A Chicago Blackhawks Site
Light Them Up: Flames Visit Chicago
Dec 5th
There are two reasons for the Blackhawks to kick it into gear tonight against the Calgary Flames. First, getting shut out by Vancouver two nights ago on home ice. Second, the embarrassing loss the Hawks suffered at the hands of the Flames two weeks ago by the score of 7 – 2. That absolutely must be avenged tonight.
Okay, so that happened: Canucks 3, Blackhawks 0
Dec 4th
Photo: AP
Last night there were several Blackhawks lying awake in bed, staring at the ceiling, wishing they had a second chance at the opportunities they missed against the Canucks. Were it not for those missed opportunities — and admittedly white-hot goaltender in the form of Roberto Luongo — the scoreboard would have looked much different when the final horn sounded.
The Hawks threw pretty much everything they could at Luongo, but Bobby Lu was on his game, turning away all 32 shots for his second shutout of the season. Those saves included a breakaway by Patrick Sharp and a point-blank, doorstep chance by Tomas Kopecky the he flipped gently into Luongo’s glove.
The Hawks didn’t play badly, nor did Marty Turco, who turned away 15 of 18 shots. Most of the lines were hustling, we saw signs of the old Duncan Keith re-emerging, and newcomer Jeremy Morin had another solid outing. It was just one of those nights with a hot goalie on the other end of the rink and the bounces not going the way the Blackhawks needed them to. Hard to say more than that.
Next up is Calgary on Sunday, a team we need to get even with following the beat-down we suffered at their hands two weeks back. We’ll preview that matchup tomorrow, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for any team info you need between now and game time.
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Back For More, Eh? Blackhawks Host Vancouver
Dec 3rd
Photo: AP
We tend to scoff at the Canucks in general, because we have Roberto Luongo’s number and we tend to knock them around like a piñata pretty much every time we see them, especially at the United Center. But we had better take the game more seriously this time: the Canucks come in fresh off a 7 – 2 win over Calgary. That game included a noteworthy hat-trick from Mason Raymond — one tally on the power play, one at even strength, and one shorty. Not often you see that.
So you can bet the Canucks will be feeling their oats and itching for a scrap when they hit Chicago tonight, especially after the bitch-slapping we gave them in GM Place the week before last. We showered the Vancouver net with 41 shots, chased Bobby Lu before the end of the 2nd, and walked out of there with a 7-1 victory. They will be looking for some payback. Expect Vancouver’s Tanner pain-in-the-Glass to be the latest fool to challenge — and get bludgeoned by — John Scott early on.
The Daily Phil Esposito (12/3/10)
Dec 3rd
This is a new quick-hitting feature I hope to publish each morning updating a good majority of former Blackhawks playing around the NHL with their performances the night before.
Why the name? Phil Esposito was traded to the Boston Bruins in 1967 in one of the most lopsided trades in league history. Seems fitting to honor one of the most famous former Blackhawks who had his best years while not playing for the franchise. Hope you enjoy.
"I don't drink ALL the time. Assholes."
A pretty slow night for the former Four Feathered Men, who combined for one goal and one assist. However, a drunk guy stopped a bunch of shots.
Click the jump for updates from 12/2
End The Controversy: A Tale of Four Goalies
Dec 2nd
Photos: TSN.ca
The Blackhawks’ rookie goaltender Corey Crawford came off the Circus Trip with three starts, three wins, and a GAA hovering just below 1.00. The calls went out for a third straight start after his wins over the Ducks and Kings, and he got it on Tuesday night against St. Louis. He came away with another win, but I think he showed us exactly why doing a flip-flop for the starting role with Marty Turco is a mistake.
Before we get into that, I want to take you back ten years and revisit the story of two young goaltenders in the Blackhawks organ-eye-zation. Michael Leighton and Craig Anders(s)on — I really should tell that story about the extra ‘s’ — were both drafted by Chicago and came into the AHL in 2001. They played as a tandem in Norfolk, which was then the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, and over the next three years started to gain confidence at the pro level.
