IndianHeadNation

Post-Game: CHI 2, DET 1

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:08:00 +0000

Post game talk.

Blackhawks Trade Brandon Segal

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:16:23 +0000

The Blackhawks have traded minor league forward Brandon Segal to the Tampa Bay Lightning for future considerations.

Segal has scored 13 goals, 12 assists along with adding 63 penalty minutes in 53 games with the Rockford IceHogs this season. The 28 year old has appeared in 92 NHL games with the Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings, and Tampa Bay Lightning over three seasons, recording 11 goals and 11 assists in his NHL career.

Also, the Rockford IceHogs have acquired Matt Fornataro from the Norfolk Admirals.

Fornataro, 25, has yet to make his NHL debut. He has spent the last three seasons with the Norfolk Admirals in the AHL, appearing in 161 games while compiling 33 goals, 52 assist along with a plus-8 rating.

Jonathan Toews Out With an Upper-body Injury

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:31:59 +0000

The Chicago Blackhawks will be without center Jonathan Toews for a short stretch. According to several sources, it is not related to the wrist injury that Jonathan had suffered earlier in the season (before the All-Star break) and he should not miss significant time due to the injury.

At the moment, it is defined as a day-to-day injury. Jonathan did not participate in practice this morning, but it is unknown when or where the injury was suffered.

"Johnny is important in a lot of ways, whether it's his leadership or the quality and the quantity of ice time that he's out there for," Quenneville said. "He leads us in a lot of ways. It's up to some other guys to step up and absorb some quality ice (time) and some responsibility and contribute in their ways. Don't try to be Johnny, but be yourself."

Toews, 23, has scored 29 goals as well as adding 28 assists and a plus-17 rating in 59 games this season. The Blackhawks are 32-20-7 with Jonathan in the line-up this year.

Red Wings (41-17-2) @ Blackhawks (32-21-7) - 02...

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:53:18 +0000

Blackhawks host the league leading Red Wings. The Wings come into the UC after setting a NHL record 23 straight home wins. Detroit has not fared well on the road so the Blackhawks will be looking to cool them down with their recent hot play from Chicagos’ top four, who have been putting up points in their current mini winning streak of three games. It will be interesting to see if everyone’s lucky charm (John Scott) will be needed against the Red Wings.

Building Confidence: CHI 3, STL 1

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:10:46 +0000

Vying on 30 minutes of solid hockey, the Blackhawks were able to pull out a win that could arguably be the most important of the season.

Although the Blackhawks were victimized for a slow start once again, they snowballed into an avalanche of momentum while Corey Crawford held the fort for the first half of the game. Crawford's stellar performance is noted by his .967 save percentage, mimicking his performance of only 24 hours earlier, and certainly rolling with confidence as of late.

“I’m more in control. I thought I was starting to run out of position and ending up out of my net," said Crawford. "It was costing us a goal every game. That’s too much."

Corey's ability to tighten up his game allowed the Blackhawks to survive the 1st period, where they were out-shot 15-4. Unfortunately, NHL officials deemed that Andy McDonald was able to brush a kicked puck into the net with his stick, putting the Blues ahead late in the 1st period.

That goal would stand as the only goal the Blues would score. Mid-way through the 2nd period the scales would start to tip in the Blackhawks direction, although neither team was able to generate a goal in the middle frame.

By the time the 3rd period rolled around, the Blues couldn't handle the uphill battle, and the Blackhawks popped in 3 unanswered goals starting with Duncan Keith finding a hole in Brian Elliot, effectively ending his shutout streak. Later in the period, Dave Bolland's centering feed directed through Elliot to break the tie and force the Blues to opt for the extra attacker in the final minute of the game. Hossa made them pay by converting with an impressive empty net goal to put the Blues away in regulation.

Once again, the Blackhawks failed to convert on the power-play. Which streak will the Blackhawks break first? Scoring a power-play goal? Or getting a shutout?

CALL 'EM UP

Dylan Olsen and Jimmy Hayes both had impressive outings. Both clearly have no problem showing their physical presence and even seem to welcome it.

St. Louis is a blue collar team, they work hard, and they love to hit hard. Having two young players in our system that are willing to stand up and fight back is encouraging for our future sustained success in the Central Division and post-season action.

Olsen in particular has added some snarl to the back-end, a refreshing change of pace having another defenseman that can take a body and win battles in front of the net. Olsen really looks like he may be a perfect fit for Nick Leddy down the line. Both are polar opposites of each other and may be able to cover for each others weaknesses in a similar light that Keith and Seabrook fit as opposites.

