Another Goalie Win for Chicago

photo from chicagonow.com

Last recap, I said that Corey Crawford had to be better. Last night, he made forty two of forty four saves. I don't know if he's magically turned his slump around after one game, but I do think the momentum from this win will carry him forward. If he has another good game on Sunday (Antti Raanta is likely starting the game tonight against Edmonton) then it could do a lot for his mental game.


Crawford was good last night. After a handful of lacklustre games with a below average save percentage, he came out of this game with only two goals allowed and a save percentage above .950. The Blackhawks allowed a season high forty four shots on goal, and had to endure a second period where they spend most of their time trapped in their own zone by the Wild. It's only the fifth time this season where they've allowed over forty. Part of the problem last night was discipline. The Blackhawks took five minor penalties in last nights game, including giving Minnesota over thirty seconds of a five on three, which they ended up scoring on. In return, the Blackhawks scored a power play goal during the five minute major that Thomas Vanek took for boarding Marcus Kruger, their twenty ninth of the season.

Patrick Kane continues to fly up the leaderboard, earning third place in the NHL after a goal and two assists. He's now only two points behind Tyler Seguin, four behind Jakub Voracek. He scored his twentieth of the season last night, the eighth season in a row he's reached the twenty goal mark (including the lockout season). He's currently on pace for ninety points.

The surprising hero of last night's third period (and game) was Bryan Bickell, who scored both the game winner and the empty netter. He has four goals in his last five games, and he seems to be adjusting well to the bigger responsibilities and increased ice time that comes with playing on a line with Kane (who got the primary assists on both goals). Brad Richards also seems to be picking it back up, with five points in his last three games and having his first three point game of the season, collecting three assists from the Kane and Bickell goals.

My Three Stars of the Game

3. Corey Crawford. This was exactly the kind of game Crawford needed to have after the Colorado game. He's been allowing too many early goals recently and it's been forcing the Blackhawks to play catch up all game. Last night's game was excellent though, and if he can keep the momentum from it carrying through, I think he'll start working his way back up to the numbers he had pre injury.

2. Patrick Kane. Kane's play is nothing short of elite right now. He's producing with whoever he's on a line with, and he's making it look easy. He has eighteen points in his last thirteen games, and he's on pace for a forty goal season, the first of his career.

1. Bryan Bickell. Bickell's not been producing the way his four million dollar contract says it should, but recently he's been picking it up. With a rotating door of left wings on the second line while Kris Versteeg recovers from a broken hand, Bickell is making an excellent case as to why it should be him.