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Today, I gladly belly (and after this long winter, that term takes on a special meaning) up and eat Crow (pardon the pun) on my criticisms directed at Hawk netminder Corey Crawford yesterday.
Crawford served up one of the best games of his career last night—when he had to and his team needed him to—the mark of an elite goaltender in the NHL.
The St. Louis Blues, minus captain David Backes, brought a lot of heat all night—34 shots—each turned away or gobbled up by a smooth and completely in-control Crawford. Crawford held his crease well all night, made tough saves look easy. Supremely confident and in a zone.
And this, without top defenseman Brent Seabrook.
The other difference in the game? A Jonathan Toews shot from the top of the right circle that slipped through the pads of Crawford’s counterpart, Ryan Miller. A soft goal and one the Blues may regret when it’s all said and done.
Because now, even though a Hawk win in game 4 would only draw the series to even, it might shift momentum to Chicago, knowing how close they came in both Games 1 and 2 to victories in St. Louis. But no one in the Hawk dressing room should take a win in Game 4 for granted.
A lot of Hawks played very well last night, two of whom were Ben Smith and Sheldon Brookbank, who was activated in Seabrook’s absence.
And here’s where I get to say I told you so: Michal Handzus showed why he’s in the lineup in big playoff games, blocking three shots and helping kill off all the St. Louis power plays.
Johnny Oduya and Nick Leddy also blocked 4 shots a piece. Toews, 70% in the faceoff circle. Marcus Kruger, who added an empty netter to make the final score 2-0, was 100% (3-0) in the dot.
The Hawks went out and worked in front of Crawford, and the results speak for themselves.
Hawk fans should hope this mojo carries over into Game 4 tomorrow night at the UC.
All for now,
JJ