Blackhawks notebook: Crawford in top form, sets franchise mark

After missing 10 of the final 11 games of the regular season with a head injury, Corey Crawford is in playoff form.

Crawford, who has a history of rising to the challenge when the Hawks have needed him most in winning Stanley Cup championships in 2013 and 2015, was at it again in Game 2 against the Blues — stopping 30-of-31 shots until allowing a meaningless goal at the buzzer in the Hawks’ 3-2 victory that tied the first-round series 1-1.

The victory gave Crawford a franchise record 46 playoff wins — breaking a tie with the great Tony Esposito. Craword is 46-29 in 77 playoff games. Esposito was 45-53 in 99 playoff games.

“It’s amazing what he’s done,” teammate Marian Hossa said. “Tony Esposito is a big icon in Chicago and a legend. [It’s] huge for Corey. [After] missing three-and-a-half weeks, seems like he didn’t miss a beat.”

In two games, Crawford has stopped 46-of-49 shots (.939) and has a 1.39 goals-against average. The only goal he allowed in Game 1 was a shot by David Backes that deflected off Trevor van Riemsdyk’s skate in overtime.

“He’s been great in the first two games,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “Getting that game in Columbus [in the final regular-season game] really helped him. He looked sharp, quick, handled the puck well — exactly what you want.”

Like a machine

Duncan Keith didn’t miss a beat in his first game back after a six-game suspension. Keith had a goal and assist and was a plus-2 in 30:59 of ice time in Game 2, with nine shot attempts and four on goal.

“He was wired,” Quenneville said. “Six games he sat out, he was champing at the bit to get on the ice. He probably could have played more than that. He’s a horse. He was fresh as he could be.”

Hitting the ground running after an absence is nothing new for Keith. When he returned from a 10-game absence following knee surgery in November, he scored a goal just 4:10 into the game and was a plus-2 in a 4-2 victory over the Blues in St. Louis. When he returned from a one-game suspension against the Kings in 2013, Keith scored a goal 3:42 into the game and played 40:12 in a 4-3 double-overtime victory that clinched the Western Conference final.

Learning curve

Artem Anisimov had played in 32 playoff games with the Rangers and Blue Jackets before coming to Chicago, but admitted he was a little nervous in Game 1.

“We started finding more space in the offensive zone [in Game 2],” Anisimov said. “The first game for me, was little bit nervous. The second game, it was a little bit easier to find the space. You kind of adjust for these games and start playing.”

Matter of time?

The Hawks’ top line of Andrew Ladd, Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa has combined for 24 shots on goal and 38 shot attempts in the first two games without a goal.

“They’re playing well defensively. Give them lots of credit,” said Hossa, who has 19 shot attempts and nine shots on goal in the two games. “It’s really bottled up there to find chances. But I thought we had some good looks and that’s a good sign.”

Seabrook takes a hit

Brent Seabrook, who was suspended for three games after leveling David Backes in Game 2 against the Blues in 2014, didn’t seem to have an issue with getting cross-checked by Troy Brouwer in the scrum in front of the net that led to Andrew Shaw’s tie-breaking power-play goal in Game 2 on Saturday night.

“I know who did it. You see the replay,” Seabrook said. “It’s all part of it. I think I took one cross-check. But you look at Shawzy, he took four or five.

“It’s all part of playoff hockey and that’s where all the goals are being scored in playoff hockey is right around the net. We need to keep having guys go there and make it tough on their goaltender and score some ugly goals.”

Panik move

Though Brandon Mashinter participated on the third line at the morning skate, he was benched in favor of Richard Panik in Game 2. Quenneville said it was a “morning decision” that Panik would replace Mashinter.

Panik had two shot attempts, none on goal in 7:20 of ice time in Game 2.

Home-ice advantage

The Blackhawks are an NHL-best 44-15 (.746) at home in the playoffs under Quenneville — including 28-6 (.824) since 2013. The Blues are 3-10 (.231) on the road in four seasons under Ken Hitchcock.

The numbers

After their victory in Game 2, the Hawks are 27-12 (.692) in games that are tied in the third period over the past four postseasons. The Bruins have the next-best record in that span — 10-7 (.588). The Blues are 5-6 (.455) … The Hawks have now won at least one road game in 18 consecutive playoff series and 20-of-21 in eight seasons under Quenneville. … Teuvo Teravainen’s 7:24 of ice time was his lowest in 20 career playoff games and nearly half his Game 1 ice time of 14:21.