Everyone knew the Blackhawks had a good goalie tandem with Robin Lehner and Corey Crawford this season. After Lehner signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Blackhawks in the offseason, people expected that much from a Vezina Trophy finalist and a two-time Stanley Cup champion.
At some point early in the season, Lehner seemed to be having the better performances of the two. As that may have been the case before, both goalies have been logging stellar starts for the most part lately as they take turns between the pipes.
"I think [Lehner has] been playing really well and it's just kind of worked in our favor right now that he's playing so good," Crawford said following Tuesday's 3-0 victory over the Stars. "And I get in there and play pretty well."
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Lehner, whose .938 save percentage through 13 games is good for best in the league, saved 40 of 41 shots on Saturday in Dallas before the Blackhawks fell to the Stars 2-1 in a shootout. Tuesday they'd get sweet revenge after Crawford saved all 32 Dallas shots for the 26th shutout of his career.
"I think we played really good defensively," said Crawford, crediting his teammates. "[There] were a few times where we got stuck in our zone and you know, we didn't panic. Just kept them to the outside. Some big blocked saves by [Brent Seabrook] there – a couple kick saves. It was a good win against a really good team. So we've just got to build off that I think."
The game wasn't a flash in the pan or a glimpse at the Crawford of old when you look at his past six starts, where he's gone 4-1-1 with a .947 save percentage, stopping 200 of 211 shots.
Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton said the Hawks aren't changing their game with the top-shelf goalie tandem, but it sure provides them with some relief.
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"I don't think [we] play different, but certainly it gives us the confidence that we know they're going to make the save for us if we need one," Colliton said. "That's important — I think it helps you to play better defensively actually, just knowing that if you make a mistake, it's not necessarily going to go in. It's important for our team. Obviously we're still learning how to play, we've got some young players who are improving away from the puck, but it's definitely a comfort factor for us."
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