OTTAWA -- The Blackhawks had three goaltenders on the ice for the morning skate, but it's the upstart Scott Darling who will make his third straight start, and second in five days, against the Ottawa Senators.

Darling, who beat the Senators 2-1 at the United Center Sunday and was in goal for Chicago's 1-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks Tuesday, earned another shot according to Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville.

“He came to the organization out of camp and was a big surprise for us,” Quenneville said of Darling, 25, a 6-foot-6 goaltender who has spent most of his pro career in the nether regions of the SPHL and ECHL.

“His size, presence -- he looks square, looks confident,” Quenneville said. “He's very comfortable, handles the puck well, moves well. He had an outstanding training camp, played well in the preseason games as well and is coming off two nice starts for us. He's been a good story for us so far.”

Starter Corey Crawford is missing his sixth game with an upper body injury but will dress as Darling's backup. Crawford, who split net time with backup Antti Raanta during the morning skate in Ottawa, is expected to start Saturday's game in Toronto against the Maple Leafs.

Quenneville said a goaltending roster move will be made as early as Friday, as either Darling or Raanta will be sent down to AHL Rockford.

Raanta has appeared in three games this season and is 1-2-0 with a 2.03 goals-against average and .933 save percentage.

Darling, 1-1-0, enters the game against the Senators with a 1.03 goals-against and .966 save percentage.

Hossa's numbers: With two milestones looming, winger Marian Hossa returns Thursday to the NHL city that drafted him 12th overall in 1997. Hossa's game in Ottawa will be the 1,100th of his NHL career and with 998 points, he is just two points away from recording 1,000. To hit the number while here would be fitting.

“I would be lying if I said no, but my focus is still on the game,” Hossa said. “It's always nice to come back to Ottawa, where I started, and if I make a milestone in this building, it would be great, but first we have to win the hockey game.”

The occasion gave Quenneville another opportunity to heap praise on Hossa.

“We're fortunate,” Quenneville said. “He's a special player. You look back to his beginning here (in Ottawa) and he was outstanding when he first came into the league, he's set high standards for how he competed, how he plays, performs. He's just one of those guys that plays exactly the right way, and has had a lot of production along the way that -- as a coach -- you're fortunate to be able to play in all situations.”