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Another ‘easy’ choice: Hawks confirm Darling back in for Game 4

Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago Blackhawks

AP

Tough goalie decisions for Joel Quenneville this round?

Nah.

The Chicago head coach, who said it was an “easy decision” to stick with Corey Crawford after a rough Game 1 outing against the Preds, is back at it again -- only now it’s Scott Darling who’s the easy choice, especially after he stopped 35 shots in a 4-2 win on Sunday.
“It’s tough to make a change when you like everything about the game,” Quenneville said, per the Chicago Sun-Times. “He played so well. Very deserving.

“I think it was an easy choice.”

Darling, who made his first-ever Stanley Cup playoff start in Game 3, has been terrific this series, posting a 2-0-0 record with a .975 save percentage and 0.94 GAA. Quenneville’s raved about the 26-year-old, calling his 42-save effort in Game 1 “one of the greatest relief performances you’re going to see.”

As for Crawford... well, he’s clearly on the outside looking in after allowing nine goals on 47 shots over four periods of action against Nashville. The ‘Hawks don’t seem keen on another goalie switch, and certainly don’t sound as though they expect Darling to go south.

“He’s done an outstanding job, played well in [the United Center], played some big games on the road,” Quenneville said. “Doesn’t get rattled, doesn’t change his demeanor no matter what the situation is. He’s got a smile on his face, he’s happy to be here.

“Good story.”