Category Archives: NHL

Patrick Kane is Going Swiss

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With the uncertainty as to when the NHL lockout will end, Blackhawks star forward Patrick Kane has decided to take his talents overseas to Switzerland. Can you blame the guy for just wanting to play hockey? His agent announced Tuesday, Kaner will play for the Swiss National League A team EHC Biel until the NHL lockout is over.

Thankfully Kane held off his European departure until after the “Champs for Charity” game is played on Friday at the AllState Arena. The event is shaping up to be a memorable night to benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Chicago. Kaner is joining many of the 2010 Stanley Cup Blackhawks and other NHL players. The list includes: Adam Burish, Andrew Ladd, Troy Brouwer, Kris Versteeg, Brian Campbell and other former Hawks like James Wisniewski, Jim Vandermeer, Jake Dowell and Craig Anderson will also participate.

The comptetion consists of Bobby Ryan (Anaheim Ducks), Ryan Suter (Minnesota Wild), Ville Leino (Buffalo Sabres), Nicklas Backstrom (Washington Capitals), Kimmo Timonen (Philadelphia Flyers) and Joe Corvo (Carolina Hurricanes) just to name a few. We’ll see the final roster in the days to come.

I wish this wasn’t the only opportunity to watch our NHL players skate in 2012, but at least it’s for a good cause!

Other Hawks who will venture overseas include:

  • Bryan Bickell – HC Znojmo (Czech Republic)
  • Viktor Stalberg – Frolunda (Sweden)
  • Michael Frolik – Plzen (Czech Republic)

Hockey Hold Up

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If you were getting excited for the 2012 NHL season, I’d suggest you hold your horses. Thursday afternoon the dreaded news was announced - the first official two weeks of the NHL season have been canceled. Yep, that’s 82 games completely washed. The Blackhawks lose their first five games (Oct. 13 vs. Columbus, Oct. 16 at Winnipeg, Oct. 18 vs. Colorado, Oct. 20 vs. Detroit and Oct. 23 at St. Louis).

Bill Daly, the NHL’s deputy commissioner, issued a statement Thursday regarding the cancellations:

“We were extremely disappointed to have to make today’s announcement. The game deserves better, the fans deserve better and the people who derive income from their connection to the NHL deserve better.”

Uh, yea we do. I just find the whole lockout scenario a bit “over-done” these days, specifically with professional hockey. Been there, done that. In 2004 the NHL suspended play for an entire season – that lockout wasn’t enough? I admit the 2004-2005 season lockout actually revived the NHL because some truly positive factors of play resulted from it (any hockey fan loves a good shoot out) and ultimately increased TV ratings and general popularity. This lockout is just making players and fans angry. Why can’t the season begin on time while negotiations are being worked on? NHL hockey players are looking into other options overseas – mostly the KHL (who has a new agreement with ESPN as well) to keep their skills sharp. Shouldn’t the NHL want to keep their players here?

This lockout is depressing, our hockey hunks are leaving the U.S. and who knows when they will be back. Get comfortable, it looks like we’re going to be here in lockout-land for a while folks.

 

 

In Quenneville We Trust: Bring on Game 6

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It’s do or die for the Blackhawks tonight as they go into Game 6 with the Coyotes leading the series 3-2. Coach Quenneville and his Hawks are coming back to Chicago. After Saturday’s dramatic overtime win (as every game in the series has gone to overtime), the Hawks absolutely have the momentum, especially coming to play in front of their fans at the United Center. The Yotes took both games at the UC earlier in the series (games 3 and 4) and this time the Hawks need to capitalize on their home ice.

After his game-winning overtime goal in game 5, captain Jonathan Toews said Sunday, “You can imagine the feeling they have now; they didn’t want to come back to Chicago, they wanted to end it there. Any time we can keep pushing it to another game, they’re getting that feeling it’s theirs to lose. We’re trying to put the pressure on them and playing hard. We want to do that again tomorrow night, just like we did last game.”

Andrew Shaw returns to the team tonight after serving his three-game suspension for hitting Phoenix goaltender Mike Smith. We’re hoping he gives the Hawks an additional boost of energy. On a negative note, the Blackhawks will be without Marian Hossa, who is still recovering from his nasty hit from Raffi Torres (did I mention that punk was suspended for 25 games). Quenneville said there hasn’t been a change in Hossa’s status since the hit in game 3.

