Crawford delivers in big win for Hawks
One week ago the Blackhawks were feeling pretty good about themselves following consecutive road wins over Ottawa and Detroit.
Then they arrived in St. Louis and felt the wrath of the league's best — in every way possible — and limped home on the wrong end of a 5-1 decision.
Well, heading into their rematch Tuesday at the United Center, the Hawks were saying all the right things about that night in St. Louis.
“It wasn't acceptable,” Jamal Mayers said. “Our compete level needs to be higher.”
“The last game down there I don't think we had the mindset to play at all,” Bryan Bickell added. “We need to have a better mindset going into this game, knowing that we are better than them.
“It wasn't a good enough performance from our team,” Marian Hossa said.
Well, revenge and redemption were served.
Revenge as the Hawks battled back from an early 3-1 deficit to defeat the never-say-die Blues 4-3 in a shootout victory.
Redemption for goalie Corey Crawford, who came in to replace starter Ray Emery (3 goals on 6 shots) after the first period and turned away all 18 shots he faced to pick up his first win in eons.
“Huge win,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “Even when we were down early, we persevered.”
No one symbolized that more than Crawford, who has watched Emery make the last six starts for the Hawks.
“He came in in a tough spot, hadn't played in awhile, game on the line, knowing the importance of it,” Quenneville said of Crawford. “He responded the way we hoped he would respond. It was good for him, great for us.”
“When we don't give up and stick with our game, we can come back in almost any game,” Crawford said. “We're doing the right stuff. That's a huge 2 points for us.
“The guys played awesome tonight.”
Andrew Brunette, Viktor Stalberg and Brent Seabrook provided the scoring in regulation. And Patrick Kane provided the lone shootout goal.
“The boys kept fighting,” Seabrook said. “We're clawing and digging to get in the playoffs. We needed this one.”
mspellman@dailyherald.com