Blackhawks hope Lalime can provide much-needed spark

As well as Corey Crawford has played, the rookie goaltender won't be in the net tonight when the Blackhawks try to save their season against the Blue Jackets in Columbus.

Hawks coach Denis Savard is returning to Patrick Lalime, gambling that the veteran can provide the kind of spark he has on several occasions this season.

"I'm going to remind you guys (about) seven weeks ago who got us back on track -- Patty Lalime," Savard said. "My reasoning behind this, and (Crawford) has played great, is we haven't won, too. I think with goaltenders, it's more than just playing well. They want to win. They need to win."

The Hawks have lost four straight, the last two with Crawford in goal, but the defeats were hardly his fault. Crawford stopped 73 of 78 shots in losses to Detroit and Carolina during which his teammates supported him with all of 1 goal.

"He has been great," Savard said. "He has proved to us that he belongs here."

The catch is Crawford might not be around at this time next week. Nikolai Khabibulin might be ready to play as soon as Sunday against Calgary, and when that happens Crawford will be headed back to Rockford to help get the IceHogs into the American Hockey League playoffs.

Lalime has lost his last two starts, but before that he went 10-5 to help put the Hawks in the playoff race in the Western Conference.

Now, with only 11 games to play, the Hawks can't afford too many more slip-ups.

"There's still hope," Lalime said. "We have 11 games; win one at a time, and we need to start (tonight)."

Looking ahead to next season, Crawford certainly will be one of the two Hawks goalies, likely with Khabibulin, provided he isn't traded. Lalime will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.

"We know that next year there's going to be a great chance that he's here, whether he plays 30 games or 50 games, I don't know," Savard said of Crawford. "That was the plan. That's why Dale (Tallon) signed Patty for one year, thinking that the kid was going to be able to come up at some point.

"We'll see, but he's certainly right now shown he's capable of being here."

Crawford's poise and quickness appear to be his strength. He's a cool and calm kid.

"He's so calm," said teammate Adam Burish, who played with Crawford in the minors. "His movements are real square and slow. He's a boring goaltender, but boring is good."

The Hawks have made sure Crawford developed properly instead of rushing him to the NHL too early. This is Crawford's third full season in the minors.

"There's no doubt he has paid his dues," Savard said. "We've done the right thing with him, keeping him down there and playing lots of games.

"He's calm, his quickness is great and he reads the play well, which is helping him a lot to make some key saves. Some of them look very easy to me from the bench, the fact he's in good position and able to move side to side pretty quick."

Tonight's faceoff

Blackhawks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, 6 p.m.

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

The skinny: The Hawks and the Blue Jackets each have 73 points, so tonight's loser is going to be in a tough spot as far as the playoffs go. The Hawks play Columbus three times in their final 11 games. The Blue Jackets lead the season series 3-2, although the Hawks won 7-2 on Feb. 13 at Nationwide. The Jackets have been off since Sunday but Thursday named 23-year-old winger Rick Nash their new captain.

Player to watch: Patrick Lalime. Hawks coach Denis Savard is gambling that the veteran can provide a spark.

Next: Calgary Flames at the United Center, 2 p.m. Sunday

-- Tim Sassone