A Chicago Blackhawks Site
2011-12 Regular Season
First Thing’s First: Boxing with Blackhawks and Sharks
Jan 16th
"Oh, excuse me Antti." (Credit: Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune)
That’s your top line, ladies and gentlemen.
The Blackhawks came away with five of six points in their three-games-in-four-nights stretch, dominating San Jose 4-3 – save for a few moments.
Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Viktor Stalberg combined for two goals and three assists in the victory, coming up with big goals – and two more near-goals – to help improve the ‘Hawks to 3-0-2 in their last five games.
♦ It’s tough to ignore the play of Stalberg, despite the fact half of his 14 goals have come against Columbus. Nonetheless, when you’re hot, you’re hot. His goal was nothing short of perfection on all accounts, charging hard toward the net after recognizing the open space. With his speed and first step, these goals can continue happening, especially playing on a line with two of the league’s best passers.
♦ Kaner is in a big scoring slump, and if it wasn’t obvious enough, Antti Niemi absolutely robbed the living hell out of him in the first period. Toews and Kane executed a perfect 2-on-1, and Niemi seemed down and out. As we’re all privy to when Niemi was wearing the Indian head, he suck out the glove across the open net and snagged a sure-goal out of the air. Kane couldn’t believe it, and Toews had to go console him. It’s a shame, but it seems as if he’s getting closer to ending that slump.
♦ Toews’ goal was the work of the entire line. Stalberg hustled to bother Niemi, and the puck shot out to Kane on the left board. Without a hesitation, he fired it to the front with Toews waiting, and all three got on the score sheet. I’ll mention this again later, but Toews described the goal during the intermission interview and referred to Niemi as “their goaltender.” Fuck the friendship when it comes to getting a win, eh?
♦ Another goal from Andrew Shaw, who may get a statue outside the UC soon if it were up to a good chunk of the fan base. I like the guy. I think he brings plenty of things to the table and it’s hard to ignore his scoring numbers. He went 6 for 6 at the dot tonight and has an awesome Napoleon complex.
However, quoting the Gin Blossoms, Shaw may want to start singing: “If you don’t expect too much from me, you might not be let down.” Thinking this guy is the second coming of Denis Savard will only make for a long fall from the top of the What-You-Talkin’-About Willis Tower. If this keeps up, awesome. Build his statue. But when he starts to screw up – and he will – remember to be objective toward your newly found hero.
♦ I’d like to thank the ‘Hawks for taking my mind off what I witness first-hand at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday. That first period was complete shit show. Following that with five solid periods helps.
Onto Boxing…
Get It Together: Blackhawks Try To Bounce Back Against San Jose
Jan 15th
Photo: AP
Out of the frying pan and into the fire, so to speak. After a humiliating loss to the Red Wings on Saturday, the Blackhawks get to suit up against yet another Western Conference rival on a hot streak in the form of San Jose. The new year has been good to the Sharks, with 6 wins and a shootout loss to their credit thus far.
In those six victories, they never allowed their opponents to tally more than twice. Defense is a big key to the Sharks’ game — they are 5th-best in the league in goals against. There is just one regular member of the Sharks roster who has a negative plus/minus. One. It’s Jason Demers, in case you’re interested.
But that’s not to say the Sharks have lost their once-potent offense. The usual one-two punch of Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau is still as effective as ever, with the three-four punch combination of Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture close behind. Those four account for over 130 points of the Sharks’ offense. This is not a team that is prone to sitting back and protecting a lead.
Tell The Kids To Do It: Chicago Visits Detroit (*spitting noise*)
Jan 14th
Photo: NHL.com
The biggest challenge about this game isn’t the Red Wings’ roster, or its goaltender, or Coach Cranky Pants, or the brain-dead knuckle-draggers throwing seafood on the ice.
Detroit (*spitting noise*) is nearly unbeatable on home ice.
But notice I said “nearly.”
Blackhawks Survivor: Ben Smith Voted Off
Jan 13th
Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images North America
When you’re stacked with loads of talented youth in your system and under-performing or injured starters in the NHL, in comes the carousel of players going back and forth between the NHL and AHL. Case in the point, the 2011-12 Blackhawks.
With the return of Marcus Kruger from injury this morning Joel Quenneville was forced to make a decision about which of his young studs wouldn’t make the cut.
Marcus Kruger, as a center, will always find a warm welcome on the Hawks, seeing as they need as much help as possible in the middle. With rookies Andrew Shaw and Jimmy Hayes playing lights out and both producing huge last night against Minnesota, Q had a decision to make.
