, and Winnipeg is 1-5-2 when he fails to register a point away from the MTS Centre.Saturdays win snapped a six-game road losing streak, and was more impressive as the Jets played without leading scorer Mark Scheifele (13 goals, 13 assists) due to a lower-body injury.We dont think this is a long-term (injury) or he wouldnt have taken the morning skate. He wasnt as mobile as he needs to play, Jets coach Paul Maurice said after the win, adding that Scheifele could be in the lineup against the Blackhawks.Following its relocation from Atlanta in 2011, Winnipeg is 4-4-0 in Chicago, and has been limited to a total of one goal while dropping the last two matchups.Hopefully we come into Chicago and have some legs (Sunday), that would be another two big points for us, said Little, who has two goals and an assist in two games after missing 23 with a lower-body injury. Wholesale NBA Jerseys China . With the short-handed Warriors needing help from someone -- anyone -- to stop a three-game skid, ONeal returned from right knee and groin injuries that had sidelined him for four games and put up season highs with 18 points and eight rebounds. It was just enough to help lift Golden State to a 102-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Discount Nike NBA Jerseys . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. http://www.cheapbasketballchina.com/ . Los Angeles star goalie survived those perilous gymnastics with no problem, and he eventually backstopped the Kings to a skid-snapping win. Quick stopped 27 shots in his return from a 24-game injury absence, Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking goal with 7:55 to play, and the Kings snapped their five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. Cheap Boston Celtics Jerseys China . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. Cheap Brooklyn Nets Jerseys China . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. LOS ANGELES -- All it took was three Pac-12 titles in four years for Stanford to finally get the nod in the preseason media poll.It marked a first for the Cardinal in the 56-year history of the poll, having previously never been slotted higher than second in the Pac-12 North in the five seasons since adding divisional play and a title game, a span that coincides with head coach David Shaws tenure.The newfound admiration is taking a little getting used to.It truly shows that you have no idea what you are doing, Shaw jokingly told reporters Friday.It feels strange, defensive lineman Solomon Thomas said. Were thankful for that, but were just going to keep our head down and have that tunnel vision.After years of finding reasons not to vote Stanford in the top spot ranging from the departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh to the exit of quarterback Andrew Luck, the Cardinal seemingly have earned the benefit of the doubt despite losing four-year starting quarterback Kevin Hogan, three dominant offensive linemen and stalwart inside linebacker Blake Martinez. Shaw pointed to the back of the ballroom on the fifth floor of the Hollywood and Highland complex, where running back Christian McCaffrey was holding court, as the reason for that confidence.Its a sign of respect and I think it has a lot to do with the guy in the back left corner of the building there, but once we start practicing and playing games, all of that goes away, Shaw said.McCaffrey was the undisputed star of the otherwise sleepy Pac-12 media days, with last seasons Heisman Trophy runner-up detailing everything from his encounter with pro wrestler Ric Flair at the ESPY Awards earlier in the week -- I just shook his hand. I didnt whoo. I couldnt get it out. -- to his pet potbellied pig named Tarance.He died of obesity, McCaffrey said.McCaffrey shredded Iowa for a Rose Bowl-record 368 all-purpose yards in Stanfords dominating 45-16 win, finishing his sophomore season with 2,019 yards rushing.dddddddddddd Shaw expects opposing defenses to focus on McCaffrey, especially as redshirt senior Ryan Burns or redshirt junior Keller Chryst settles in at quarterback, but believes the presence of other returning skill position players could allow him to surpass his record-setting season.Thats why you have a great team, Shaw said. Having all those guys around him with experience, with playing ability . helps Christian be what Christian can be and maybe make him even more dangerous knowing that he has more dangerous guys around him.And while the Pac-12 negotiated for earlier television broadcast windows to avoid the stretch of late-night games Stanford had to play last season, McCaffrey had no interest in the idea that Heisman voters right actually see him play rather than just looking at highlights and box scores.As far as exposure goes, I could care less, McCaffrey said. Whether I have the greatest season ever and everybody sees it or I have the worst season ever and no one sees it, if Im playing football thatll bring me peace and thats where I am happy.That mentality of never being satisfied has been a constant during Stanfords football renaissance. McCaffrey said the underdog attitude that permeated the locker room and caught his eye as a recruit is still there, even coming off a conference championship and the expectations of winning another.Nothings changed, McCaffrey said.Maintaining such commitment might allow Stanford to avoid continuing the dubious history of the preseason media poll. Only two of the previous nine selections actually won the Pac-12 that season. ' ' '