BLACKHAWKS THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Corey Crawford
2. Duncan Keith
3. Dylan Olsen

Blues (36-15-7) @ Blackhawks (31-21-7) - 02/19...

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:01:09 +0000

Blackhawks take on the high flying Blues for a Sunday matinee; this will be the Blackhawks first home game in over two weeks. The Hawks come into this game on a two game win streak and will be looking to knock off their rival the Blues and gain some traction in the tough Central Division. The Hawks top four will need to keep their mini scoring streak alive against a very stingy Blues defense, which has given up the fewest goals in the NHL.

Kids in a Candy Shop: CHI 6, CBJ 1

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 20:40:10 +0000

John Scott and the Blackhawks found comedic value in pounding the Blue Jackets in all facets of the game. Not only did they beat them 6-1, but with their fists too.

Needless to say, it was an embarrassing showing for Columbus in front of their own home crowd (which consisted of mostly Hawks fans anyway) and despite their desperation to create a positive out of a blow out, they failed miserably and just embarrassed themselves even further.

In case you missed John Scott and his comedy act, here it is in all it's glory:

It's okay to burst out in laughter for a while, I wouldn't blame you if you can't even continue reading.

But, aside from that, it was a great game displayed by the Hawks after looking sluggish in the first ten minutes of the match. This time it didn't kill them completely, and they turned it around in every area only to fall short of scoring a power-play goal and getting a shutout.

There were so many highlights this game, we may have to add every goal to the reel. It all started with Jonathan Toews and his Bobby Orr-esque goal to put the Blackhawks on the board. The goal gave the Hawks so much energy, they proceeded to slap the Jackets with 6 straight unanswered goals.

Of course, it wouldn't be a game against the Blue Jackets if Viktor Stalberg wasn't scoring, although he "only" had one goal this game he was flying North-South and created a lot of opportunities. Patrick Sharp and Kane connected beautifully for the third goal, and Kane forced Mason out of the net on a stoppable fourth goal.

To cap the night off, Marcus Kruger and Sami Lepisto both dented the net.

Lost in this sea of positives, Corey Crawford quietly had himself a great game, stoning the Blue Jackets with a stellar .971 save percentage. If not for a horrid Sami Lepisto giveaway, Corey could have had the Blackhawks first shutout of the season. The streak extends all the way until last season, where Crawford slammed the door on the Canucks in the playoffs 5-0.

What streak will the Blackhawks end next?

BLACKHAWKS THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Jonathan Toews
2. Corey Crawford
3. Patrick Sharp

Blackhawks (30-21-7) @ Blue Jackets (17-34-6) -...

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:08:00 +0000

Who would have ever thought the number ONE would mean something so big; well the Blackhawks ended their losing streak of nine and will be looking to add another win to their ONE game winning streak. The Blackhawks travel to Columbus to cap off the longest road trip in team history (9 games). If history repeats itself, this should be a great afternoon for Viktor Stalberg.

Blackhawks Make an Offer for Kubina

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:15:06 +0000

On February 12th the Tampa Bay Lightning opted to hold Pavel Kubina out of practice in order to protect the organizations interests. Shortly after, Kubina was asked to submit a list of five teams that he would agree to accept a trade.

Fast forward to today, Pavel Kubina has not yet submitted his list of teams where he would waive his NTC and accept a trade, but it is expected that today is the deadline. The Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings are the first two teams that have already made a pitch for Kubina, but certainly not the last.

According to Bruce Garrioch, the Blackhawks are the third team to join the hunt. It's unknown who was offered from the Blackhawks side, but considering recent moves around the league Kubina may come as a very expensive option.

The Blackhawks have been searching for a top-four defenseman all season. Although Kubina is an aging option and may have lost a step in his game over the last few seasons, he is still capable of logging plenty of minutes and would bring a solid all-around game to the defense.

Kubina, 34, comes on the last year of a cap hit that totals $3.85 million. In 52 games this season the veteran defenseman has scored 3 goals, added 8 assists, and plus-1 rating.

UPDATE (11:45 AM)

The Red Wings and Flyers have offered a 2nd round pick along with a 5th round pick. The Blackhawks offer is unknown for the moment, but it is said that they are close to making a deal.

Streak History

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:04:43 +0000

The Blackhawks have gone 1-8-1 in their last ten games, and hope for another Cup in Chicago has found itself in a near-death situation among fans and media. Rightfully so.

Any type of losing streak is considered a red flag for the stability of a team. But, where does it stand among recent history Stanley Cup winners?

