Can anyone see Q going with 2 goalies instead of 1? At least for the first round. It seems that tho emery's play is more trusted, his health is not. I see Q playing Crow, knowing that he may have a marginally better (if not long playoff run health worthy) plan B.

I mean, doesnt Q have to use both goalies?
- miked23

He'll use both. i think there is likely to be a 1A and a 1B, a guy who gets more work or plays the bigger games. If Emery is ready (and I hear he will be), i would rather go with the guy who's head I trust than the guy who is less likely to break down physically.

Crawford's missed more games due to injury this year than Emery has. Fact.

When Crow let in the second goal last night, I was thinking to myself, "Self, how long is he going to continue letting in these bullsh*t goals?" A shot like that is like a catcher smothering a ball in the dirt in the 9th inning, up by one, with a runner on third. You do whatever you can to get in front of the puck and smother it with your body.

I definitely don't claim to be a goalie expert. From the eye test, Crawford seems like the better goalie. But, the defense does seem to play better in front of Emery, shots against are considerably lower when he's in net. And maybe that says all you need to know. I just don't know if Ray has enough in the tank for the entire playoff run.

If Q goes with Emery in the playoffs, I think he would be the coach to break conventional playoff wisdom, and let Crow spell Emery here and there during a playoff run.
- 1mbecker

Couldn't agree more!!

I like the way the team plays in front of Razor, less SOG and less quality scoring chances. The only concern for most fans is the long playoff grind and how his hip will hold up.

Not a big Crawford fan and never have been, but this season he started to win me over at least up until the last handful of games where you could see him starting to revert to his old ways.
Letting soft goals in, going down to early and questionable positioning.
This all starting to present it's self at the worst possible time.
Not much time to work on that with 4 games left and trying to get Razor in for a coue of them.

A little nervous on what the starting goalie situation.

Razor's health

Crawford's play.

1) Huh? He had a serious issue with his hip, developed avascular necrosis. Serious issue. Had an experimental procedure that a) stopped the progression of avascular necrosis—which is just short of miraculous, and b) allowed him to return as a pro goaltender. Aside from that, what is this "he always gets hurt"? Because beyond the hip, and he's not been held out necessarily since he came back because of it, he's not really been injury prone at all compared to other goalies.

2) You don't know this. You don't know and I don't know why he's missed a game or two beyond what I've heard which is the hip tightened up on him. LOTS of goalies get lots of connective tissue injuries, especially in and around the hips and groin ALL the time. But if it fits the narrative, I guess, go with it.

3) In Anaheim, he came in late in the year and took the Ducks into the playoffs, playing #1 minutes—really before the hip was fully healed, then almost got them out of the first round, as unlikely as that looked to be. So again, what are you talking about?



4) This is a valid question, as it would be with Crawford if he took a little knock on his noggin. Because, you're right (sarcasm font on) Emery is the only goalie who might get injured in the NHL.

5) Again, you don't know this. Supposition based on some blogosphere conjecture.
- John Jaeckel

Everyone knows this. Ray Emery knows this. that's why he says "I'm the backup goalie" every chance he gets....

If the defense plays the way the defense can, I don't care who's in goal. I'll root for either one. But to make a proclamation that the one that's currently injured needs to be "the man" based on a game that was absolutely meaningless to the Hawks on one goal or your own forced narrative is silly.

He'll use both. i think there is likely to be a 1A and a 1B, a guy who gets more work or plays the bigger games. If Emery is ready (and I hear he will be), i would rather go with the guy who's head I trust than the guy who is less likely to break down physically.

Crawford's missed more games due to injury this year than Emery has. Fact.
- John Jaeckel

\\\

Unconventional to rotate goalers (old school) in the playoffs. Wouldn't surprise, but it would be a rare m/o come playoff time.

last night was deja vu .... your observations are spot on. This team is too good to have a playoff sive do them in. It was clear the hawks would lose the shootout before it started .... Crawford was down and backed into the net when the shooter crossed the blueline. Its about mental toughness - Emery has it, Crawford doesn't. Hoping they rest Ray a few more then get him tuned up for the 1st round.
- jgb007

He allows 2 goals in 65 minutes and he's a sieve?

