It’s Corey Crawford’s net again.
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville named Crawford the starting goaltender after Monday’s morning skate for Game 1 when the Hawks open the Western Conference Semifinals against the Minnesota Wild.
Crawford replaced Scott Darling midway through the first period in the Hawks 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators in Game 6 of the first-round series. Crawford stopped 13 shots in the win. Crawford, who hadn’t played since giving up six goals in Game 2, watched Darling come in for him in Game 1 and take over the staring job in Game 3.
Crawford allowed nine goals on 69 shots in more than 120 minus go ice time during the first-round series. He was 2-2-0 and made 146 saves on 154 shots against the Wild this season. Crawford posted a 1.73 goals-against average and 9.73 save percentage against the Wild during the past two playoff series.
The dates and times of the second-round series have yet to be determined.
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