BiscuitintheBasket said:

'11 Cup winner Bruins lost 7 out of 10 and 6 out of 10 twice last season

'09 Cup winner Penguins lost 8 of 10 (5 in a row), 7 of 10

'08 Cup winner RedWings lost 6 in a row as part of losing 10 of 11

'07 Cup winner Ducks lost 7 of 10, 8 of 10, won 9 of 23 games during JAN\FEB

'04 Cup winner Lightning went 1-7-2 (ties)

This isn't the first time a Cup contending team has gone through adversity, and it certainly won't be the last.

The question is, will this type of adversity bring the Blackhawks together for a solid run? Or will they falter?

My dad always told me something that stuck with me: "All that matters is who is hot at the end of the season." Something so simple couldn't be more true for the NHL.

Seeing teams like the 8th seed Edmonton Oilers fight their way into a Stanley Cup Finals appearance, and surges from every team on the list above to fight through their adversity in order to win the Stanley Cup is proof that every team suffers rough patches throughout the season in order to become a champion. We saw similar struggles with the 2010 Stanley Cup winning Blackhawks team, who suffered their own set of losses through the month of March.

Hockey is a game reliant on momentum, it can carry from shift to shift, game to game, week to week, month to month. The fact is, the potential that the Blackhawks have shown over the course of the season is more important than what they have shown lately. But talk is cheap, time for results.

Shaw Sent to Rockford; Hayes Recalled

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:40:26 +0000

Jimmy Hayes has been recalled from Rockford after the Blackhawks have gone 1-7-1 in his absence. In 13 games this season, Hayes has posted 3 goals and 4 assists along with a minus-1 rating for the Blackhawks, while notching 7 goals and 16 assists in 33 games for Rockford in his first pro season.

In his place, Andrew Shaw sees himself returning to Rockford after a 19 game stint with the Blackhawks. During his visit, he posted 5 goals and 4 assists along with a minus-7 rating. In 33 games for the IceHogs, Shaw has scored 12 goals and 9 assists along with 80 PIM.

With Shaw seeing his ice-time drop in the last 10 games, coupled with a poor performance against the Rangers, it's no surprise to see the Blackhawks switch up their options with so much youth in the system. Although Shaw's effectiveness has dropped game-by-game, his future with the Blackhawks remains brighter than ever, from being drafted in the 5th round last year to his debut to the NHL merely 6 months later.

Hayes will provide the Blackhawks with the big physical presence they lack without taking away from the youthful exuberance that Shaw displayed. Hayes will be hard-pressed to find time on the top two lines, but has shown in his past call-up that he could be effective with Dave Bolland.

Four in One: CHI 4, NYR 2

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 02:26:58 +0000

Joel Quenneville was all smiles as the Blackhawks capped off a 4-2 victory in Madison Square Garden, their 1st win in nearly a month. You can hear the sigh of relief all the way to Chicago as every single player held their breath until that final buzzer.

A lot of positives that the Blackhawks could build on from tonight, namely the perfect penalty-kill, explosive 1st period, and solid defense.

"You're up 4-0 in the first few minutes, it can't get any better than that," said Patrick Kane. "Everyone got a little confidence out of it, and I think everyone got pretty excited.

"Everyone was pumped up for this game to kind of prove ourselves, not that we can win a game but we can also beat one of the best teams in the league, too. It shows that this team has potential."

After leading by 4 goals in the 1st period the Blackhawks had to endure a wave of penalties, for and against. It was a huge roller coaster of momentum, and although they did not convert on the power-play, the penalty-kill certainly did their job in order to maintain that momentum throughout the game.

It was a good test for them to build their confidence back. No, they did not need to dominate for 60 minutes or put up a touchdown in order to pass this test. This was simpler than that. All they needed to do was hold the fort, and it allowed them to work on things during the game that they have needed to improve upon. That's what mattered most.

But as I've said in the past. The best memory for a hockey player is none at all, and Jonathan Toews is taking that statement in stride.

"The next game is even bigger than this one," Toews said. "We've got to keep going. We're in a tough situation after this cold streak we've been on. We need to keep digging our way out of the hole, and we can't be comfortable with this win for one second."

And he's right, they just need to keep looking forward instead of getting caught up with the past. Perhaps a word that Corey Crawford took to heart during this victory. I wouldn't say he looked 100% comfortable or looked cool and calm, but he certainly held his ground and maybe even had a spark of confidence that we haven't seen for months. And that was enough for the Blackhawks to give him the game belt, a huge vote of confidence from the locker room and perhaps a message to management that they don't want anyone else guarding the net.

All that said, there's not a single fact that is more interesting than what I will sign off with tonight.

The most impressive stat of the night: 0 giveaways, 9 takeaways.

