CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Ray Emery will make consecutive starts for the first time this season when his team hosts the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night at the United Center.
Emery was in net on Thursday when the Hawks beat the New York Islanders, 3-2 in overtime, and coach Joel Quenneville is sticking with him.
"He hasn't had a chance to go," Quenneville said. "Right now we'll see where we're going. At the same time, [Corey Crawford] is working on his game. It's part of the process."
Crawford was pulled in his last start against the Phoenix Coyotes on Monday. The Hawks got down 3-0, then rallied behind Emery to tie the game before losing in a shootout.
Emery is taking the extra playing time in stride.
"I think it might be an opportunity to give [Crawford] a bit of a rest," he said. "Maybe that's what my contribution can be to a successful playoff team -- is having a fresh goalie."
Emery admitted he had a slow training camp and has continually called it a "process" in terms of improving. Now he sees an advantage in playing in several games in a row. Emery won a game last Saturday in St. Louis so Sunday's game will make his fourth consecutive contest seeing game action.
"When you play a bit more frequently you have to think about things a bit less," Emery said. "I'll take the games when I can get them."
Emery is 5-1-2 on the season.
Also expected to play is new dad Patrick Sharp. His wife gave birth to a baby girl, Madelyn Grace, on Friday afternoon, not long after the Hawks returned from Long Island where they won on Sharp's overtime goal the night before.
"I called my wife after the game and was expecting a 'congratulations' or 'nice goal' and the first thing she said was, 'I think I'm having the baby,'" Sharp said.
The Hawks lost 1-0 to the Sharks the day before Thanksgiving. San Jose plays in St. Louis on Saturday night.
Jesse Rogers covers the Blackhawks for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN 1000.