Who’ll perform under pressure?
Blackhawks goalie Crawford’s playoff track record makes him No. 1
If the measure of a starting playoff goalie is the number of times he’s left his fingerprints on hockey’s Holy Grail, isn’t it time Corey Crawford earns some respect?
No, the Chicago Blackhawks goalie has never led Canada to an Olympic gold medal like the Montreal Canadiens’ Carey Price. He isn’t as stylish and flamboyant off the ice as the New York Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist, who helped Sweden to the title at the 2006 Winter Games. He’s never won a Vezina Trophy like Price, Lundqvist, the Boston Bruins’ Tuukka Rask, Sergei Bobrovsky of the Columbus Blue Jackets or the Washington Capitals’ Braden Holtby.
He can be a speed wobble on blades, as was the case two years ago when he faltered in the first-round series against the Nashville Predators, temporarily taking a seat in favour of Scott Darling.
But come crunch time — when the Stanley Cup is on the line and the exhausting two-month grind known as the playoffs is coming to an end — there is no one his fellow Blackhawks would rather see in their crease than Crawford.
Back in 2015, having put his earlier struggles against the Predators behind him, Crawford was outstanding when it mattered most. With the Hawks trailing the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in the best-of-seven Cup final, Crawford slammed the door on Steven Stamkos and company, allowing just two goals in the final three games.
In 2013, Crawford outduelled Rask in the final as the Hawks overcame a late deficit in Game 6 to win the Cup.
Entering the 2017 playoffs, only two starting goalies slated to play their respective Game 1s have hoisted the Cup in that role. Aside from Crawford, the other is the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Matt Murray, who a year ago joined the likes of Patrick Roy, Ken Dryden and Cam Ward as goalies who led their teams to the championship as a rookie.
Pittsburgh’s Marc-Andre Fleury backstopped the Pens to the Cup in 2009, but he now serves as Murray’s backup. Martin Jones (Sharks) and Jonathan Bernier (Ducks) have their names engraved on the Cup for backing up Jonathan Quick in L.A.
As Postmedia ranks the 2017 playoff goalies, Crawford might not be your No. 1 choice. But he certainly is in the eyes of multiple Cup winners, and in ours.
1 Corey Crawford
Chicago Blackhawks Playoff Appearances: 76 W-L: 48-33 GAA: 2.26 SO: 5 Was outstanding in the Stanley Cup Final versus Boston (2013) and Tampa Bay (2015) ... Allowed just two goals in the last three games versus Lightning in final … Among goalies in the 2017 playoffs, only the Rangers’Henrik Lundqvist (55) has more career playoff victories … Finished regular season with a .918 save percentage.
2 Carey Price
Montreal Canadiens Playoff Appearances: 54 W-L: 23-27 GAA: 2.62 SO: 5 Previous two playoff runs featured save percentages of .919 (2014) and .920 (2015) … Recovered from the right knee ailment that caused him to miss the final four months of the 2015-16 season … Did not travel to Detroit for season finale versus Red Wings Saturday so should be fully rested for Game 1 versus Rangers … Was knocked out of 2014 Eastern Conference Final with injured knee.
3 Matt Murray
Pittsburgh Penguins Playoff Appearances: 21 W-L: 15-6
GAA: 2.08 SO: 1 Cinderella story last season as freshman backstop from Thunder Bay, Ont., helped Penguins win the Cup … Joined Dryden, Ward and Roy as rookie goaltenders who led their respective teams to NHL championships … Has Fleury (100 career playoff appearances, 53-45, 2.66, eight shutouts) in the wings in case he falters.
4 Braden Holtby
Washington Capitals Playoff Appearances: 46 W-L: 22-24 GAA: 1.87 SO: 4 Defending Vezina Trophy winner is a strong candidate to win the award again, although Bobrovsky is a formidable foe ... Has never advanced past the second round, but that shouldn’t be pinned on him ... Has suffered from a lack of post-season offence from his teammates, as underscored by his sub-.500 post-season record despite an outstanding goalsagainst average.
5 Martin Jones
San Jose Sharks Playoff Appearances: 26 W-L: 14-10 GAA: 2.08 SO: 3 Established himself as a big-game goalie last spring, leading Sharks to final before losing in six games to Cup champion Penguins … Received a number of Conn Smythe Trophy votes, although he finished well behind Sidney Crosby … Has won 72 regular-season games in past two seasons.
