Crawford 1 win away from club record for rookies

Corey Crawford is on the kind of roll that is earning him a place in the Blackhawks record book.

With Wednesday's 5-3 victory over the Dallas Stars, Crawford became the first Hawks rookie goalie to win seven consecutive games since Darren Pang in 1988.

Not even Ed Belfour did that in 1990-1991, when he won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year and the Vezina Trophy.

Crawford now is 1 win away from Dennis DeJordy's 1964 team record of 8 straight wins by a rookie goaltender, and it appears he'll get the chance to equal it Saturday night at San Jose.

“We're enjoying it right now, and with our team there's confidence both ways,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “We'll see how we go into Saturday's game, but there's a good chance he'll keep playing.”

Crawford dug deep to get Wednesday's win after allowing a couple goals he wished he could have back. The Stars fought back from a 4-1 deficit to get within 4-3, but Crawford slammed the door in the third period, stopping 13 of 13 shots.

“He's winning games and you want to keep the momentum going with our team game as well,” Quenneville said. “In that second period it gets to 4-3 and I thought he challenged himself and battled in the third period and found a way to get it done.”

Crawford wasn't happy with 2 of the 3 goals he allowed one he failed to cover in time with his glove, and another long shot through a screen.

“When your team gives you a 3-goal lead, to give up one and then another one right after that it's tough to take, but you have to shrug it off and keep going,” Crawford said.

Have a seat:

Slumping winger Viktor Stalberg didn't play in the third period Wednesday, and not because he was hurt.

“We went shorter in the third period,” Joel Quenneville said. “Sometimes you go with guys who are going better.”

Stalberg's play at both ends of the ice has slipped. He has gone 10 games without a goal and was minus-2 in just eight minutes against Dallas.

Roster shuffle:

Rookie wingers Jeremy Morin and Rob Klinkhammer were assigned to Rockford on Thursday for salary cap reasons, but Joel Quenneville said one or both of them would make the trip West for games against San Jose and Colorado.

Defenseman Jassen Cullimore sat out practice Thursday with a lower body injury but made the trip.

Possible insurance:

Veteran defensive center Ryan Johnson signed a pro tryout contract with Rockford on Thursday in hopes that it leads to a deal with the Hawks down the line.

The 34-year-old Johnson is a 12-year NHL veteran who played 58 games with the Vancouver Canucks last season.