Corey Crawford may be the key to the Chicago Blackhawks' chances of having a successful 2014-15 season.
With a roster that is clearly one of the most talented in the NHL and a team that has won two Stanley Cups in the last five years, a successful season means winning a championship.
Crawford was sensational in the 2013 playoffs when the Blackhawks won their last Stanley Cup, and he was good last season when they were defeated in overtime of the seventh game by the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference Final.
However, Crawford was not as consistent in 2013-14 as the league's upper-echelon goalies. Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins won the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goalie, and his top competition included Jonathan Quick of the Kings, Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers and Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens.
Crawford, who had a 32-16-10 record along with a 2.26 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage, was a notch below that foursome.
It seemed that Crawford's consistency was the key issue that kept him from playing at his best. He regularly allowed go ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Steve Silverman
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