BLACKHAWKS THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Jonathan Toews
2. Marian Hossa
3. Brent Seabrook

Hawks Fall Prey to Predators: CHI 2, NSH 3

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:11:48 +0000

Ray Emery started for the 2nd consecutive game, but the Blackhawks could not find the offensive support to gain a win, dropping their 9th straight loss in a row.

Ryan Suter got the ball rolling for the Predators with a snap shot that beat Ray Emery late in the 1st period. But, the Blackhawks didn't fold as usual with Bryan Bickell responding in the final minute to close out the period after peppering the Predators with 11 shots to their 5 on net.

In the 2nd period, Nick Spaling tipped a shot past Emery to put the Predators ahead 2-1, and the Blackhawks were unable to respond for the remainder of the middle frame.

Marian Hossa capped off the Blackhawks night with a wrist shot to tie the game 2-2, his first goal since January 21st, ironically against the Predators. Despite the lopsided advantage in shots, 11-3, the Blackhawks couldn't hold on with Ryan Ellis beating a cold Ray Emery with the game-winning goal.

BLACKHAWKS THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Marian Hossa
2. Andrew Shaw
3. Bryan Bickell

"Keeping Things Simple"

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:41:45 +0000

You’ve probably heard this phrase uttered a million times in the last week or so when people are talking about the Hawks and their current 8 game losing skid. Hell, I’ve heard current players talk about this “We need to keep things simple”. Yet, if you have been watching any of the games on this current losing streak, you will realize that the Hawks are not doing anything that is considered “simple”.

In case you are not aware (which from the presence of new fans over the last 4-5 years) the phrase “Keeping it simple” in hockey means the same thing in pretty much any other scenario it is used in. Make good outlet passes, gain entry to the zone, if you are pressured with no options get the puck deep etc. The Hawks are not doing the simple but instead are essentially making mistakes that are basic no-no’s in hockey. Last game against Phoenix for example I watched Andrew Shaw try and bank the puck off the boards so he could clear it out of the Hawks zone. Instead of just firing it out down the boards, he put the puck on an angle were it popped right into the middle of the Hawks zone. I’ve seen Huet play better angles then this. Luckily we didn’t get scored on (there was a shot though, and a scoring chance) but that was such a simple play it shouldn’t of gotten to the point of a scoring opportunity. It’s the little things like that type of play that will build up and cause these losses because eventually teams take advantage of those chances.

The simple things… like knowing who your man is in the defensive zone and STICKING with him. I’ve heard plenty of people complain about our goaltending and while it’s not the greatest tandem in the league, they are not the worst either. The problem is they get left out to dry way too many times because the shooters are getting off uncontested quality shots. I don’t care who your goaltender is; if they are seeing 10-15 (some nights more) QUALITY shots a night, eventually they are going to slip through the cracks. Lessing the gap (the distance between the defenseman and the shooter) is one way to shore up these quality shots against. Another simple idea is for our forwards to play as they are SUPPOSED to in the zone i.e. their position. Take for instance the first Phoenix goal against where the shot went off of Lepisto. That play should never of happened had the Hawks kept it simple. Stalberg turns the puck over at his own blue line instead of going off the boards or batting it out. Next, where is Jamal Mayers? Oh wait, he’s at center ice because he blew the zone WAY too early as a center (typically you are the last forward out of your zone). This results in all the forwards being out of their defensive position and Lepisto having to cover two separate Coyotes. If the Hawks had kept it simple and gotten the puck out AND played their positions correctly (the center) there would not have been a goal scored.

I could point these little flaws out all day (I choose not to because it would become redundant and boring… I applaud you if you are still even with me at this point), fact of the matter is if the players and whomever are going to keep bringing up the phrase “we need to keep it simple” then they might as well try for once and keep it simple on the ice.

-TJD

Khabibulin Becoming a Serious Option for Blackh...

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:37:16 +0000

Coming off an eight game losing streak, the rumor mill has caught fire with Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman looking at some new options on the trade front concerning the goaltending position. Along with that, the recent addition of Brendan Morrison hasn't exactly satisfied Joel Quenneville's hunger for a productive center.

FORWARDS

Yes, the Blackhawks are still in the hunt for another forward. Some names have dropped off the list, including Edmonton Oilers center Sam Gagner. Although the Blackhawks had a very high interest level in the young center, his price has skyrocketed to an amount Bowman is not willing to pay.

DEREK ROY
CENTER | BUFFALO SABRES
Roy continues to stick on the list as a serious candidate for the Blackhawks. With the teams tumble down the Western Conference standings, the Blackhawks desperation continues to climb.

Bowman has been searching for a second line center since November and plans really have not changed despite the addition of Brendan Morrison.

