Turco backstops Blackhawks to win

Associated Press

Chicago

In an unscheduled start, Marty Turco turned in an uncustomarily solid performance.

Turco made 26 saves and Patrick Sharp scored two goals to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday night for their fourth straight win.

Turco lost a bid for his second shutout this season with 2:26 left in the third period when Derick Brassard scored a screened power-play goal on Columbus 27th — and final — shot of the game.

But Turco won for the first time since Nov. 17 when he made 18 saves in a 5-0 victory at Edmonton. He started on Sunday when rookie Corey Crawford, who started Chicago’s previous four games and 10 of its last 12, didnt dress due to the flu.

“I really didn’t know how Id feel,” Turco said. “All night I had to turn off the brain, go out and play and assess it later.

“It was good to feel the way I did. Its been a while since I had this feeling.”

Turco had lost three games and had a no-decision in his last four starts. In his last start, Dec. 13 at Colorado, he allowed four goals on 10 shots before being replaced by Crawford.

“He was a big part of the win tonight,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “It was a very important game for us for a lot of reasons, but it was good to see Marty get a win.”

Had Crawford been healthy, he would have played Sunday.

“We knew yesterday,” Quenneville said. “Sometimes decisions are made for you.”

Tomas Kopecky and Dave Bolland also scored for Chicago, which has allowed just five goals during its winning streak.

“Weve been playing a stronger team game the last four-five games,” Sharp said. “Its resulted in not a lot of chances against. The guys have really stepped up.”

Blackhawks star forward Marian Hossa returned after missing 10 games with a lower body injury and assisted on Chicago’s first two goals.