Hawks: Sharp deserving of all-star vote

Patrick Sharp doesn't need to be on the NHL's all-star ballot to prove his worth to the Blackhawks.

Nevertheless, something seems out of whack when Sharp, the league's seventh- leading scorer with 16 goals and 29 points going into Thursday's games, isn't among the 100 players on the fan ballot for the All-Star Game.

And this is a guy who had 11 goals in the playoffs last spring to help lead the Hawks to the Stanley Cup.

“I don't understand that,” teammate Troy Brouwer said. “He may get overlooked because of the other players on our team and I know every team can only send so many players, but he's a name that shouldn't be lost and shouldn't be forgotten.”

The Hawks have the most players on the all-star ballot with six in Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Brian Campbell.

It's possible Sharp could be named an all-star by the special panel that will select the next 36 players after the six starters are voted in by fans.

“He should be on that ballot for sure,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “He's had a great start to the season and certainly earns every opportunity to be considered and is deserving of being on the team.”

Turco's turn:

Despite Corey Crawford's personal five-game winning streak, coach Joel Quenneville is going back to Marty Turco for tonight's game against Vancouver at the United Center.

“Turks is excited about getting back into the lineup,” Quenneville said. “He hasn't played in a bit and I think we want to keep him going.

“Crawford, I know he won the (last) game, but I still think keeping them both active and giving them both a chance to play and Marty getting back in there off that last game is something we're looking forward to.”

Turco hasn't started since a 5-2 loss at San Jose on Nov. 24 and is without a win since shutting out Edmonton on Nov. 17. The veteran has allowed 12 goals in his two starts since Edmonton to see his goals-against average rise to 2.90 and save percentage fall to .904.

Crawford gave up 5 goals in beating the Blues on Tuesday night.

Bad timing:

Joel Quenneville agrees with those who thought Nick Boynton didn't need to fight the Blues' B.J. Crombeen midway through the second period Tuesday with the Hawks enjoying a 5-1 lead and owning all the momentum.

The Blues, possibly sparked by Crombeen, got the next 3 goals.

“I think that's something you can talk about as a team, and the timing of that is something that's important in momentum and keeping it as long as you can,” Quenneville said. “I think that's something if you can avoid it the need was probably more pressing for them at that time.”