Still not in swing of things
Goalie crawford hopes hawks’ busier schedule will help him find rhythm
Few terms are tossed around as often — and with as little specificity — in the realm of goaltending as ‘‘rhythm.’’ So how does Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford define it, and how does it affect his play?
‘‘You get the little things right,’’ he said. ‘‘You’re not really thinking too much out there. You’re making the right little plays. Things seem to come automatically.
‘‘You just feel good because you’re making decisions quick, you’re in the right position, you’re reading plays. I think reading the play is probably right up there [in importance] because then you’re getting in position before the play happens.
‘‘You could be playing well and not get the right results for a bit, but it’s just continuing to have that feeling and playing the right way.’’
Despite a splendid outing Monday against the Oilers, Crawford — with a .900 save percentage so far — has yet to find that rhythm this season.
And even if he had stopped every shot in all three of his starts, he probably still wouldn’t have it because of how irregular the Hawks’ early-season schedule has been.
The Hawks played only their fifth game Friday against the Blue Jackets. By comparison, the Jets played their ninth game Thursday, and the Capitals and Hurricanes joined them Friday.
That sort of scheduling disparity disrupts goalies, who are stereotypically creatures of extreme habit, the most. The Hurricanes, for example, already have started both their goalies at least four times, and a third of NHL teams already have started both their goalies at least three times. But Crawford has made only three starts and Lehner, who started against the Blue Jackets, only two.
‘‘Everyone wants to play all the time,’’ coach Jeremy Colliton said. ‘‘That’s what everyone says. Whether it’s a goalie or a forward or a [defenseman]: ‘Yeah, I play better if you just play me more.’
‘‘But we’ve had a little lighter schedule. We want both guys going because we’re coming up to a stretch where we’re going to play a lot of games, so we’re going to need them both.’’
The game against the Blue Jackets was the first in a seven-games-in-12-days stretch that will feature the Hawks’ first true road games of the season. That’s welcome news for Crawford and Lehner.
Much has been made about their relationship in the midst of the first goalie battle the Hawks have seen in years. In reality, the two — despite their different personalities — have developed a smooth working friendship and regularly praise each other at every opportunity.
Still, there’s no denying this remains a battIe: Crawford, 34, and Lehner, 28, both will be eligible for free agency next summer, and general manager Stan Bowman probably won’t have enough salary-cap space to keep them both.
After surprisingly starting Crawford over Lehner on Monday, Colliton revealed he has a preset plan mapping out the starts. But Crawford said Friday the goalies haven’t been filled in about the plan.
‘‘We haven’t really talked to them about it,’’ Crawford said. ‘‘And that’s fine. For us, it’s game by game and pushing each other to be at our best. Both of us would love to play 70 games if we could, but we don’t know what’s going to happen.’’
In other words, Crawford will have to find his rhythm on the fly. At least the Hawks have more games coming up for him to do so. ✶