Here and there they would get the occasional call-up, mostly to sit on the bench at the UC and watch Steve Passmore flop all over the ice and get his ass handed to him. Then, disaster struck. Blackhawks’s starting goaltender Jocelyn Thibault injured his hip, underwent surgery and was to miss a total of 60 games during the 2003-04 season.
Boxing with ‘Hawks/Blues (11/30/10)
Dec 1st
All right, it’s really late so you’re not going to get any analysis from me tonight other than what’s in the “Boxing.” However, be sure to check out today’s Daily Esposito below this post to catch up on your former Blackhawks.
Click the images to enlarge and, as always, I hope you enjoy it.
Click the jump for the BOX SCORE
The Daily Phil Esposito (12/1/10)
Dec 1st
This is a new quick-hitting feature I hope to publish each morning updating a good majority of former Blackhawks playing around the NHL with their performances the night before.
Why the name? Phil Esposito was traded to the Boston Bruins in 1967 in one of the most lopsided trades in league history. Seems fitting to honor one of the most famous former Blackhawks who had his best years while not playing for the franchise. Hope you enjoy.
"See? I told you I was good." (SI.com)
Well, the meatballs would have a good case tonight. Three Stanley Cup-winning former Blackhawks combined for two goals and three assists. And there’s other stuff.
Hit the jump for udpates from the 11/30 games
Please, Enough Drama Already! Blues Visit Chicago
Nov 30th
It’s been an exciting few days for Blackhawks fans, as we wound down the Circus Trip with four wins, our star winger got injured at practice, and the phrase “goalie controversy” threatened to rear its ugly head again. But we’ll get to that in a minute. The task at hand are the boys in blue and gold, and game time is not even 12 hours away.
The Daily Phil Esposito (11/30/10)
Nov 30th
This is a new quick-hitting feature I hope to publish each morning updating a good majority of former Blackhawks playing around the NHL with their performances the night before.
Why the name? Phil Esposito was traded to the Boston Bruins in 1967 in one of the most lopsided trades in league history. Seems fitting to honor one of the most famous former Blackhawks who had his best years while not playing for the franchise. Hope you enjoy.
Nothing that will blow your skirt up over last night’s performances. Eight former Blackhawks combined for one point, a minus-4 and a made-up drunken-driving offense.
Click the jump for updates from 11/29 games.
“It’s not rocket surgery”: Crawford to start, Boynton hurts Hossa
Nov 29th
"I got this." (Chicago Tribune)
The clamoring for Corey Crawford to get the nod in net Tuesday has come to fruition. Unfortunately, so has the official confirmation that Nick Boynton is a worthless piece of shit.
CSN’s Tracey Myers (@TramyersCSN) reported a couple of nuggets on her Twitter account today. First, Boynton and Marian Hossa collided in practice and Hossa was sent back to the locker room to be looked at. No word yet on Hossa’s condition. However, if Hossa is out for an extended period of time yet again, Boynton and his lisp are going to be swinging from a building somewhere.
Myers reported later that Crawford will get his third straight start Tuesday night against St. Louis. He’s 4-0-0 with a 1.23 GAA in his last four starts, including three road victories. Giving the kid a start at home riding a hot streak should’ve gone without saying, but it was good to see Joel Quenneville announce it early.
The only time Crawford faced the Blues was Feb. 2, 2006 in a 6-5 shootout loss. Crawford gave up five goals and made 34 saves in a brief call-up.
It should also go without saying that Q needs to ride Crawford as long as possible with the way he’s been playing. A loss shouldn’t immediately relegate Crawford back to the bench if he plays well. For a Blackhawks team seemingly lacking a spark, Crawford resembles the closest thing to a pick-me-up at the moment.
And on top of all that, Marty Turco is the class act we all knew he was. According to Brian Hamilton of the Trib:
“Corey’s going to play, I think, and he should,” Turco said. “He’s been playing great, he’s been playing great all year, has won a few in a row. We want to get on a roll. I’m here to win, no matter what.”
Either Tim or I will have updates on the Hossa injury as we get them. Check our Facebook fan page or our Twitter for the the quickest info.
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