Author Archives: Brad Gardner

Blackhawks miss their call time in LA, Dustin Brown’s hat-trick powers Kings to 4-0 victory

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Brad Gardner| Leave a comment

By Brad Gardner

The Blackhawks were shellacked by the reinvigorated Los Angeles Kings, but it had little to do with the newly-acquired sniper Jeff Carter. Instead, it was the more recent subject of trade rumors surrounding the Kings, Dustin Brown, who scored a natural hat trick in the game’s first 25 minutes that proved to be an insurmountable lead for the home team.

While the Blackhawks had nary a shot to show for their first power play opportunity of the game, the Kings were able to capitalize on their first man advantage after John Scott got his elbow up finishing a check. Jarrett Stoll gained the offensive zone and dropped the puck to Dustin Brown along the sideboards. Stoll kept skating and drew Dylan Olsen out of position, giving Brown enough room to skate inside the dot and wrist the game’s first goal over Corey Crawford’s shoulder at 10:48. Read more »

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Hayes, Kruger lead Toews-less Hawks over Detroit

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Brad Gardner| Leave a comment

By Brad Gardner

The Chicago Blackhawks managed to keep their win streak alive against the rival Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night at the United Center, despite playing without captain Jonathan Toews. With Detroit entering play riding a six-game winning streak of their own, it was the home team that held onto a 2-1 lead to pick up their fourth consecutive win.

Corey Crawford started his fourth game in a row and allowed just one goal for the third straight game. He faced Jimmy Howard in net for the Wings, making his first start since missing time to a broken index finger. Both goalies loomed large in this one, but Crawford was able to spoil Howard’s comeback and earn his fourth win in as many starts.

Marcus Kruger put the Blackhawks down a man in just 34 seconds into the game with a tripping penalty in the offensive zone. Crawford was able to handle Detroit’s first few opportunities, including a shot from Jiri Hudler through traffic. Dave Bolland picked up the rebound but whiffed on the clear. The puck eventually found Valtteri Filppula at the right circle and he was able to wrist one past Crawford far side to put the Wings up 1-0 just 2:22 into the game. Read more »

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Hawks stars snap 9-game skid in Manhattan

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Brad Gardner| 1 Comment

By Brad Gardner

It had been nearly a month since Corey Crawford and the Blackhawks were able to put one in the win column, but they did just that against one of the league’s top teams with 4-2 victory over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. A scorched-earth policy from the big guns of the Blackhawks propelled the team to its first win since January 20th and first road victory since December 14th.

All four goals for Chicago came during the first 10 minutes of the game. The visitors were out to a 3-0 lead just four minutes into the game and then able to extend it about five minutes later. The penalty kill and a solid defensive effort at the other end of the ice was enough to stave off the relentless Rangers. Read more »

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8 in a row

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Brad Gardner| Leave a comment

By Brad Gardner

Another serviceable effort from the Blackhawks resulted in no points as they dropped their eighth straight game, falling to the Coyotes by a score of 3-0. The ‘Hawks found themselves in an early hole and did not have any comebacks in them tonight against a 38-save shutout from red-hot goalie Mike Smith in the Phoenix net.

The Blackhawks faced an uphill battle early with Phoenix scoring two goals in the first six  minutes of the opening period. Radim Vrbata continued to light up the ‘Hawks, registering his 26th goal of the season and third against Chicago when his pass from behind the net deflected into the net off defenseman Sami Lepisto. Viktor Stalberg was unable to clear the puck from the defensive zone and Ray Whitney and Vrbata attacked with a give-and-go the other way. Vrbata used his speed to skate in behind and Lepisto was in an unfortunate position as Vrbata tried to get the puck back to the front of the net, deflecting in the opening goal at 3:14 of the first period. Read more »

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How’bout that Sam Gagner? Oilers 8 – Hawks 4

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Brad Gardner| Leave a comment

By Brad Gardner

The Blackhawks returned to the scene of perhaps the lowest point of the season in their 9-2 drubbing at the hands of Edmonton in November. It was another nightmarish game for the ‘Hawks at Rexall Place as the Oilers came very close to appeasing the “We want 10!” chants from the November game, winning by a score of 8-4 behind an eight-point effort from Sam Gagner.

Jamal Mayers got things started 6:29 into the first period. He took a wrist shot a couple strides into the zone and the puck found it’s way past Dubnyk to the short side. The goal was Mayer’s fifth of the season and second in as many games.

Chicago carried the 1-0 lead into the first intermission and then Patrick Sharp extended it further 40 seconds into the second period. Patrick Kane robbed Ryan Smyth of the puck in the neutral zone and carried it into the zone with a 2-on-1 advantage. Kane set up Sharp for the one-timer, which beat Dubnyk between the legs as he slid across the crease.  Read more »

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Predators 5 – Blackhawks 2, Hossa strikes twice, Crawford pulled, Toews left arm in question

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Brad Gardner| Leave a comment

By Brad Gardner

The Blackhawks saw their seven-game point streak snapped after a sluggish game in Nashville against the division rival Predators. Despite two goals from Marian Hossa, a flurry of goals from the home team in the middle period turned out to be the difference in Chicago’s first regulation loss since January 6th.

