April 19--Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said it was a "no brainer" to go back to goaltender Corey Crawford for Game 2 against the Predators.
After Crawford allowed six goals Friday night, however, Quenneville had another decision to make. This time, he said, it wasn't so easy.
But Quenneville pulled the plug on the struggling Crawford and will start Scott Darling in goal Sunday in Game 3 at the United Center. Darling saved Game 1 -- a 4-3 Hawks victory in double overtime -- when he made 42 saves without allowing a goal in relief of Crawford after one period.
"Scotty is coming off a spectacular outing and is deserving of getting a start at home based on how well he played in that game," Quenneville said Saturday.
But Darling is not affixed to the net. Quenneville said the Hawks will continue to evaluate the goaltender situation on a game-by-game basis and will need Crawford ready. Goaltenders coach Jimmy Waite delivered the news to Crawford on Saturday with Quenneville saying he planned to speak with Crawford on Sunday morning before Game 3.
"I would expect 'Crow' to handle it like a pro," Quenneville said. "I think he would be understanding knowing that competitive instinct (of wanting) to be in the net (and) you can't wait to get it back (in) there. I'm sure he's probably not happy. But I can't really say exactly how he handled it."
The move says as much about Darling's sterling performance in Game 1 as it does about Crawford's postseason troubles in net, which extend back to the Western Conference finals last season. In his last eight playoff games, Crawford has allowed an average of 4.5 goals per game. He has allowed at least three goals in each game during that stretch against the Kings and Predators.
"You look at long term, it's not like he's never going to play again," Quenneville said. "It's not like he's discarded off the team. He's still a part of it. He's a big part of it. Things change instantly in our game and we saw instantly in Game 1 and here we are with a chance to make a different decision in Game 3. That's the business we're in. It's performance-driven a lot of times."
Meanwhile, Darling has allowed more than three goals just once since Oct. 30. Sunday will mark the first time Crawford hasn't started a playoff game for the Hawks since 2010.
"It's a tough decision for us," Quenneville said. "Crow has done so much for us in the past and he has had a tremendous year."
Quenneville tried to put a positive spin on the change Saturday in saying Darling getting the start is a tribute to the Hawks' depth at the position.
"We have depth up front, depth on the back end and two really good goalies," Quenneville said. "We're comfortable with making tough decisions and eventually sometimes you have to make tough decisions. We don't mind them, we welcome them. I think that makes us a deeper team."
For the players in front of Darling, it doesn't much matter who is behind them. What does matter is how they play.
"I know Crawford got us where we are this season," winger Patrick Kane said. "Sometimes when goalies let in a few goals or struggle, it can stand out a little bit. Whoever's in net we'll support and try to give our best effort."
The Hawks hope the comforts of home will help along that front. They are 19-4 at the United Center over the last two postseasons as they try to turn the page from Friday's debacle.
"It was a tough feeling waking up (Saturday) morning," Patrick Sharp said.
chine@tribpub.com
