I know that only about a third of the season is underway, but both Crawford and Emery have exceeded expectations so far. Many people wanted Bowman to make a move and get a goalie, while others supported Bowman in thinking Crawford could have a bounce back year. Then everyone was pissed off when Emery was resigned.
Crawford's stats: 7-0-3, 1.65 GAA, .935 SV%
Emery's stats: 5-0-0, 2.17 GAA, .929 SV%
Obviously the entire team has contributed to their success so far, but goaltending has been a big part of it. To all the people who constantly complained about Emery, the most important thing you can ask from your backup is to win games when he gets the chance to play. Hopefully both Crawford and Emery will continue to be reliable between the pipes.
The Hawks goaltending has been solid. It's also important to note that the team in front of them is playing much better. When your offense is converting and scoring multiple goals a game, your goalie doesn't even have to be outstanding, just good enough. Even if their stats start to slip, if the offense keeps scoring goals, it will all be ok.
It was never a question of "if" Crawford could be an NHL goalie, but rather how good could he be? He's not as good as his stats suggests, but as long as he's giving Chicago a chance to win most of the games he starts, that's all Chicago should need (as long as they continue their strong 5-man defense, structure and two-way play as a team).
Awesome. If this continues, I'd say we're a huge cup favorite. I expect it to go downhill a little bit, but I think our goaltending is good enough for our team to at least make a cup run.
These threads are an absolute joke. 15 games in hockey is nothing. The sample is far, far too small. Who knows whether Emery & Crawford are improved...whether the defense is improved. We would all like to think we know but most of this is may just be random variation and luck.
These threads are an absolute joke. 15 games in hockey is nothing. The sample is far, far too small. Who knows whether Emery & Crawford are improved...whether the defense is improved. We would all like to think we know but most of this is may just be random variation and luck.
Totally. Random variation. We are on the verge of tying the record - an extreme outlier if we want to get technical - based on luck. It's why so many other teams have come so close.
Totally. Random variation. We are on the verge of tying the record - an extreme outlier if we want to get technical - based on luck. It's why so many other teams have come so close.
And why the teams that have had the record have gone out to win that shiny thing at the end of the year. All luck and random coincidence.
I was on the board for getting a young up and coming goalie to be Crawfords back-up. That way Crawford has a chance to bounce back and the Hawks have a good back-up. Emery has looked very solid in 4 of his 5 starts. His first start in Phoenix being the only bad game.
What I like most about Emery, and I admit to NOT being a fan of his, is his calmness when all else is crazy around him. I can't count the times when he stays square and solid to the puck during mad scrambles when I'm sure at times he loses sight of the puck...he keeps his 5 hole shut and stays big in net then usually ends up locating the biscuit and stopping play with his trapper.
VERY impressed with Emery, it reminds me of a few years back when he played and dominated for a VERY long stretch of games in Anaheim when Hiller was injured.
And it goes without saying that Crawford has been money from the first game this year!
