Rare off night by Crawford costly for Chicago Blackhawks
Corey Crawford has been a rock all season for the Blackhawks, allowing 2 goals or less in nine of his first 13 starts.
Sunday at the United Center, however, Crawford had one of those nights that a goaltender would like to forget about as soon as possible.
Staked to a 4-1 lead after 17:01, Crawford proceeded to allow 5 goals in less than 20 minutes as the Devils stormed back to claim a 7-5 victory.
"Just a struggle right from the start," said Crawford, whose season save percentage went from .942 to .932. "Those ones come every once in a while during the year. … It's tough too. We played so well and scored a lot, and (I) just couldn't find a way to make a save."
This was just the second time in Crawford's career he allowed 6 goals in regulation. The other came against Vancouver on Nov. 6, 2011. He also allowed 6 goals in an overtime loss to St. Louis on Nov. 4, 2015.
"He's played amazing for us," said Patrick Kane. "I don't know if any of the goals are really his fault tonight. Probably just a lot of breakdowns defensively. We can help him out a little bit better."
Seven D:
Coach Joel Quenneville decided to dress seven defensemen for the first time this season during the Hawks' loss to New Jersey. Ryan Hartman and Tommy Wingels were the forwards who were scratched as Jordan Oesterle played for the first time since Oct. 24.
"I just think that we've got some guys that are all comparable," Quenneville said. "We wanted to try the seven D look with double-shifting a couple of guys.
"Three (games) in four nights. Everyone got a chance to play this weekend based on performance."
Nick Schmaltz (22:19) and Patrick Kane (21:54) had the most ice time among the forwards. Kane had a goal, an assist and took 11 shots (6 on goal).
Cody Franson was the D-man who was scratched.
One More Shift:
The Blackhawks honored Al Secord before Sunday's game with their One More Shift promotion, which allows former players to skate onto the ice after both teams' starters have been announced. Secord was the sixth player to be honored and the second this year (Bryan Bickell).
Secord played 466 of his 766 NHL games with the Hawks in the 1980s and is one of just three members of the organization to score 50 goals in one season. He did so in 1982-83 when he scored 54.
Asked to name his most memorable moments, Secord ticked off three of them:
• "Me scoring 50 goals was a big deal. I mean, I never scored 50 goals in practice before. I had some pretty good linemates in Denis Savard and Steve Larmer.
• "Another thing is my son was born on Feb. 5, 1985 and I scored a goal, so I got to keep the puck for him.
• "Of course, playing my first game in Boston (with the Bruins in 1978). Just to be on a team where I knew all the guys - I had their hockey cards when I came into training camp. To actually be on the ice with them was great."