Savard opts to start Crawford against Flames

The stretch drive to the playoffs in the NHL is all about guts in more ways than one, as it turns out.

Blackhawks coach Denis Savard called it a gut feeling, his decision to start rookie goalie Corey Crawford in another critical game today against the Calgary Flames at a sold-out United Center.

Savard returns to Crawford instead of coming back with Patrick Lalime, one of the heroes of Friday's 6-3 win at Columbus, after deciding Nikolai Khabibulin wasn't quite ready to play after missing the last 12 games with back spasms.

"He's not quite there. He needs a couple more days," Savard said Saturday. "It looks like Wednesday, but I don't know that. I'm taking one game at a time."

With every game carrying so much meaning now, Savard is hesitant to use Khabibulin until he is sure the veteran is ready physically and mentally.

"He feels good physically," Savard said. "It's just that mentally, his timing in his mind is not quite there. I don't know much about that position as far as I never played it, but I think a lot of it has to do between the ears to start with. I want to make sure. When he says he's ready to go, then we'll go."

Crawford will be making his fourth start and third of the week. His 2.14 goals-against average and .929 save percentage are a true indicator of how well he has played.

"My gut feeling is telling me Corey is the guy so I'm going to go with that," Savard said. "Of course Patty won (Friday) night and played a good game for us, but I have plenty of confidence in any of them I put in."

Savard admitted the only reason he was even considering using Khabibulin is the veteran's track record against Calgary. Khabibulin is 19-5-2 for his career against the Flames with a 2.09 goals-against record, and that's not including beating them in seven games in the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals.

"If it would have been any other team, I wouldn't even have thought about it, but he's had so much success against that team," Savard said. "But because it was Calgary I thought about, but then I thought more and said it shouldn't matter who it is and let's do the right things for him and for the team."

With only 10 games to play the Hawks can't afford any more losses at home, where they play the next two and three of four.

"We're a pretty confident group and the biggest thing is I think we're enjoying this and having fun," said defenseman Brent Seabrook. "It's just nice to have everybody playing for the same thing."

Enjoying the experience, grinding out key wins and parking things such as the four-game losing streak that ended Friday is all part of a young Hawks team learning what it takes -- not only for this year but in the future.

"They're enjoying the process that we're in," Savard said. "How they handle themselves after a loss now, they take a lot of pride in that."

Today's faceoff

Blackhawks vs. Calgary Flames at the United Center, 2 p.m.

TV: None

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

The skinny: The Flames have won only once in their last four games and all of a sudden they don't look like a sure thing to make the playoffs. In Thursday's 6-4 loss in Atlanta, the Flames blew a 3-0 lead. Jarome Iginla is still the straw that stirs the drink in Calgary with 44 goals and 86 points. His 9 game-winning goals ranks second in the NHL behind Alexander Ovechkin. The Hawks lead the season series 2-1, but all the games have been tight. The Hawks have won 2-1 and 3-1 and lost 3-2.

Player to watch: Corey Crawford. Hawks rookie goalie steps back into the spotlight in a critical game.

Next game: Washington Capitals at the United Center, 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

-- Tim Sassone