surprised everyone by defeating both PlupBox

CHICAGO -- Corey Crawford has never been considered an elite goaltender. Even as the Chicago Blackhawks dominated the NHL this season, he wasnt the centre of attention on a team featuring Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Tuukka Rask was in net when the Boston Bruins blew a 3-0 series lead to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 and then had a great seat on the bench a year later when Tim Thomas led them to a Stanley Cup. With Thomas gone, the starting job was his. Now the young goalies are across the ice from each other in the Cup final, and in the spotlight, getting the kind of attention usually reserved for the best in the world. "Right now we have a battle of two goaltenders that are at the peak of their game," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. Its particularly a remarkable ascent for Crawford, who was once considered a weak link on the Blackhawks talented roster. During the regular season he was tied for third in the NHL with a 1.94 goals-against average and tied for fifth with a .926 save percentage as the Blackhawks captured the Presidents Trophy. In the playoffs his numbers are even better (1.73 and .936), and hes a major reason why Chicago is here, up 1-0 on the Bruins. "Obviously having a good goaltender can give the whole team a lot of confidence," defenceman Duncan Keith said. "Hes been great all playoffs and all season long. He definitely gives us that confidence, and its nice to see him get some recognition." Recognition starts with Crawford being respected as one of the better goalies in the league. But it doesnt end there. Now there is some buzz about Crawford being an option for Canadas Olympic team in Sochi in 2014, given the uncertainty surrounding the position and his strong performance this spring. There are lingering questions about Carey Price, Roberto Luongo, Cam Ward, Marc-Andre Fleury and others, but the fact that Crawford is even being touted as a possibility for Canada makes Toews happy. "I certainly think he deserves it," said Toews, who helped lift Canada to a gold medal at the 2010 Games in Vancouver. "I feel like, to get to that level, you need to have some sort of name in the media and have people know who you are. If they didnt really before, I think everyone knows who Corey Crawford is now and the influence and the effect hes had on our team all season and in this Cup run that weve had." Crawford, from Chateauguay, Que., has never played for Canada in international competition. He said he has never even got a look at a selection camp. That all could change, especially if he helps Chicago to a championship. "Im worried about winning a Stanley Cup right now," Crawford said. "Obviously that would be a huge honour. But right now there are other things to take care of." The Blackhawks are three victories away from hoisting the Cup and that has a lot to do with Crawfords stellar play. Coach Joel Quenneville praised the 26-year-olds consistency, and several teammates lauded him for being even-keeled amid chaos in the triple-overtime Game 1 victory. Being poised in that situation is a testament to how far Crawford has come. "Had to answer a lot of questions this year going into the season: What about our goaltending?" Quenneville said. "We said were very comfortable with Corey. Think hes got the capability of being a top goalie in the league." Yet for so long Crawford hasnt been thought of as even a top-10 goalie. Asked why he has constantly been overlooked, Toews and Crawford had the same response: "I dont know. You tell me." Rask hasnt had to overcome a lack of respect. Instead, his job has been to follow Thomas, who was far and away the top reason the Bruins won it all in 2011. Now the 26-year-old Finnish netminder is earning his own Conn Smythe Trophy talk. "Hes been rock solid all season, all playoffs, has been keeping us in hockey games a lot of nights," defenceman Dennis Seidenberg said. "Its nice to have him as your last backbone." Rask had to forget about past struggles, especially the playoff loss to the Flyers as a 23-year-old. Thats a distant memory now as hes at the centre of the Bruins playoff run. "I dont think it surprises any of us that hes at that elite level," Bruins forward Daniel Paille said. "I think we should consider ourselves fortunate that we have a goalie like that." The Blackhawks feel the same way, even as Crawford continues to go under-appreciated, like Antti Niemi, now a Vezina Trophy finalist with the San Jose Sharks who was in net for Chicagos 2010 Cup team. The lack of credit doesnt seem to matter much. "Hes a pressure player," Toews said. "I think we all know in this locker-room how good Corey Crawford is." Adidas Shoes Australia . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. Nmd Australia Sale . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. http://www.cheapnmdaustralia.com/ . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Adidas Nmd Cheap Australia . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). Cheap Adidas Nmd Australia . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. James Mafia Lauerman eagerly awaited as the voting process closed for Smash Summit 3. I was in the car and couldnt look at the votes in the last 30 minutes, he said.And after the results were finalized? I was so relieved, he said.?Matthew Zaborowski, a longtime friend of Mafia, organized a massive rally to accumulate votes for the New England native. Eighty-four of Mafias supporters accounted for 15,000 votes in the final minutes as Mafia jumped from last to first.The whole New England community coming together reminds me of what family members do for one another in their time of need, Mafia explained. Im very thankful to them.The results were met with some hostility, as fans complained that other players were more deserving than Mafia to attend the Summit. Mafia started the year in 91st on the Melee It On Me annual ranking charts, the lowest of any qualified Summit candidate ever. Despite the criticism aimed his way, Mafia remained grounded and stated, I know that New England has my back no matter what. I just gotta do my thing and be myself.As the Summit players drafted their four-man crews for the Nov. 3-6 event in Los Angeles, Joseph Mango Marquez picked Mafia as the last selection -- and he did not disappoint. In crews, Mafia was sent in as a counter-pick against Weston Westballz Dennis. Many were skeptical of how he would do, but he managed to take Westballzs three remaining stocks while losing only one of his own. He lost to James Duck Ma on the counteer-pick, but Mafia maintained the advantage for his team.ddddddddddddIn doubles, William Leffen Hjelte and Mafia teamed up.Despite never playing together before, they surprised everyone by defeating both PlupBox (Juan Hungrybox Debiedma and Justin Plup McGrath) and PewFat (Zachary SFAT Cordoni and Kevin PewPewU Toy). In each of the sets, Mafia played the supportive role magnificently by protecting Leffen, covering options and extending combos. In winners finals, they kept it close with Adam Armada Lindgren and Jason Mew2King Zimmerman, widely considered the worlds best duo, before losing in four games. In losers, they lost to PewFat in the run-back set to finish in third.The phenomenal run silenced Mafias critics.He did not see the same level of success in singles. He lost quickly to Mango in winners and Westballz in losers to finish in 13th place. Mafia felt disappointed with his singles play, but was happy with what he gained from the overall weekend.This event was an absolute dream come true, he said, and I was able to get a ton of practice and have fun for an entire weekend.With the conclusion of Smash Summit 3, many eyes will be on Mafia to see whether he sees a skill improvement similar to Swedish Delight. He leaves California in high spirits, and now hes back in the New England region on the grind again, hungrier than ever. ' ' '