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‘Hawks to stick with Crawford in Game 5, water still wet

Chicago Blackhawks v Phoenix Coyotes - Game Five

GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 21: Goaltender Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks looks up at the video board in Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Phoenix Coyotes during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Jobing.com Arena on April 21, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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In news that isn’t really news but sort of is because circumstances made it so, Corey Crawford will start in goal for Chicago in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.

This narrative comes after Crawford allowed five goals -- and got his glove hand exposed -- during Wednesday’s overtime win against the Bruins.

Crawford was a major topic in the postgame presser, which included ‘Hawks head coach Joel Quennevile being asked if he was concerned about Crawford’s glove (Coach Q said he wasn’t.)

Today, the questions went a step further as Quenneville was asked if he’d consider starting Ray Emery on Saturday.

Here’s how that went...

QUESTION: Joel, I’ll get this one out of the way early. You’ve got a backup goalie who set a wins record, I believe, this year, he’s played in the Final, he’s got a lot of experience. Given where the goals seemed to be going in on Corey, do you even consider at this point making a change at all?

COACH QUENNEVILLE: No, not at all. No, we’re very comfortable with Corey. Corey has been rock solid all year for us, and when he’s got the ball, he’s been outstanding, and he’s the biggest reason why we’re here today.

Emery did have an outstanding season -- 17-1-0 record, .922 save percentage, 1.94 GAA -- and Quenneville said in the past he wouldn’t be against using two goalies in the playoffs.

But in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final? After Crawford played every minute of every playoff game? And with Emery not having suited up since Apr. 24?

No chance.

As for Crawford, he said he won’t start thinking about his glove being an issue, but did acknowledge the Bruins are targeting it.

“Well, 99 percent of the shots are going glove side, I don’t know what you would say,” he explained. “I can’t start thinking about that, that’s when you get in trouble when you start thinking everything is going to go glove.

“I’m just going to play the way I’ve been playing and stick with that.”