EDMONTON, Alberta, April 25 (UPI) -- Corey Crawford came on in relief to stop all 14 shots he faced Wednesday and the Chicago Blackhawks beat Edmonton 4-1 to clinch the Presidents' Trophy.
The Blackhawks will win the trophy -- for having the best regular-season record in the NHL -- for the first time in 22 years.
Chicago opened the season by earning a point in 24 consecutive games (21-0-3) and has 75 points with two contests remaining. The Blackhawks had lost their previous two games.
Ray Emery, who has a 16-1 record this season with a 1.91 goals-against average, started in goal but left in the opening period with a lower body injury.
Emery has made a case to be the starting Chicago goalie when the playoffs open although Crawford has seen more action than Emery during the regular season.
Nail Yakupov scored against Emery 4:50 into the game to create a 1-1 tie, but Patrick Kane put a wrist shot past Devan Dubnyk less than 4 minutes later for the game-winner.
It remained a 2-1 game until Johnny Oduya gave the Blackhawks some breathing room 4:36 into the third.
Patrick Sharp scored into an empty net with 1:42 remaining.
Dubnyk allowed three goals on 28 shots.
