The Chicago Blackhawks have had some ups and downs so far this season, but goalie Corey Crawford is still showing consistency. The 32-year-old goaltender has just recorded back-to-back shutouts against the Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota Wild to help his team to two much-needed wins. The Blackhawks had been skidding over the past two weeks, and getting four points in the last two games is significant to get them back on track.
Crawford has been playing in the NHL for over a decade and has contributed to two Stanley Cup runs in Chicago (2013, 2015) and is showing no signs of slowing down.
He is among the league leaders in save percentage and goals against.
Two straight goose eggs
The Blackhawks offense has not been scoring a whole lot lately, five tallies in the last two games with two of them being empty neat goals. Having Crawford keep the team in these games was the difference between winning and losing. The first two games of the season they scored 15 goals combined and did not need Crawford shutting out the opposition by any means, but with a struggling offense now, he had the pressure to stop the opposition.
Crawford Against the Flyers made 35 saves, and against the Wild, he made 24 saves, in total stopping 59 shots in two games. Crawford got support mid-way in the game against the Flyers with two goals in 20 seconds by Artem Anisimov and Jonathan Toews.
The Blackhawks and Wild both were scoreless late in Saturday night's game until Artem Anisimov scored a power-play goal with around five minutes to go. The shutout against the Wild was Crawford's 22nd career whitewash.
Important asset
Corey Crawford has spent his whole professional career with the Chicago Blackhawks and has been a centerpiece for a while now.
He became a regular starter in 2010-2011 after the departure of Antti Niemi and Cristobal Huet and since has won 219 regular season games. He was vital in the 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cup victories, holds two Jennings Trophies and has been to three All-Star games.
Going into Saturday he was leading NHL goaltenders in save percentage, and he currently sports a .950 SV% after his 24-save effort against the Wild.
He also went into Saturday leading Goals Saved Above Average (11) and second in Goals Against Average (1.91). It may be early in the season, but Crawford is already in early Vezina Trophy talks for his efforts. The Blackhawks defense may have slowed up over the years, but luckily for them, Corey Crawford has not.