With the Blackhawks being linked to the Sabres for several weeks now, Roy looks like a hot candidate for forwards. He has one-year left on his contract for a hefty cap hit of $4 million, but the Hawks have no problem taking that type of salary on to solidify their top-six forwards.

TON'S TAKE: Morrison has not shown enough to take on the role that the Blackhawks expected of him. Since being acquired, his ice-time has dropped significantly and demoted to the 4th line. Roy has struggled this season, but for the right price he would be a great addition.

TUOMO RUUTU
LEFT WING | CAROLINA HURRICANES
Similar to the situation of Tim Gleason weeks ago, the Blackhawks chances of acquiring the forward hinges on whether or not Rutherford can sign Ruutu to a contract extension.

Recent reports are that the Hurricanes are trying to come to terms with Ruutu, but lately, it seems as if both sides are not getting any closer. If this continues, Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford will put out an offer that Ruutu will either take or leave.

"We have now made re-signing Tuomo a priority," Rutherford said. "If we're not able to agree, both sides need to have some leeway and some options. We need to make a decision and he needs to make a decision."

Chicago remains a hot candidate for Tuomo to land, along with the Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings, and a slew of other teams.

TON'S TAKE: Rutherford did a great job in re-signing Gleason for a good price and term, but I don't think he'll be as lucky with Ruutu. He wants a long-term deal, I'm sure the Hurricanes agree, but the actual salary has always been an issue for Ruutu. The question is, will they pay up? Or will they cut their losses and cash in?

ADAM BURISH
CENTER/WING | DALLAS STARS
It has been reported that Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman is indeed talking to the Dallas Stars about returning Adam Burish to Chicago. The former Blackhawk is set to become a UFA this summer and has a cap hit of $1.15 million.

Burish would be an injection of energy into an otherwise dull line-up, also providing added chemistry in helping the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in 2010.

In 38 games this season, Burish has scored 4 goals and 8 assists for a total of 12 points, also adding 48 PIMs and a plus-1 rating.

TON'S TAKE: Burish isn't a second line center, a goalie, or a defenseman. So he doesn't exactly fit the bill of what the Blackhawks want but I don't think anyone can really argue that he wouldn't be an improvement of what the Blackhawks are currently icing on their bottom two lines. The energy in the locker room alone could help keep them alive.

DEFENSEMAN

Plenty of defenseman have dropped off the list in the last few weeks, including Tim Gleason and Francois Beauchemin. Stan Bowman has admitted recently that the market for a defenseman isn't as active as he would like, so he may be willing to explore more options than just one particular type of defenseman.

"There's a lot of teams looking for a defenseman, so I think probably a few weeks ago people wouldn't have expected Gleason to be signed," Bowman told reporters recently. "We're going to listen to whatever's out there."

CHRIS CAMPOLI
DEFENSEMAN | MONTREAL CANADIENS
Since returning from a fluke injury earlier in the season, Campoli has found himself as an active contributor to the Canadiens line-up.

With the Blackhawks preferring a decent puck moving defenseman with solid skating skills, Campoli seems to fit the bill most with others off the market.

In 18 games this season, Campoli has contributed 1 goal and 3 assists for the Canadiens. With his return, he has been seeing power-play time with Montreal and regularly sees over 15 minutes of ice-time on a nightly basis.

TON'S TAKE: Campoli would make sense, with his prior history, it would be a comfortable transition and provide instant chemistry. With Stan overturning the roster pretty much every season, a little bit of chemistry should be welcomed over someone with a little more talent than Chris has.

ANDY SUTTON
DEFENSEMAN | EDMONTON OILERS
The Oilers won't make the playoffs this season, it's been well known that they will be sellers for quite some time now. Not many teams are in their situation and they will have an upper hand in pawning off the band-aids of their roster.

Sutton is among the names that the Blackhawks have been looking at. Although they prefer puck movement over brawn, they may not have much of an option and considering they have been interested in several pieces of the Oilers line-up, they have certainly had a great view of Sutton during that time.

That said, it is believed that the Oilers are actually looking to re-sign Sutton to a one-year deal for under $2 million. If he does sign, scratch another defenseman off the trade block.

Sutton has appeared in 33 games this season, scoring 3 goals and 6 assists. The big defenseman has also added 57 hits and 56 PIM.

TON'S TAKE: Not sure Sutton is much better than what the Blackhawks currently have slotted at the #6 spot. If there is any defenseman that the Blackhawks should be looking for to help the club, they probably won't find them on an Oilers roster who seems to have their own problems on the back-end. Just wait, this is the precursor to Cam Barker rumors.

NICKLAS GROSSMAN
DEFENSEMAN | DALLAS STARS
The Stars are beginning to look like another team that may start to build towards next year. With Nicklas Grossman set to become a UFA, the Blackhawks might swoop in and add him to the roster along with Burish.

