Crawford gets another crack at the Predators

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville will come right back with Corey Crawford as his goalie for Tuesday’s important Central Division game against Nashville.

Quenneville, who pulled Crawford in the second period of Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Predators, said he wasn’t concerned about his No. 1 goalie’s play or confidence.

One of the goals Crawford allowed at Nashville was Kevin’s Klein’s shot from center ice that took a sideways bounce and went into the net, snapping a 1-1 tie.

“He’s fine,” Quenneville said Monday. “I think everybody goes through, you know, you let a funny one in over time, but you have to move past it and learn from it and put it in the back of your mind.”

Crawford has 18 wins but a lowly .902 save percentage and 2.88 goals-against average.

“I’m more worried about wins right now,” Crawford said. “Obviously my stats aren’t as good as I’d want them to be, but the only way to turn that around is focus on the next shot and focus on winning games.”

A second straight loss to the Predators would leave a bad taste in the Hawks’ mouths heading into the six-day all-star break.

“It’s a huge game, especially since they beat us in their building,” Patrick Kane said. “We need to try to get a couple points then enjoy our time off.”

When the Hawks do return from the break they will come face to face with their nine-game road trip.

“Obviously it’s not going to be fun to play nine in a row on the road,” Kane said.

Grind it out:It#146;s never easy playing the defensive-minded Predators, as the Hawks found out again in Saturday#146;s loss.#147;We have to be better than we were at Nashville,#148; Joel Quenneville said. #147;It doesn#146;t have to be pretty. It#146;s more workmanlike, it#146;s supporting the puck, coming up with loose pucks, wanting the puck, going to hard areas. We didn#146;t do a good job of that in the game the other night. It doesn#146;t have to be pretty, it#146;s more together.#148;Sharp getting closer:Joel Quenneville said injured winger Patrick Sharp skated Monday as he continues his rehab from a broken left wrist.#147;It looked like he did a lot of work out there today,#148; Quenneville said.It#146;s possible Sharp could return at some point next week on the road.