Crawford’s adjustment paying off for Hawks

Whether it was fair or not with the whole team struggling, goalie Corey Crawford took a lot of heat during the Blackhawks’ nine-game losing streak.

Now that Crawford and the Hawks have won their last three games, the adjustments he made to improve his play around the net and keeping his net appear to be paying off.

“I’m not sliding around as much,” Crawford said.

“I think with Steph (goalie coach Stephane Waite), they worked on technical aspects to tighten up the game and his game,” coach Joel Quenneville said.

“You get the one win with confidence you can build off of that. I thought he had a good week in that regard. I think it’s good for him and great for us.”

Crawford’s teammates never doubted he would regain the form he flashed last season as a rookie.

“When we lose, we lose as a team,” Dave Bolland said. “We don’t blame it on one guy on the team. We all take the blame. It’s a team loss.

“I think Crow has been outstanding for us these last few games. We’ve all got to help him out with getting back in the defensive zone and helping with our defense. It goes from the goalies to the forwards with all of us having to help out.”

Poll results:The Hawks did well in a poll of 257 players conducted by the NHL players association and CBC in Canada.With players being asked which franchise they#146;d like to play for, the Hawks finished first with 14 percent of the vote.Joel Quenneville finished second to Pittsburgh#146;s Dan Bylsma as the coach players would most like to play for.Jonathan Toews finished third as best role model, fourth as smartest player and fifth as the most difficult to play against. Toews also was second behind Sidney Crosby as the player you#146;d most like to have to start a franchise.The United Center was voted the second-favorite arena for players behind Montreal#146;s Bell Centre.Bolland steps up:Dave Bolland is ready to launch the Dave Bolland Foundation, a charity dedicated to helping marginalized and at-risk youth.The foundation will focus on three projects: Chicago#146;s Beyond the Ball, Toronto#146;s The Remix Project, and International disability charity Easter Seals.The goal is to raise awareness and funds in order to assist community programming through education and mentorship initiatives in sport and the arts.#147;I want to help youth from less privileged backgrounds have the opportunity to be inspired and to pursue their dreams,#148; Bolland said.