The Stars are looking to add some youth and draft picks, which is something the Blackhawks can afford to part with.

Grossman has notched 5 assists in 51 games along with 92 hits and 100 blocked shots. Not only is he capable of logging minutes on the penalty kill, but he's pretty good at it too.

TON'S TAKE: He would be a solid addition. Very similar to a Hjalmarsson-type, perhaps not as effective but he would be a big improvement over anyone currently taking up the 6th defensive spot. Let's face it, anyone halfway decent would help our penalty kill right now. The question is, if acquired, will Quenneville even slot him correctly? Montador was suppose to be a PK defenseman too.

BRYAN ALLEN
DEFENSEMAN | CAROLINA HURRICANES
Less likely than the first two candidates, Bryan Allen continues to circle in Blackhawk rumors. With the Hurricanes re-signing Tim Gleason, and currently talking to Tuomo Ruutu, they have expressed little interest in giving Allen an extension.

What does this mean for the towering 6-5 defenseman?

Well, chances are they won't just let him walk away for nothing.

In 56 games this season, Allen has contributed 7 assists, 70 hits, and 119 blocked shots.

TON'S TAKE: Probably the best choice for a defensive defenseman. There really aren't many out there right now and Allen would be a better option than anything the Blackhawks currently have on their bottom pairing. I find it somewhat funny that the same teams keep occurring in the rumor mill, there really aren't that many sellers this season.

GOALTENDERS

Yes, the Blackhawks have finally entered the pool of teams interested in a goaltender. They didn't just easy their way in either, they dove off the high dive.

NIKOLAI KHABIBULIN
GOALTENDER | EDMONTON OILERS
The hottest topic lately for the Blackhawks has been the goaltending position with Corey Crawford and Ray Emery unable to grab a hold of the reigns. With the Blackhawks connection to the Edmonton Oilers all season, it is speculated that they may be looking at multiple players, but it is reported that Khabibulin is now the focus.

It's no secret that the Blackhawks have been scouting the Oilers lately, including tonight against the Senators. Considering they are already familiar with Khabibulin they could be looking for a package.

In 32 games this season, Khabibulin has a 12-16-4 record, including 2 shutouts coupled with a .917 save percentage and 2.52 goals against average. His cap hit is at $3.75 million and is extended for one more year beyond this season.

TON'S TAKE: Khabby has struggled at times this season, he is nearing the end of his career, and has been a flat out disappointment in Edmonton according to media sources. That said, he may be an improvement over what the Blackhawks currently have. I personally think he has been treated unfairly as an Oiler and has done a decent job. The question is, what happens to Corey Crawford and would it really be worth damaging him even further?

EVGENI NABOKOV
GOALTENDER | NEW YORK ISLANDERS
The Islanders have fielded phone calls on Nabokov for quite some time now and it is said that Stan Bowman may look to get into the mix.

However, Islanders GM Garth Snow has stated that he has no plans on trading the aging goaltender but that could mean that he hasn't found the right offer yet.

The Blackhawks have also scouted the Islanders multiple times this season, and have had contact with the organization several times.

Nabokov has appeared in 29 games this year, compiling a 13-14-0 record along with 2 shutouts. He's had a mint save percentage of .923 and goals against average of 2.29.

TON'S TAKE: If they have to pick up a goaltender, I would be more comfortable with Nabokov. But quite honestly, I don't think it's a talent issue that Chicago is having right now. Never-the-less, a shake up is needed and perhaps it's the goaltending position that will be on the receiving end.

Captain Furious: CHI 0, PHX 3

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:23:23 +0000

Jonathan Toews and the Blackhawks have dropped their eighth straight game in a row in white-wash fashion, unable to crack Mike Smith. The impotence of the offense really isn't even the concern of the game, rather the mugging of Jonathan Toews for the 2nd straight game.

Being on the receiving end of multiple raids, Toews has retaliated with frustration once again, this time retorting against former Blackhawks captain Adrian Aucoin. He isn't the same one-man wrecking crew that bulldozed the ice with havoc as he did earlier in the season. Fast forward to the recent moment and Jonathan is the one being wrecked by a crew.

Maybe his teammates need to stick up for him, maybe the officials need to take notice. One thing is for certain, I doubt he'll be able to take this type of abuse for any prolonged stretch without seriously hurting himself. Teams seems to place a target on his back because they can, and quite honestly at times it seems as if it's Jonathan Toews versus five opposing players and a goaltender.

