It's hard to say where exactly Corey Crawford will rank in the history of NHL goaltenders. But what we saw last night in a 4-1 Chicago win over Nashville was Crawford at the very peak of his game.
Sure, the Preds got one goal—on a 2 on 1 where Crawford had no chance. But otherwise, Crawford made save after amazing save against a barrage of 36 shots, many of them high quality chances.
The result is obvious, a rather significant divisional win, Chicago's second in a row while getting outshot (an unusual and disturbing trend now for several games). And evidence is beginning to suggest, as the Hawks get their forward lines more productive and balanced, that there is a real problem with the Blackhawks' defense.
Trevor Daley sat out injured last night—David Rundblad took his place. Ugh. But the truth is, across the board, there's a domino effect when part of your defensive depth is substandard. It calls for more minutes in more situations for your top defenders (Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson), and giving too many minutes and too much responsibility to defenders who might not be completely ready for it (van Riemsdyk).
As with the rush to "proclaim" Teuvo Teravainen the team's second line center in the summer of 2014 (a job he still isn't ready for), a cross-section of Hawk fans has installed van Riemsdyk as a legitimate top 4 defenseman in the NHL.
That's at best highly debatable. No, in fact, there's no debate. On a good NHL team, van Riemsdyk is a good #5 defenseman. A (mostly) smart, steady two way performer—but nothing special athletically.
Rundblad is not an NHL defenseman.
Michal Rozsival gets by at this point purely on smarts—when he gets by.
Daley has struggled. He's made progress, but clearly, his game is middling at best in his own end.
Further, for a team like the Hawks, whose offense relies heavily on transition and quick, clean zone exits, asking Niklas Hjalmarsson and especially van Riemsdyk to play their off sides only adds to the burden.
So it's pretty clear the Hawks could use another quality defenseman. But there's good news, because the last couple of games are suggesting that maybe the heretofore glaring need for another top 6 left wing has been solved.
How? Two right wings on the top line. Sort of.
Teuvo Teravainen has been lining up at left wing with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa, but clearly, he and Hossa are playing both wings sort of interchangeably as the play evolves. Teravainen has goals in the last two games, both scored from the right side. Meanwhile Hossa has been a beast all over the offensive zone: breaking up clears, holding the puck, applying all kinds of pressure around the net. That, and Toews usual work, is freeing Teravainen up to get some chances and avoid some of the physical pressure that's kept him in check all season. That line, in other words, is gelling.
Marcus Krüger's line, though not scoring, is now beginning to look like the possession machine it was last year. And last night, the new "third" line of Dennis Rasmussen, Bryan Bickell and (especially) Andrew Shaw was very strong, racking up two goals.
And it's hugely positive news for the Blackhawks, who now hold third place and improved playoff position in the Central Division.
I'll preview the follow up of this back to back versus Nashville tomorrow.
All for now,
JJ