Chicago, Ill.-The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms with goaltender Corey Crawford on a three-year contract.
Crawford, 26, paced rookie NHL goaltenders with 33 wins (33-18-6), tied for rookie lead with four shutouts and ranked eighth among National Hockey League netminders with a 2.30 goals-against-average during the 2010-11 regular season. He also led all NHL rookies with a .927 save percentage and a 2.21 GAA in seven Stanley Cup Playoff contests.
During the 2010-11 campaign, his first full NHL season, the Montreal, Quebec, native became the second Blackhawks goaltender since 1994 to reach the 30-win plateau. He tied a franchise rookie record established in 1963 with eight consecutive wins in February and March, and earned the victory in seven consecutive starts in November and December. Crawford compiled a 176:09 shutout streak in January, the longest by a Chicago netminder since Tony Esposito in 1972 and turned aside 16-of-19 shootout attempts during the season, including all eight he faced at the United Center.
Chicago’s second selection (52nd overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Crawford has compiled a 34-21-12 record, 2.33 GAA and .917 save percentage in 65 regular-season tilts since making his NHL debut with the Blackhawks during the 2005-06 season. He also piled up 144 wins over parts of five seasons in the American Hockey League with the Rockford IceHogs and Norfolk Admirals.
Crawford is Rockford’s all-time winningest goalie with a record of 69-53-10 and a career .911 save percentage with a 2.70 goals against average as a member of the IceHogs. Since turning pro in 2005-06, Crawford’s teams have qualified for the postseason in each season, including all three of his seasons in Rockford.
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