Today, the Blackhawks loss is the least of my concerns and should be the least of anyone's concerns. Enduring eight losses in a row may do that to someone, or showing concern for the captain might be a better reason.

Against the Sharks, Jamal Mayers was forced to play on the top line with Toews in order to reduce the damage... something that the referees easily could have fixed with a game misconduct to send a message in a similar fashion that John Scott has received multiple times through out the year. Unfortunately, the officials have cowered for two games in a row now with their tails between their legs, forcing the Blackhawks to police the game themselves.

Against the Coyotes, the players gave up on policing for their captain. Instead, Andrew Shaw tried sparking the team with a fight early in the game, for another cause other than defending teammates. Although the Blackhawks bench seemed to enjoy the spark it created, shortly after they conceded their 1st goal of the game essentially ending their night as the game-winner.

Fighting has it's place in hockey, if the officials will not atone for someones actions by slapping them with the book, guaranteed that another player will slap you in the face with their fists. It just didn't happen today from either end--at least not for the right reasons.

For taking a beating, I think Jonathan deserves to be recognized as the best player for the Blackhawks tonight. He stuck with it and continued to park his body in areas that he knew he would face rough contact. His team can take a page out of his book, because if all of them were willing to put themselves on the line like he has, maybe we wouldn't have lost eight games in a row. Time to have that meeting behind closed doors, they need another reminder of how much the captain hates losing.

BLACKHAWKS THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Jonathan Toews
2. Brent Seabrook
3. Andrew Shaw

Blackhawks (29-19-7) @ Coyotes (26-21-8) - 02/1...

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:04:26 +0000

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The Hawks have suffered six losses in row on their present road trip, seven losses in a row overall and nine losses in row on the road. Can the pre-season Cup favorites snap this horrible losing streak against the Coyotes?

No fancy graphics for this team, I have succumbed to their culture; I’m not giving any effort until they give an effort. The boycott has started, fancy graphics returns when the losing streak ends.

Blackhawks vs Coyotes

Saturday - 02.11.2012 - 7:30 PM

Live On: WGN (HD) - Radio: WGN 720

"We must accept finite disappointment, but...

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:39:11 +0000

Some thoughts on the Hawks, and last night's game:

"It's tough to look at the bright side of things," Jonathan Toews said. "We played the way we had too, but we gave them too many opportunities on the power play. That's how they separated us from them in this game."

The captain did a pretty good job starting us off with his statement above. This most recent game came down to 2 things. Goaltending and Power-Plays. I guess all that time spent working on the power-play in practice and apparently ignoring the whole PK thing did not pay-off as anticipated.

Twice, Crawford was found overcommitting so bad that he ended up practically behind the net, and twice it cost the Hawks a goal. Add in another weak attempt at a save and you have yourselves 3 goals that I put on Crow. Is he done? I did say that a few weeks back, but he continues to get starts, so who knows how much more we will see of him. I just doubt he gets it together by the end of the season.

My issues with Q and company run deeper than I have time to explain, but it seems like most of the readers here are starting to join me on the darkside. Starting Crawford could be put on him. My guess, the Hawks win that one with Emery in net.

The Q-Stache: Sometimes I wonder about his hockey awareness, and I most seriously question his ethics. Frolik comes out and plays hard, earning himself a 4 minute double minor for high-sticking, and within the first 2 minutes of hockey has found himself moved to the back burner to wallow in his own pity. Stalberg, who was apparently sick, was playing decent hockey on the 3rd or 4th line (who knows), gets moved up again, continues to play decent hockey and then makes one mistake (a mistake Kaner has made more times than I can count, or even Hossa for that matter) and never sees the light of day again. Please tell me that he ended up feeling too sick to play, because if Q really benched him for one mistake in a sea of strong plays we might as well throw in the towel on the Hawks getting out of their mind-set, or Stalberg ever reaching his full potential with Q on the bench.

Keith takes the dumbest penalty of the night and it earns him over 30 minutes of hockey.

The Hawks PK is designed to allow shots from the perimeter, and it keeps killing them. Crawford is not absorbing the pucks, and the D is still weak at clearing the slot. This approach will continue to end with disastrous consequences. Not exactly rocket science here.

Olsen and Lepisto serve up more critiques for Q. Olsen had nearly 20 minutes of ice-time and I think he was good for more really. He looked darn good out there, playing smart, cohesive and aggressive hockey at both ends of the ice. Unfortunately, his stick was the culprit of a Sharks goal, but I hope everyone else saw the beauty in his attempt to stop that SJ rush. He made an outstanding play to break it up moments before, and when pucks end up in your net after something like that, you know the luck is not with you. Lepisto only skated about 12 minutes, and again, I think he was worth more looks, but he ended as a +1 and had an assist. Both played great, and are further evidence to the misuse of players, rather than the need for a trade.

