PIERRE MCGUIRE'S In the Crease

The recent attempt by the Red Wings to bring in goalie Evgeni Nabokov (they lost him to a waiver claim by the Islanders) is an indication that Detroit is less than thrilled with the play of Jimmy Howard, whose save percentage has dipped from .924 during his rookie season in 2009--10 to .906. Howard, due to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, needs to deliver down the stretch or his brief run as the Red Wings' starter could be over.... If the Blackhawks make the playoffs, a major reason will be the play of rookie goaltender Corey Crawford (2.19, .919), whose positioning in the crease and ability to read plays has improved tremendously under the tutelage of Chicago goalie coach Stephane Waite.

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WARREN WIMMER/ICON SMI (CRAWFORD)