Blackhawks' Crawford back on his game

It's closing in on two months ago now that an embarrassed Corey Crawford faced the media to divulge an injury he suffered while attending a concert at the House of Blues.

Getting hurt on the ice is one thing. Having it happen away from the rink is another, especially when you're the No. 1 goalie on a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.

“I'm pretty embarrassed about it,” Crawford said that day. “Frustrated.”

Crawford missed about three weeks and really wasn't the same upon his return as he allowed 18 goals in his first six games back in net as the Hawks went 3-2-1.

Slowly but surely, though, the quickness, dexterity and form has returned. All of the attributes that make Crawford one of the best goalies in the league were on display during the Hawks' 2-1 shootout victory Sunday at the United Center when he stopped 36 of 37 shots.

Crawford ranks 12th in the league in save percentage (.922), but he has been especially solid in his last seven games (.934). The Hawks went 5-1-1 in those contests.

Coach Joel Quenneville addressed Crawford's play of late.

“I think it was all due to being off from that injury that he had to make his way through,” Quenneville said. “Strength, quickness, agility, conditioning — it's all part of it. Now I just think he's back to where he was at the start of the year and the way we expect him to be, at the top of his game and one of the top goalies in the game.”

Crawford made some huge saves Sunday during Pittsburgh's third-period power play. But his biggest probably came in overtime when David Perron found himself alone out front and blasted a shot that easily could have ended the contest.

Crawford came out and used his blocker to keep the puck out of the net, and 2:25 later the Hawks and Penguins were in a shootout.

“Corey's been one of our best players the whole season,” defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson said. “I think he's flying under the radar as far as being one of the best goalies in the league. It's not very often you see him letting in an easy goal. You usually are going to beat him pretty good.

“He's been steady as a rock, I think.”

Said Patrick Sharp, who netted the game-winner Sunday: “We feel like he's going to make the save whether it's 5-on-5, short-handed or we're in the shootout. He's a big plus for us.”

Hammer time: Niklas Hjalmarsson knows his role on the Blackhawks, and it isn't to score goals. After all, since becoming a full-time player in 2009-10, the 27-year-old Swede has never managed more than 4 in any season.

But the one he scored Sunday against Pittsburgh proved pivotal as it was the Hawks' only goal in a 2-1 shootout victory.

Still, Hjalmarsson's job is to keep the puck away from Corey Crawford, and he excels at it, blocking almost 2 shots a game over his career. He also has been a double-digit plus player in four of the last five seasons and currently ranks fourth on the Hawks at plus-12.

“Whether it's a lot of attention or no attention, I think he continues to do what he has to do, and that's play reliable, safe-type of defense,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “He kills penalties as good as any defenseman in the game, blocks shots, gets in the way offensively.

“It's nice to see him contribute, but at the same time he knows his bread and butter is defending. We value him and appreciate his consistency as well.”

Slap shots: Marian Hossa was named the NHL's first star of the week for his 5-goal, 6-point explosion in the Hawks' four games. The 5 goals led the league. The other stars were Los Angeles forward Tyler Toffoli and Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne. …

Brandon Saad has 7 points in his last six contests and is fourth on the Hawks with 39 points. Saad needs just 3 goals to better his output of 19 last season.