Chicago Blackhawks' Darling gaining confidence with extended net time

With every day, week, month and season that goes by, Scott Darling's confidence continues to grow.

That's true of his play between the pipes as the Blackhawks' backup goaltender, but it's also true of his demeanor in the locker room.

The first time I saw Darling interviewed in person - which was after his other-worldly performance against Nashville in Game 1 of the opening round of the 2015 playoffs - he could barely get out a sentence or two while surrounded by hordes of cameras, microphones and cellphones.

Now, that anxiety has all but disappeared. He is comfortable, relaxed, thoughtful, poised and easygoing.

Last week, Darling reflected on how much his life has changed since that incredible Stanley Cup run.

"I'm getting old, man. I'm about to turn 28," he said. "You grow up. … You learn a lot.

"Before I got here, I only had one focus - I was in survival mode. Happy to pay my phone bill every month and just happy to have a team want me to play for them.

"But you grow up away from the rink too. Grown-up things: Bills, house, mortgage - stuff like that."

Darling went on to say he's grown a lot as a goalie as well, and it's certainly shown since he took over for Corey Crawford, who remains out after having an appendectomy on Dec. 4. In five games, Darling has allowed just 6 regulation goals and has posted a crazy-good .951 save percentage. His record is 2-2-1 only because the Hawks have managed a measly 9 goals themselves, with 4 coming against lowly Arizona.

"He's been huge," Brent Seabrook said. "He's been unbelievable."

Overall, Darling is 6-2-2 this season with a .929 save percentage, and he's 27-14-6 with a .923 save percentage in three seasons with the Hawks.

Said Duncan Keith on Friday: "I think he's - in a roundabout way - excited about this opportunity to get some consistent action and play. As a team we've got a ton of confidence in him."

When this season ends, it will be interesting to see which other team - or teams - show confidence in Darling to be a everyday starter. Don't be surprised to see a bidding war for a guy who is making just $600,000 this season.

The 6-foot-6, 232-pound Darling already possesses one thing you can't teach, and that's size.

But he's also got incredible quickness and reflexes, and is able to anticipate how a play will unfold much, much better than just a year ago.

"There's not a lot of opportunities to get that (starter's) job in our league and it's very competitive," Joel Quenneville said. "But I think he's proven that he can play and he can play a lot of games."

As we sit here in December, it's next to impossible to say where Darling may end up next season (assuming the Hawks don't do something crazy like trade Crawford). The top contenders right now, though, might be the expansion Las Vegas Golden Knights and four teams with goalies who could easily be replaced - Buffalo, Calgary, Philadelphia and Winnipeg.

"There's so many goalies moving around at the end of every season," Darling said. "Contracts play a huge part in everything. There's no way to really forecast what the landscape's going to look like this summer. …

"So it's hard to get ahead of yourself and it won't matter if you don't play well. So I'm just trying to play well."

He's certainly doing that and earning plenty of money in the process.

No matter where Darling ends up, though, he's extremely grateful to the Hawks' coaches and front-office personnel for the opportunities they've provided.

"Even if last year if I had one or two bad games in a row, it's not like they were shipping me out of here," Darling said. "They had faith in me, and it helps you want to return the favor and work hard to thank them for showing that faith in you and bringing you up here in the first place.

"It's been an awesome two-and-a-half years and I've been really lucky to be here."

Blackhawks vs. Dallas Stars at United Center, 6 p.m. Sunday

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: WGN 720-AM

The skinny: Dallas, the team that won the Central Division in 2015-16, has been ravaged with injuries. Patrick Sharp is dealing with a concussion for the second time this season, and he did not make the trip to Chicago. Jiri Hudler, who scored 16 goals last season and 31 the one before that, has only played in four games in his first campaign with the Stars. He's been out with an illness, and might return to play the Hawks. Johnny Oduya, meanwhile, has been out with a lower-body injury. Coach Lindy Ruff said Oduya would play in one of Dallas' two games this weekend, meaning he should face his former team Sunday. … The Stars are 2-4-1 in its last five games. They lost 4-2 at Philly on Saturday when the Flyers scored 3 goals in the final 3:48. … The Hawks beat the Stars 3-2 on Nov. 5 at Dallas. … Scott Darling starts in net for the Hawks.

Next: New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, 6 p.m. Tuesday

- John Dietz