Joel Quenneville defends Corey Crawford for tripping incident
The Chicago head coach says Crawford was “doing what he has to do.”
Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville is sticking up for his No. 1 goaltender.
Down 2-1 in the third period after Mike Fisher’s goal on the man advantage, Corey Crawford drew a penalty when he stuck his left leg out as Craig Smith skated across the crease, drawing contact.
Crawford literally stuck out his leg to initiate contact. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/WS0ngGWkKQ
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) December 30, 2016
"It was his turf, and he was doing what he has to do,” Quenneville told Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun Times.
Crawford also thought he was in the clear on the play.
Corey Crawford pleads innocence on intentionally drawing the penalty. #Blackhawks
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) December 30, 2016
On the ensuing power play, Jonathan Toews deflected a Brent Seabrook shot from the blue line past Pekka Rinne to tie it 2-2. Minutes later, Patrick Kane rocketed a shot past Rinne to give the Hawks their fourth straight road victory and first in Nashville this season. Rinne finished with 20 saves as the Predators drop their third straight game.
The Hawks travel to Carolina for the second half of back-to-back Friday.