These 2 players and their performance bring up 2 big questions: First, do Q and Stan Bowman even talk? The lack of conversation between these 2 and how it seems players should be used is a much larger concern to me rather than who we can get in a trade. Second, is it just me, or do the players that come from Rockford seem to play smarter, tougher, and better all around hockey? Huh.

A moment on Toews: He has not really been the same since a game about a month back (can't remember the specific one and am too lazy to check) when I had a heart attack about his ice-time? I noticed something that game. Toews overcame his threshold of pain, playing nearly 30 minutes and trying too hard to carry the team on his back and against the odds, or lack of support. I think Q squashed him that game, and the loss of the captain we know (and love) is maybe an overlooked element of this current debacle of a skid. The atmosphere sucks so bad right now for the Hawks that even Captain Serious' powers are no match for it.

The Hawks had the right mojo last night in a matter of speaking, but their many concerns as a team have brought about bad juju, and too many leaks to contain. I felt like they might have had the win there for a while, and then that luck, the luck you make, came and took it from them.

Niemi was far better than Crawford, but we already knew who the better goalie was. Again, maybe some bad juju from a few wrong moves in the past. I hear lots of trade rumors, and yeah, a goalie might help ( I think I remember getting bashed here for bringing it up a little while back), but most likely not one with super-star skills, and that would just cost too much. I am not calling for the trade of a "core" player, but I do find it funny how people complain about the lack of options in the market when the Hawks themselves are unwilling to put up the bait, even when they seem to possess very decent prospects to fall back on. Then again, I don't think this an issue stemming from the Hawks roster.

The Hawks can look at all the tapes they want of other teams and try to fix the power-play, but the others know how to play the Hawks, and especially now. Without the talented roster exploding with production, the Hawks will fall victim to their own design. Just too many holes to exploit. Not until something severely shakes the whole approach can we see lasting results.

Yep, Pheonix is going to come in ready and with a plan, and have a big win to help provide juice.

Shark Bite: CHI 3, SJS 5

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:08:34 +0000

The Blackhawks have extended their losing streak to seven games in a row, inching ever so close to the double digits mark.

It's pointless to keep harping on the same things that the Blackhawks keep failing to do night in and out. It's embarrassing that we've even come to this point and quite frankly a product I am sick of viewing after we've all come to the point that we accept the loss. This will be the shortest game recap of the entire season... why? It's not even worth it.

Jonathan Toews was beat up so badly, Quenneville was forced to place Jamal Mayers on the top line to attone for the Sharks actions. Is this what the NHL has succumb to? Back to the 80's? I'll tell you one thing, I wasn't the least bit of entertained to see Jamal Mayers forced to exchange fists with Ryan Clowe in order to provide the justice that the referees were unwilling to give. Obviously, I'm not blaming the officials for the Blackhawks incompetence issues. However, it is certainly something worth looking at when Joe Thornton is allowed to punch our captain in the face and get away with it, not only scott-free (no pun intended) but giving his team a power-play advantage.

The NHL is lucky this one didn't turn into a bloodbath. Everyone knows that is the last thing they want their product to be.

My question: How is McDonough going to find a way to justify price increases with a losing product? How is he going to keep fans in the United Center with a losing product?

These guys better figure it out of some heads will roll.

BLACKHAWKS THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Marcus Kruger
2. Patrick Sharp
3. Jamal Mayers

Montador to IR; Olsen Returns

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:18:01 +0000

Joel Quenneville stated Montador was unlikely to play against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday after he missed every practice due to suffering an upper body injury against the Avalanche. Following up today, the Blackhawks have officially placed defenseman Steve Montador on injured reserve.

Montador has complied 14 points in 51 games this season along with a plus-4 rating with the Blackhawks. Although his physical presence has regressed since coming to Chicago, Steve has found a home on the Blackhawks power-play despite having prior history as a short-handed specialist.

Olsen will return to the line-up in Montador's absence. Dylan was unable to record a point earlier in the year when he appeared in two games, making his debut on January 5th, but he did seem to bring a physical presence to the blueline.

Unfortunately, coming off a six game losing streak the Blackhawks must hope that Olsen can provide stability on an otherwise wonky blueline as he will see at least three games this time around, barring any movement on the trade front.

Sami Lepisto will also get another crack at making an impact in the line-up against the Sharks with Hjalmarsson also missing time due to what Quenneville describes as an upper-body injury. Hjalmarsson will not play this weekend but may return against Nashville on Tuesday. Perhaps this is Lepisto's final hurrah before finding a ticket out of Chicago.