Nov. 29--LOS ANGELES -- Corey Crawford got the nod to start his 14th consecutive game in goal for the Chicago Blackhawks when they face the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night at the Staples Center.
Crawford has led the Hawks to wins in five of their last six contests, including a 4-1-0 mark on their current six-game circus trip. When the Hawks embarked on their journey, the plan was for Antti Raanta to get at least one start, but Raanta became ill prior to a game against the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 22 and has served as backup ever since.
Coach Joel Quenneville said Crawford is capable of stringing together multiple games--Saturday will be the second of back-to-backs after a strong performance against the Ducks during a 4-1 win Friday--like he did during the 2010-11 season when he started the final 34 games.
"We've seen it before (so) it's not like you hope he can do it," Quenneville said following Saturday's optional morning skate. "The year he got us in the playoffs single-handedly he played 30-something in a row. It didn't faze him one bit. He likes playing and he wants to play. We probably don't want him to play as much as he wants to play."
The matchup against the Kings will mark the teams' first meeting since Los Angeles stunned the Hawks in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals en route to winning the Stanley Cup.
"We had some disappointment at the end of it all but we're certainly excited about playing these guys," Quenneville said. "Regular-season games are as intense as our playoff games. It makes for a great contest, great showdown for (Saturday night).
The Hawks are likely to start the same lineup as during the win over the Ducks, meaning winger Jeremy Morin and rookie defenseman Adam Clendening would be scratches.
Veteran Marian Hossa and Johnny Oduya, who were both shaken up during the game with the Ducks, are scheduled to play.
