Darling backs up Chicago Blackhawks' strong play

The backup goalie.

Over the course of an 82-game season, most normally don't get a whole lot of attention.

Still, NHL teams with aspirations of winning the Stanley Cup need a reliable second stringer because very few starters are going to be in net for more than 65 games.

That means guys like the Chicago Blackhawks' Scott Darling must step up to the plate when their names are called, even if it is only 10-15 days.

It has been an uneven start to the season for Darling, but he certainly impressed Sunday night at the United Center as he turned away 25 of 26 shots in the Hawks' 4-1 victory over Calgary.

"It was a long two weeks working hard with (goaltending coach) Jimmy (Waite), and they're good coaches," Darling said. "I'm happy with the way it ended up tonight."

Darling did allow the game's first goal 3:41 into the second period, but the Hawks quickly answered with 3 goals of their own. They came off the sticks of Patrick Kane (at 6:37), Marian Hossa (7:40) and Artemi Panarin (8:32).

Just like that it was 3-1 and the Hawks (10-7-1) never looked back. Jonathan Toews added an empty-net goal for the final score.

For Kane, who also had an assist, it extended his points streak to 13 games, 1 shy of his career high. Panarin has 6 goals and 18 points in 18 games.

"Kane and (Panarin), when they got the puck it seemed like they held it forever," Calgary defenseman Mark Giordano said.

Darling was particularly impressive during a four-minute span in the second period when the Hawks had to kill off slightly overlapping penalties by Toews and Marcus Kruger.

"It definitely got me into it because I didn't see a lot of rubber until then," said Darling, who needed to make just 4 saves in the first period.

Darling (9-4-1 last year with a .936 save percentage) has played in five games. He was excellent against the New York Islanders on Oct. 10, but he allowed 9 goals in losses at Washington on Oct. 15 and Minnesota on Oct. 30.

His other appearance came in relief when he saved 12 of 13 shots at New Jersey on Nov. 6 after Corey Crawford gave up 3 first-period goals in a 4-2 loss.

"I just think that we're going to need him to be solid, be consistent, win hockey games for us and give us the consistency in the net that was so effective for us last year," coach Joel Quenneville said before the game.

Afterward, Quenneville said: "He was busy and did a great job."

Crawford played in 57 games last season and 59 the one before, which means Darling can expect about 20-25 starts this season. Crawford certainly is sympathetic to the backup's plight of trying to stay sharp in-between starts, saying that the "little things come a lot easier than when you're in and out, or you haven't played in a few games. I find those little details come a little more smooth and easier."

Crawford - just like all starters - has another perk.

"(After) one of his rare off nights, he just gets to play again the next game," Darling said. "He doesn't have to dwell on it. He just moves forward with it. It's the nice thing about being the starter.

"But it's part of my job as a backup to bring it every chance I get a chance to play."

The Hawks' next game is Wednesday in Edmonton as the begin a six-game road trip.