6 Henrik Lundqvist
New York Rangers Playoff Appearances: 116 W-L: 55-59 GAA: 2.28 SO: 9 Most playoff appearances (116) and most playoff shutouts (9) of any starting goalie in 2017 post-season … Struggled in first round versus Penguins last spring, going just 1-3 with a mediocre 4.39 average and .867 save percentage … Has a sub-.500 post-season record despite a fine goalsagainst average, an indication of the lack of offensive support he has received over the years.
7 Sergei Bobrovsky
Columbus Blue Jackets Playoff Appearances: 13 W-L: 2-6 GAA: 3.50 SO: 0 Posted career-high 41 wins this season with 2.06 goals-against average and .931 save percentage, making him Vezina front-runner with Holtby … Might garner a few Hart Trophy votes, too … Was winless in six previous post-season appearances with the Flyers before moving to Columbus.
8 Devan Dubnyk
Minnesota Wild Playoff Appearances: 16 W-L: 6-10 GAA: 2.84 SO: 1 Cooled off in second half but still chalked up a single-season career best of 40 wins … Has won just one playoff series in his career … Struggled in six-game loss to Dallas in first round last spring with poor .877 save percentage.
9 Craig Anderson
Ottawa Senators Playoff Appearances: 27 W-L: 12-14 GAA: 2.35 SO: 3 Front-runner for Masterton Trophy for exemplifying the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication … While taking periodic leaves of absence to be with wife Nicholle, who is battling cancer, played magnificently upon returning to team, going 25-11-4 … Sens have solid backup in Mike Condon who stepped in while Anderson was away.
10 Tuukka Rask
Boston Bruins Playoff Appearances: 47 W-L: 28-19 GAA: 2.11 SO: 5 Led Boston to within two games of the Stanley Cup in 2013, losing to Blackhawks in the final … Has won a playoff series in each of the three springs he has appeared (2009-10, 2012-13, 2013-14) … Has not participated in a playoff contest in three calendar years … Posted fourth consecutive 30-plus-win regular season.
11 Cam Talbot
Edmonton Oilers Playoff Appearances: 2 W-L: 0-1 GAA: 2.59 SO: 0 Only two previous post-season appearances came with Rangers in relief of Henrik Lundqvist … Easily set single-season career highs in 201617 with 42 wins and seven shutouts … He and Connor McDavid easily the two team MVPs this season.
12 Frederik Andersen
Toronto Maple Leafs Playoff Appearances: 28 W-L: 17-9
GAA: 2.34 SO: 1 Has been injured on three separate occasions in past month, including a couple of knocks to head … Exited Leafs’ 5-3 victory over Pens Saturday but expected to be ready for Game 1 … Led Ducks to third round against eventual Cup champion Blackhawks in 2014-15 … If he falters, Leafs must rely on veteran Curtis McElhinney (one career post-season appearance, 1 GA on 11 shots in 2008-09 with Flames.)
13 Brian Elliott
Calgary Flames Playoff Appearances: 37 W-L: 15-19 GAA: 2.49 SO: 1 Early season swoon left backup Chad Johnson carrying the majority of the load, but Elliott was outstanding down the stretch … Second best single-season win total of his career with 26 … Led Blues deep into third round versus Sharks last spring.
14 Pekka Rinne
Nashville Predators Playoff Appearances: 48 W-L: 22-26 GAA: 2.51 SO: 1 Has never advanced past the second round ... Turns in playoff clunker now and then, including 5-0 Game 7 loss to Sharks in Western Conference semifinal last year … Has won three playoff series in five post-season runs … Sixth time in his career he’s had a 30-plus win season (31).
15 John Gibson
Anaheim Ducks Playoff Appearances: 6 W-L: 2-4 GAA: 2.84 SO: 1 Missed a month with a lower body injury before returning in late March … His previous post-season action primarily was as backup to Freddie Andersen, who is now a Leaf … Coach Randy Carlyle has a solid alternative in Jonathan Bernier, who stopped all 10 shots he faced in his lone career playoff appearance, that coming with the Kings in 2012-13.
16 Jake Allen
St. Louis Blues Playoff Appearances: 12 W-L: 3-5 GAA: 2.29 SO: 0 Spent past couple of playoff runs primarily as Elliott’s backup in St. Louis … Struggled in mid-season, but rebounded to put together a solid final six weeks thanks in part to the help of Blues assistant GM Martin Brodeur … In the first 20 decisions following the dismissal of coach Ken Hitchcock, Allen went 13-6-1 with a save percentage of .942 and a goalsagainst average of 1.70.