PHX VS CHIBlackhawks' goalie Crawford coming up big under radar

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By Tracey Myers

If Corey Crawford was still sitting in the Blackhawks' locker room as the media filed in on Saturday night, a large contingent probably passed him by.

The game-winning goal scorer, Bryan Bickell, had his scrum. So did Patrick Sharp, who deflected Brent Seabrook's shot to force overtime. Seabrook got his attention, too.

But lost in the shuffle of late regulation and overtime goals and hits on the opposing goaltender was the work of Crawford, who stopped 30 of 33 en route to the Blackhawks' 4-3 victory over Phoenix on Saturday. Crawford was especially strong down the stretch, stopping the Coyotes' attempts to cushion that lead late in the third period and win it in overtime.

Big glove saves, 2-on-1 stops, Crawford came through and gave the Blackhawks a chance to win on the other side. He said he was feeling confident entering the postseason, and it's showing.

"My timing's on, I'm feel good. I'm picking the right spots to be aggressive, when to sit back a little bit," he said recently. "It just seems like my game is coming together."

This is the Corey Crawford the Blackhawks saw last season. The one that won the starting job around December from veteran Marty Turco. The one who played 30-plus games - regular season and playoff - at the end of the season, helping the Blackhawks stay in the postseason picture. The one who just about got the Blackhawks past Vancouver and into the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.

But that guy was missing several times in 2011-12. He struggled, gave up goals in bunches and was pulled way too often. And as Ray Emery played well in relief, it looked like the Blackhawks were going to face another goalie controversy, another season in which No. 2 usurped No. 1.

Turning things around

By March, however, Crawford was regaining his form. And as the Blackhawks solidified their hold on the No. 1 spot and played through injuries, Crawford was there.

"I think he's really stepped up his game a few levels," Patrick Sharp said. "He's gearing up to play well and we know he will."

And he has. When Crawford was struggling, he wasn't moving well. He was reacting slow to shots, getting out of position and not getting back fast enough. Those glitches are gone, and Crawford's sharpness was evident on Saturday.

"I like the way he's finished a big stretch of the season," coach Joel Quenneville said. "He's got some momentum in his game and he was instrumental in us getting into the playoffs."

Perhaps, in Game 2, the Blackhawks' offensive fireworks overshadowed the guy who was snuffing out the opponents' chances on the other side. Perhaps Mike Smith's 46-stop performance - and the hit he took from Andrew Shaw behind the net in the second period - was more eye-popping.

But Crawford deserves his credit for the Blackhawks' victory on Saturday. And if he continues to log games like that, and like last postseason, his performances are going to be too hard to ignore.

Tracey Myers reports on the Chicago Blackhawks. Follow her on Twitter @TramyersCSN.

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