Here’s what the Hawks need to do tonight: they need to score quick and early. The Coyotes are NOT a better team offensively, and they’re basically just playing “keep away” with the Blackhawks. If the Hawks can find their intensity early on, the Coyotes don’t stand a chance. Kaner – I’m looking to you to get in there and score some goals – you too Sharpie.

The Blackhawks have avoided elimination once. We can win tonight and force the series to go to game 7!

Once a Canuck, Always a Canuck: Raffi Torres Suspended Indefinitely

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Raffi Torres, a Coyote player who’s name wouldn’t sit well with any Blackhawks’ fan at the moment, has been suspended indefinitely for his dirty hit on our beloved Marian Hossa.

During the first period of game three of the Coyotes-Blackhawks series, Torres left his feet and slammed his shoulder into Hossa’s head, who did not have the puck at the time. Totally illegal. Hossa laid motionless on the ice for what seemed like forever (it was about 5 minutes) and was then carted away on a stretcher. He was taken to the hospital, but reports state that he left on his own two feet after undergoing some tests.

The best part, “none of the officials saw the hit” – there was an official standing RIGHT THERE. Because this massive hit went unnoticed, Torres did not receive any sort of penalty during the game.

First things first, Hossa we hope you’re okay. #WinItForHossa

Second, Torres is a dirty rat and I hope he’s suspended for the rest of the season. I know hockey is a rough sport and there are obvious risks you run playing a dangerous sport. Don’t get me wrong I love the fighting, but a hit to a player’s head is unnecessary. Torres has an in-person hearing scheduled for Friday with the NHL. Because the hearing is in-person means he could face a six game suspension or more.

After game 3, Torres told the Arizona Republic that as far as the hit goes, he felt it was a “hockey play”. Blackhawks’ Captain Jonathan Toews didn’t like that much, “Well, that’s obviously the way he thinks,” he said. “I said it before, it’s the same when he was with Vancouver last year. There’s no remorse at all with a guy like that. You pretty much take him out and have a guy carried on a stretcher and he probably doesn’t feel bad about it at all. That’s not hockey to me.” That’s why we love you Toews.

The Coyote forward doesn’t have the cleanest track record either. Last April, it was a hit on Brent Seabrook from Torres during the Vancouver- Chicago first round series. He was not suspended for this hit, but had been previously in the 2011 season. Like I said, once a Canuck, always a Canuck.

It seems like this year’s run to the Stanley Cup has been violent all over the league. I’m a little worried what will happen in the next rounds when things heat up even more!

Dirty Penguins

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Everyone loves a good hockey brawl, it’s one of the reasons the NHL is so entertaining. HOWEVER – the current Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers playoff series is more of a novice UFC fight. Talk about a rivalry between the state of Pennsylvania. It’s the Penguins who are playing like dirty little birds out of frustration. Hot damn this was crazy, and this fight in the first period was just the beginning.

Three players were tossed in the first period, even superstars Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby and Claude Giroux got in a scuffle. Each team had their top defenseman – Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang and Philadelphia’s Kimmo Timonen – booted to the locker room.

Talk about the “Fight to the Cup” – I think the Penguins might be taking it a little too literally. The score was overshadowed by the slugfest, but in the end the Flyers won 8-4 and lead the series 3-0. Things might get even uglier

Brent Seabrook Saves the Hawks – Until OT

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You may have thought all hope was lost for the Blackhawks in game one of their playoff series with the Phoenix Coyotes, but in came Brent Seabrook to save the day with a clutch goal tying the game 2-2 and sending it into overtime. He just happens to be my favorite.

“Kaner did a great job getting the puck to the net and like I said I was just in the right spot at the right time,” Seabrook said afterward.

Unfortunately, the Hawks went on to lose 3-2 in overtime. It’s still a great highlight, win or lose.

Here We Go – Hawks Playoff Matchup Released

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The Chicago Blackhawks will be heading to the desert to play their first-round of this year’s NHL playoffs against the Phoenix Coyotes. Because the Coyotes won the Pacific Division (even though the Hawks had WAY more points, more regulation and overtime wins) they get home ice advantage.

The Phoenix-Chicago matchup is missing the “story-lines” of recent first round opponents, there isn’t animosity that oozes from every Vancouver game, they don’t have one of Chicago’s past goalies tearing it up in the net like San Jose, and there isn’t any deep rooted historic rivalry that lives with the Detroit Red Wings. Perhaps the Blackhawks and Coyotes can create their owns subplot this series – everyone loves a juicy rivalry.