Recap: Hawks Domesticate the Wild
Jan 12th
AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
There are few teams better than the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild to use as slumpbusters in the NHL right now. That is precisely what the Blackhawks have done in their last two games. They could have stuck their tails between their legs after Patrick Sharp went down with his injury. Instead, they responded with swagger.
Viktor Stalberg has taken Sharp’s spot, playing with Toews and Kane. He’s taken full advantage of that opportunity with four goals in two games.
Andrew Shaw and Jimmy Hayes are showing that they are here to stay. Sign them up. I have to give Shaw some credit. I was a major doubter when he got called up, not of his potential but whether he was ready for the NHL. He’s shut me up really fast. These two kids have been the spark the Hawks needed on the third and fourth lines. Shaw scored his second NHL goal in tonight’s game and continues to impress me every game with smart and energetic shifts. Both Shaw and Hayes scored goals against the Wild, showing that they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
And We Thought We Had It Bad: Blackhawks Host Wild
Jan 12th
Remember earlier this season, not long ago in fact, when everyone soiled their unmentionables over the headline, “Minnesota Wild First in Western Conference?” Oh, how things change.
For those of us feeling bummed or pissed or confused about the Blackhawks’ latest string of losses, we should thank our snowblowers that we’re not Minnesota Wild fans.
The Wild have two wins — that’s TWO WINS — in their last 13 games. The second one came against San Jose just this past Tuesday, when they blew a 2-goal lead and needed a shootout to finally get the W. They now sit clinging desperately to 7th place in the Western Conference, having dropped from 1st in just over a month. Unbelievable.
Guess they should have held on to Cam Barker, huh?
Hats Off: Boxing with Blackhawks and BJs
Jan 11th
(Credit: US Presswire)
I got home very late tonight, so this will be short before I get to Boxing.
♦ Viktor Stalberg – Good for you, kid.
♦ Jared Boll/Referees – You’re assholes
♦ Marian Hossa – Badass
♦ Corey Crawford – Just gave up another rebound.
That’s it. I’m tired. Here’s Boxing…
Dull Game Without Sharp: Blue Jackets Visit Chicago
Jan 10th
Photo: AP
News Flash: the Columbus Blue Jackets fired their coach.
*Yawn*
Everything else about the team is still the same as the last time we discussed them. Key players are injured; marquee names are trying their damnedest but can’t produce; offense sucks; defense is worse; goaltending is pathetic.
I really wish there was more to go into here, but there really isn’t. I feel like I’m giving Columbus the short end of the stick compared to the other previews I do, but how many different ways can you say, “Columbus sucks?” I ran out months ago.
Sharp Will Miss 3-4 Weeks: Kruger Skating, Smith Recalled
Jan 9th
The chick in the front row does her best Gene Simmons impression, while the guy on the right looks on skeptically. ( Nuccio DiNuzzo-Chicago Tribune)
If you’re a glass half empty person, you think the loss of Patrick Sharp comes at the worst possible time for the Blackhawks. With the PP going down the crapper (again) and the schedule getting a lot tougher, the Hawks can ill-afford to be without a key cog in their top-6 for the next 3 to 4 weeks.If you’re the glass half full sort, you say to yourself that this injury could have been much worse and the kids they have called up from Rockford have been impressive.
Put Up Your Dukes: Union and League Spar Over Re-Alignment
Jan 7th
L: Donald Fehr C: Bill Daly R: Gary Bettman
The NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) and Executive Director Donald Fehr lobbed a hand grenade into what everyone thought was a quite pleasant cocktail party yesterday, informing the NHL that they would not approve the re-alignment plan that was approved by the league’s Board of Governors last month. This shocked the hell out of casual observers of the situation, though the undercurrents monitored by those closest to the situation had pointed firmly in this direction for a while.
What in the name of Virgil Johnson’s jock strap is going on here? Where did all this come from, and why is everyone in the hockey universe going non-linear about this? Sit back, make some popcorn, and buckle up: this is going to take a while…
Here’s a quick timeline. It all really got started when Phoenix started having financial trouble. The assumption was that the days of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman’s south/southwest expansion were all but dead, and one or more teams (including Phoenix) would be moving north/northeast. Foreseeing this, the rumblings of re-alignment began with the league around 2008-09. Something would, eventually, have to be done.
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