The opening period was characterized by chippy play from both sides. Nashville out-chanced the visitors, but Marian Hossa managed to put the ‘Hawks on the board first on the team’s second shot of the period. Andrew Shaw dropped a short pass to Hossa at center ice, who gained the zone with enough speed to beat Shea Weber to the outside. He protected the puck as he crossed over and beat Rinne inside the right post for his 19th goal of the season.

Craig Smith drew the Preds even just over two minutes later with a power play goal. Rookie defenseman Ryan Ellis had an open lane from the blue line and Smith provided both the traffic in front of Blackhawks’ starter Corey Crawford and the finish on the rebound to make it a 1-1 game going into the first intermission. Read more »

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Blackhawks back atop West after 4-3 win over Sharks; Legend of Andrew Shaw keeps growing

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Brad Gardner| Leave a comment
photo: NHL.com

By Brad Gardner

The Blackhawks got the better of Antti Niemi in their third game against the team’s former goalie, this time earning two points in regulation by holding onto a 4-3 lead against a late barrage from the Sharks. The home team held fast against a late two-man advantage, giving rookie Andrew Shaw the game-winner with his third-period tally.

The ‘Hawks struck first on a sharp-angle shot by Dave Bolland. The play began with Andrew Brunette controlling the puck behind the net. He passed to Jimmy Hayes one way, who quickly sent it back the other way to Bolland. He was able to elevate it over Niemi’s should as he tried to get to the post for the first goal of the game.

Viktor Stalberg cashed in about a minute and a half later on a slick set-up from Jonathan Toews. The captain kept control of the puck below the goal line and turned up the end boards before sending a strike to the tape of Stalberg. The winger had an easy finish before Niemi could move over, extending Chicago’s lead to 2-0 heading into the first intermission. Read more »

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Kids, Supporting Cast Star in 5-2 Win Over Wild

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Brad Gardner| 2 Comments
photo – Yahoo! Sports

By Brad Gardner

The Blackhawks captured their second consecutive win Thursday night at the United Center against the visiting Minnesota Wild. A three-goal second period built a big enough lead for the ‘Hawks to hold in the third as the team earned a 5-2 win over the reeling Wild.

Minnesota winger Devin Setoguchi, who was scratched for the team’s previous game Tuesday against San Jose, notched the first goal of the contest just after the game’s first TV timeout. Blackhawks goaltender Ray Emery kicked a rebound out to the top of his crease, leaving an easy play for Setoguchi on the fly-by to get the Wild on the board first.

Chicago’s Andrew Shaw knotted the game at 1-1 later in the first period for his second goal in five games. Bryan Bickell drove the slot and occupied the defenseman, leaving Shaw room to skate in closer up the left side of the zone and beat Minnesota’s Josh Harding to the far side. Read more »

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Late Flyers tally nips Blackhawks 3rd period comeback bid; Shaw fights, scores in NHL debut

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Brad Gardner| 1 Comment
Marian Hossa – photo: Getty/Yahoo! Sports

By Brad Gardner

Thursday marked the Blackhawks’ first appearance at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center since capturing the Stanley Cup there two seasons ago.

Both teams were coming off disappointing losses earlier in the week and brought the offense, totaling a combined 80 shots over the course of the game. Despite a better effort than they brought Monday against Edmonton, which culminated in a comeback from two goals down in the third period, Chicago fell short in regulation by a score of 5-4 and this time left Philadelphia empty-handed.

Jimmy Hayes found the back of the net for the second consecutive game on a give-and-go with Jamal Mayers. Philadelphia’s Zac Rinaldo tried to play the puck up the boards but Hayes got a stick on it and deflected the puck right to Mayers. He dished back to Hayes for a deflection between the legs of Ilya Bryzgalov for a 1-0 Chicago lead 3:01 into the game. Read more »

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No Redemption: Oilers slip by Hawks 4-3

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Brad Gardner| 1 Comment

By Brad Gardner

The Edmonton Oilers captured their second consecutive win against the Chicago Blackhawks with a 4-3 win Monday night at the United Center.  Edmonton’s power play unit struck twice after a major penalty was called against Daniel Carcillo and the visitors were able to hold onto the lead despite a late push from the Blackhawks.

Jonathan Toews opened scoring at 12:54 of the first period. He did not get a lot on his shot from the slot, but it nonetheless slid on the ice and beat Dubnyk inside the post to the glove side. Carcillo set up the chance with a steal in the neutral zone and a pass onto the stick of Toews.

The tide turned when Carcillo was called for a five minute boarding major in the second period. Skating in on the forecheck, Carcillo threw Oiler’s defenseman Tom Gilbert into the boards head first before either player had touched the puck. Gilbert ended up rolling on Carcillo’s left leg, so both players ended up injured and would not return to the game. Read more »

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