Each goalie has significant question marks.

Glad I'm not the coach.

He allows 2 goals in 65 minutes and he's a sieve?
- Htppr

He let 3 in...in the shootout and looked the WW2 French Army on all 3

Everyone knows this. Ray Emery knows this. that's why he says "I'm the backup goalie" every chance he gets....
If the defense plays the way the defense can, I don't care who's in goal. I'll root for either one. But to make a proclamation that the one that's currently injured needs to be "the man" based on a game that was absolutely meaningless to the Hawks on one goal or your own forced narrative is silly.
- yahoodi

Did you think that maybe he's playing the part of good team mate? Every single NHL goalie wants to be the starter, period end of story Emery is no different, no matter what he may have said in an interview.

I was a fan on Christmas day 1966 when I was 6. Same lows as well as Montreal in '71. Yep 2010 was magical with a magical lineup that had there been no cap makes me wonder if we might have another cup or two.
- paulr

We could have been like the Isles dynasty

Everyone knows this. Ray Emery knows this. that's why he says "I'm the backup goalie" every chance he gets....

If the defense plays the way the defense can, I don't care who's in goal. I'll root for either one. But to make a proclamation that the one that's currently injured needs to be "the man" based on a game that was absolutely meaningless to the Hawks on one goal or your own forced narrative is silly.
- yahoodi

Based on one goal? No, two goals, two inexcusably soft goals at the worst possible time, a year ago. And a couple of goals over the last couple of games.

Based on one guy losing technique at the worst possible time, too many times over the last couple of years. And the other guy not doing that. Based on one guy showing me he is outwaiting shooters all year this year, while the other guy has, of late, tended to go down way too fast.

"Everyone knows this?" No. A group of basically non-hockey people on blogs share this conventional wisdom. The same guys, pretty much to the man, who were all clamoring for Stanley's latest shiny penny, Alexander Salak, to be the Hawks #2 18 months ago. And how would that have worked out? And how many of those would be Rollie Melansons had actually seen Salak play before buying the hype? Damn few, if any.

I'll tell you what I do know. The HAWKS players have a lot of confidence and belief in Ray Emery. And that's way more telling and important to me than some blog crap about how he's a band-aid.

How much did you actually see Ray Emery play before the Hawks signed him? I suspect, not much. How much did you see him play in Anaheim the previous year. I can tell from your post, not at all. So, this was your second off post today. Maybe your average will improve after you have some coffee.

You start Emery, what do you do if he loses the first game! If you feel CC could have an epic meltdown that means mentally weak. I think he would be mentally weaker if you have no faith in him and do not start him. Then you better hope Ray's hip can withstand the grind, cause you might have really lost CC after that..Hopefully Q knows what to do!!!!
- moots

If this is true, then it's all the more reason to start Razor, because you don't want to compete for a Stanley Cup by pandering to the self-esteem issues of a goalie who lacks confidence. If Crow is that "sensitive", then he needs to toughen up and get past it.

He allows 2 goals in 65 minutes and he's a sieve?
- Htppr

No, he's not a sieve. At all. I just think, and i think the coaching staff thinks, he's inconsistent at bad times.

We could have been like the Isles dynasty
- philco28

In hindsight the depth of that team was scary good.

Each goalie has significant question marks.

Glad I'm not the coach.
- AceRatbang

True, but if Emery is "healthy," ie ready to go and 100% such as that is for him at this stage of his career, then there is no question really. That's what I'm saying. Unless Crawford really tightens it up in terms of technique and his confidence the next few games, then yeah, it points to him maybe.