With Blackhawks’ Captain Jonathan Toews status still questionable, and after sitting so many games he will be a little rusty on the ice, Chicago will be looking to another star, Patrick Kane, to keep up his play. He has truly stepped up his game at the end of the regular season with the loss of Toews. Kane may not have a “C” on his jersey, but that boy can score.

Phoenix will host Games 1 and 2 Thursday and Saturday. Unfortunately, the Pacific Time zone is not in Chicago’s favor as both games have 9 p.m. central time starts (damn west coast). The Blackhawks will host Games 3 and 4 at the United Center on April 17 and April 19. Game 3 is slated for an 8 p.m. start and Game 4 for 7 p.m. Game 5 will head back in Glendale on April 21. Game 6, if necessary, is April 23 in Chicago; Game 7, if necessary, is April 25 in Glendale.

Get your Blackhawks gear ready, it’s Stanley Cup playoff time!

Toews Not Playing in Season Finale

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After much consideration, Blackhawks Captain Jonathan Toews will not be playing in the season finale against the Detroit Red Wings. He said he just doesn’t feel right on the ice, and he’s hoping to be back active for game one of this year’s playoffs. I think he needs a puppy or something to cheer him up.

The Red Wings are never an easy game for Chicago as they are a long time rival, but today they will take the ice with authority after their loss Thursday night against the New Jersey Devils left a sour taste in their mouths. Hopefully Kaner will be swift with his stick today and let that bad taste resonate in their mouths a little longer.

Blackhawks’ Andrew Burnette knows the Hawks won’t take this game lightly, “You play [to win] and see what happens,” Brunette said. “That’s life in the Western Conference. Every team that’s in is scary.”

After tonight’s game the Blackhawks’ playoff positioning will finally be  secured and they will know their first post season opponent. Honestly, it doesn’t matter WHO they are playing it’s always about HOW they are playing. Because when the Hawks are on, they can beat anybody.

When Will Toews Return?

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I am really starting to miss Jonathan Toews and his handsome face. Word had spread that he could potentially play in Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Wild after the Blackhawks captain was cleared for contact, but that hope was shot down today.

When asked why Toews is still out after being fully involved in practice this week Coach Joel Quenneville said, “it’s all part of the process.”  He will miss his 21st consecutive game and last played Feb. 19 against the St. Louis Blues.

Toews just seems so sad, I felt bad for the hockey star (and then I remembered he’s still making millions so I don’t feel that bad). Luckily he will be able to go on the road with the team, “That’s step one,” he said. “It’s better than staying home and sitting around by myself. It’s not fun to be home watching on TV in my living room; guys go on the road and you miss out on a lot. I feel like I’m a little bit closer to being in the picture again and it’s better than nothing. Hopefully that means I’ll be playing soon.”

We could still potentially see Toews on the ice against the Detroit Red Wings this weekend.

Do not fret, there is still one positive to Thursday’s game. Duncan Keith is a free man now, his five-game NHL suspension is over. It was essentially more of a refresher course than anything, he recharged his legs, regained even more strength. Welcome back #2!

Sharp or Keith? Do We Really Have to Choose?

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Well gosh, thanks for making it hard on us EA Sports! How are Blackhawks fans supposed to choose between Patrick Sharp and Duncan Keith? You sure we can’t have both?

The two stars are vying for the spot to represent the Hawks in EA Sports’ fan voting contest, the winner will grace the cover of “NHL 13.” The voting will consist of two preliminary rounds, the first round has two members from each of the 30 NHL franchises (March 29-April 11), the second round is narrowed to 32 players – each winner from every team with two separate wild cards (April 12-22), and the final round is a 16-player bracket to produce a winner (April 12-22). The cover-contest champion will be announced June 20 at the 2012 NHL Awards in Las Vegas.

VS

So who do Chicago fans choose? They’re both assistant captains, they were both apart of the Stanley Cup Championship team, they would both look fancy on the cover of a video game. If we’re basing this on looks alone, my heart belongs to Patrick Sharp – his face is perfection. However, I also think their is a certain demeanor NHL defensive players have (who doesn’t love watching a man slam another man into the boards?) which gives recently suspended Keith an upper hand – we all remember when he got his teeth knocked out and kept playing. The RedEye Chicago also pointed out that Keith has a Norris Trophy and an Olympic gold medal, Sharpie might not be considered as “prestigious” to some. This is going to take some serious consideration.

You can cast your vote by going to the Cover Vote page, by visiting the EA Sports NHL Facebook page or by tweeting your vote using the hashtag #NHL13Cover.