Blackhawks: 3 Takeaways from Game 2 against Golden Knights

Takeaway #3: Is Corey Crawford the guy next season?

It has been very clear that Corey Crawford has not looked the same this postseason. He let up some questionable goals against Edmonton, and even more so since the series against Vegas began. Crawford is 35 years old and will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. With no real goaltender prospects in the pipeline, will the Blackhawks want to resign Crawford?

It’s no question that Crawford has dealt with numerous amounts of injuries over the past couple of seasons, and that he’s getting older. Fresh off of testing positive for Covid-19, this postseason has been a question mark for the two-time Stanley Cup champion.

While three out of Vegas’s four goals were not at the fault of Crow, Tomas Nosek’s goal during the first period was another that Crawford should have had. Take a look at this slow-motion replay:

https://twitter.com/GoldenKnights/status/1294034948509196288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Yikes. I’ll give Crawford some credit where credit is due, and say that he did play an impressive third period, but some of the goals he has let in since the postseason has begun have been back-busters.

The postseason has been a roller-coaster for Corey, as he has been lights out and made some impressive saves as well. But at age 35, the injury issues, and some of the softies he’s let up this postseason warrant the Hawks to resign him for the starting job? Hmmm. It will be something that Stan Bowman will have to think long and hard about in the short amount of time before next season gets underway.

Can the Hawks turn the series around before it is too late? Find out in game three of the series, which is scheduled for tomorrow at 7:00 PM CT.