\\\

Unconventional to rotate goalers (old school) in the playoffs. Wouldn't surprise, but it would be a rare m/o come playoff time.
- philco28

Why?

If it worked during the season, it seems like it would work in the play-offs (and I know - play-offs are a different animal).

Right except...

Emery's hurt.

Because he always gets hurt.

Because he's not built to handle the #1 goalie workload anymore.

Which is why he was signed as a Backup.

We saw this last year.

We saw this the year before in Anaheim.

We saw it when the Hawks faced Philadelphia and Micheal Leighton because Emery was on the operating table.

But this year will be different....

You know..... because we want it to be.

I think Emery's been great this year. Better than I ever thought he'd be. And I get why people don't trust Crawford. I don't understand why they hate him as they do. But if you don't have confidence in Crawford because of last year's playoffs, that's more than fair.

But it won't be a matter of if Razor breaks down, it will simply be a matter of when.

Assuming Emery comes back.

Because he's hurt.

Because that's what a #1 workload does to him.
- yahoodi

Yup.

Each goalie has significant question marks.

Glad I'm not the coach.
- AceRatbang

Why so negative this morning Stan?

True, but if Emery is "healthy," ie ready to go and 100% such as that is for him at this stage of his career, then there is no question really. That's what I'm saying. Unless Crawford really tightens it up in terms of technique and his confidence the next few games, then yeah, it points to him maybe.
- John Jaeckel

What you are saying is logical but I'd be very surprised if CC is not the starter in Game 1 of the playoffs.

Seems like #50 saves his poorer games for the United Center. Can't think of many starts on the road this year where he was weak.

Yup.
- Ogilthorpe2

Sorry, it's still loaded with failures of logic.

"Can't handle the #1 load anymore. That's why he was signed as a backup."

Because the backup never has to take over the #1 job when the #1 guy gets injured. Just never happens.

And the Hawks extended him for more money this past summer again, knowing Crawford could never get hurt.

Just makes zero sense. Except to some guys in the blogosphere who have it all figured out.

What you are saying is logical but I'd be very surprised if CC is not the starter in Game 1 of the playoffs.

Seems like #50 saves his poorer games for the United Center. Can't think of many starts on the road this year where he was weak.
- RickJ

You could be right.

Until now I've been a big Crawford defender. I thought he deserved to be #1 going into the playoffs.

After last two games, I'm not so sure. He's looking shaky again and last night was kind of like a flashback to the playoffs last year.

If Ray is healthy I think I might favor going with him as well.

Until now I've been a big Crawford defender. I thought he deserved to be #1 going into the playoffs.

After last two games, I'm not so sure. He's looking shaky again and last night was kind of like a flashback to the playoffs last year.

If Ray is healthy I think I might favor going with him as well.
- patorioto

A fair point of view, and I don't think it's an easy decision.

Emery played in the 2007 Cup Finals

Emery played in the 2007 Cup Finals
- blackhawks64

Correct, I thought it was '06. Fixed.

Jaekel, this article is a joke.

First off, yes the hip did get hurt from overuse. how could it not?

Second, how many games in the pros did you play at goalie? once you ask that question you have to answer it. im guessing the answer is none.

Third, a meaningless game at the end of april where he was mediocre in the first 20 minutes and wait did you not watch the last 40? he was outstanding. period.

Fourth, if you even try and tell me how bad he was in the shootout, you lose ALL credibility.

Fifth, its been obvious the last two games the Hawks were not really trying. you could easily tell by watching them that they were pretty much trying not to get hurt. some of the passes and such were lazy and undisciplined, thing that we havent seen all year.

In the end, if the D continues to play the way they have all year, it will NOT matter who starts in goal.

But when the D breaks down, Crawford has the ability to be so much better and play more games in more days, which is assuredly going to happen in the playoffs. Crawford has a higher floor and a higher ceiling. Emery has been good, ill give you that, but he and his hip could give out at any time and be plain awful, as he was in the series against Nashville in 2011.