It goes without saying that strong goaltending is key to a team’s success. In fact, the four teams that have the lowest goals allowed per game (Detroit, San Jose, Anaheim, and New Jersey) are the only four teams to have broken the 90-point mark heading into Tuesday’s games. This clear point becomes even more important for a team as young as the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks have had the misfortune of inconsistent play in goal throughout most of the season. When starter Nikolai Khabibulin or backup Patrick Lalime plays well, the team usually responds in kind. However, when that is not the case, the Blackhawks often struggle to find any form of consistency in play. As has been the case many times this season, though, a glimpse into the future revealed strong promise.

The Blackhawks called up goaltender Corey Crawford from Rockford the last week in February after Khabibulin was sidelined with back spasms. The 23-year-old netminder had 86 minutes of NHL experience from two seasons ago, so the Blackhawks chose to ride Lalime with Crawford serving as backup. Crawford’s first start didn’t come for nearly two weeks, but he certainly made it count. At home against the Stanley Cup-defending Anaheim Ducks, Crawford stopped all 19 shots he faced to record his first win and shutout in the NHL.

Crawford’s next start was another test against the NHL elite - on the road against the league-leading and hated rival Detroit Red Wings. The Blackhawks were flat all game, but despite little help from teammates, Crawford sparkled, stopping 44 of 46 shots. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough and the Hawks lost 3-1. Crawford's play was strong enough to earn a start the next night at home against Carolina, and once again found similar results, a lackluster effort from teammates in a 3-0 loss.

Khabibulin returned from his back spasms on Sunday, ending Crawford’s emergency recall. All told in Crawford’s five appearances this season, the Montreal native posted a 2.14 GAA and 0.929 save percentage. Those impressive numbers will create, rather than deflate, momentum for the young Blackhawks.

The Week Ahead

All playoff hopes were squandered this past week when Chicago dropped three out of four games. Entering Tuesday night, the Blackhawks find themselves nine points out of the last playoff spot with four teams ahead of them. While not yet mathematically eliminated, all that remains for the Blackhawks is the hope of its young players leading the team into the future.

Before looking ahead to next season, though, there is the matter of who will win the Calder Trophy as the league’s best rookie. Three of the league’s top rookies will be on the ice Wednesday night, when Washington’s Nicklas Backstrom visits Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane at the United Center. Kane leads Backstrom for the rookie scoring by one point while Toews remains only one point out of the third spot.