Marty Turco -- the handpicked replacement for Antti Niemi -- sat and watched from the bench for the second consecutive game on Wednesday.
Corey Crawford got the nod from Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville against the Nashville Predators, and made 24 saves in a 3-2 loss.
The decision to start Crawford was a case of Quenneville playing the hot hand, which he did at times last season. Crawford survived an early two-goal hole Monday against the Buffalo Sabres for a 4-3 win, the Hawks' first of the season.
''There is an emphasis on winning here, and it's still my most favorite thing about the Blackhawks,'' said Turco, who learned Tuesday that Crawford was starting. ''We've got a ton of games coming up. He played well. We won. That's as far as I look at it.''
Quenneville made it a point to say Turco is not struggling when Crawford got his first start. On Wednesday, he said he ''wanted to give [Crawford] a home start and give him a chance after a win as well.''
Turco is itching to get his first win as a Hawk and took the blame for the back-to-back losses. Both game-winners were stoppable shots.
''I just hate crap goals,'' Turco said. ''When you lose by one [and] pucks go through you, I just always feel I can have all of them. It doesn't matter if someone makes a great play and shot. You could have always done something different. The ability to move on is one of my greater assets. ... The first two games I felt real good, but the results weren't there. That's the business we're in.
''I've won a few games in the league, [and] I'd like to get my first as a Blackhawk.''
Turco is considered the starter and is expected to play this weekend when the Hawks have back-to-back games against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Sabres.
Crawford is relishing every chance he gets to play.
''For now, it's just trying to do my job and let the coaches make that decision [about who starts],'' Crawford said. ''I've always been pretty confident. So confidence-wise that doesn't really change much. It's just more about feelings. The more and more chances I get to play, the better I'll feel. For that reason it's good.''
