Corey Crawford key to Blackhawks' 12-game streak

Strip away the hype over the three-on-three tournament format and the shenanigans surrounding John Scott, and there is the next biggest headline coming out of this year’s NHL All-Star Game. Actually, it’s the topic ahead of every major sport’s all-star fete — the biggest snub.

The name atop many a list for deserving players who aren’t attending the midseason tourney is Corey Crawford — and rightfully so, given the season he is having. The Blackhawks’ netminder proved himself among the cream of the crop again Tuesday night in Chicago’s 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. He is not only more worthy of an All-star nod than goalies attending instead of him, but he is as important a piece as any of his teammates to the Blackhawks’ stunning 12-game winning streak.

Not to knock Chicago’s depth scoring — really, no sane person can do that — but it has shown over the Blackhawks’ winning run what a large part the goaltending has played. In facing teams across both conferences, Crawford hasn’t allowed more than three goals to be scored in a game. In fact, the only time during this stretch that he gave up three was Jan. 10 when he turned away 34 of 37 shots from the Colorado Avalanche. (Chicago beat the Avs that night 6-3, scoring on 35 attempts.)

Crawford has gotten better as the season has gone on, which is reflected in the consistency level that he shows on the ice. He is already topping his best career shutouts record from last season, notching six before the All-Star break, but his ability to take the ice before the puck drops gives Chicago a good foundation. As ESPN’s Scott Powers points out, Crawford is second in the league in quality starts, behind only Washington’s Braden Holtby. Interestingly enough, he was second in the league last season as well, ranked just behind Nashville’s Pekka Rinne.

That brings us to Tuesday’s tilt, which saw Crawford start against the Preds’ mainstay. This Finn is, of course, regarded as one of the best in the game and is attending the ASG in Nashville Jan. 30. Adam Gretz of CBS Sports went off on the league about a week ago for opting to send Rinne over Crawford, and Tuesday’s game proved his point. But the Preds’ vet is having an uncharacteristically down year, with a save percentage of .902 on the season. Crawford, on the other hand, boasts a .929 save percentage and is averaging 2.14 goals against.

On Tuesday, Crawford stopped 38 attempts, while Rinne battled to stop 27 pucks that came his way. And while any goalie would have had a difficult time stopping Artem Anisimov’s sweet backhander in the first frame, Rinne didn’t look any more prepared when Kane went top shelf for his 30th goal on the season.

Surely the ASG being hosted in the Predators’ barn and the anticipation that vintage Rinne will rise to the occasion for the tournament went into the decision to put him on the roster. But watching his performance on the other side from Crawford’s save prowess left plenty to be desired.

Again, this isn't to say that one player is solely responsible for the Blackhawks dominating the Central Division yet again. Anisimov has proved to be a great offseason acquisition. Rookie Artemi Panarin has been explosive in his NHL debut, and as Marian Hossa reportedly told the Chicago Daily Herald, a key to the team's winning ways has been "commitment to playing solid team defense."

Goaltending is as big a part of a team's defense as any pairing at the blue line. And should any opponent be able to juke Chicago's defense, he's still going to have to find a way to get the puck past Corey Crawford. That is something that doesn't happen to much nowadays.