Jan. 01--The Chicago Blackhawks will close out 2015 with backup Scott Darling in goal when they face the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night in Denver.
Darling has not played since Dec. 10 and has not recorded a victory since Nov. 15 when he defeated the Calgary Flames 4-1. Crawford started the Hawks' previous nine games but will serve as backup on his 31st birthday.
"(Crawford) has played a lot and we want to get (Darling) back in the net," coach Joel Quenneville said. "It's a good opportunity for him to get going. He's capable. He did a great job for us last year, he's a big goalie, he can win games on his own and let's go."
There will be two other lineup changes with defenseman Rob Scuderi drawing back into the lineup replacing Michal Rozsival and forward Brandon Mashinter getting the call likely in place of Bryan Bickell.
The Hawks face a tough task in Avs goalie Semyon Varlamov, who has reeled off eight consecutive victories against them and is 11-3-0 lifetime.
"He's certainly got our number," Quenneville said. "We've got to make it a little harder on him. We can't discount how well he's played knowing that some nights we have as many chances as we do against anybody and get nothing to show for it."
