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Crawford gets second straight start for Hawks

Goalie controversy?

Let's not go there just yet despite Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville's decision to give rookie backup Corey Crawford his second straight start over Marty Turco on Wednesday night against Nashville.

“With Crawford, we wanted to give him a home start and give him a chance after a win as well, Quenneville said. “It's early. This is only game four. We want to keep (Crawford) in the mix. Everybody is going to play. Marty is going to play a lot of hockey for us this year.

Turco, who also sat out Monday's 4-3 win at Buffalo behind Crawford, was OK with Quenneville's decision.

“Nothing surprises me, really, anymore, said the 35-year-old veteran. “It's early and there's an emphasis on winning here and it's still my most favorite thing about the Blackhawks. We have a ton of games coming up. He played well and we won. That's as far as I look at it.

Turco started the first two games of the season and lost in overtime at Colorado and 3-2 to Detroit on Saturday when he blamed himself on 2 goals.

“I've won a few games in the league and I'd like to get my first as a Blackhawk no doubt, but I don't feel any more pressure than I do nightly to win, whether it's my first for this team or my 500th win, Turco said.

“The first two games, I felt real good, but the results weren't there and that's the business we're in.

Turco gave himself a tough critique in his first two starts.

“I just hate (crud) goals, Turco said. “I always feel I should have all of them, but the ability to move is one of my greater assets, I think.

Hammer accepts it: Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson just wants to move on from his two-game suspension for Monday's hit that left Buffalo's Jason Pominville with a concussion.

“The league gave me two games, and I just have to accept that, Hjalmarsson said Wednesday. “I didn't intend to hurt him and I hope Jason gets well as soon as possible.

Hjalmarsson said the league told him he hit Pominville too hard while the Sabres' winger was in a vulnerable position along the boards.

“If I could turn back time maybe I would have reacted different, Hjalmarsson said. “Maybe I should have considered him being in a vulnerable position and not hit him so hard.

As for the threat from Buffalo's Patrick Kaleta about possible retribution when the two teams meet again Saturday, Hjalmarsson shrugged if off.

“It's not the other team to decide that, he said. “That's their opinion. Only the opinion of the league matters.