Category Archives: Blackhawks

Blackhawks clinch playoff berth with win over Preds

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Brad Gardner| Leave a comment

By Brad Gardner

The Blackhawks completed the weekend sweep of the Predators with a 5-3 victory on Sunday night at the United Center, becoming the first team in the league to clinch a playoff berth.

A pair of goals inside of one minute during the third period was the difference for Chicago, which beat Nashville for fourth time this season. The Blackhawks moved to 9-0-0 in the second game of back-to-backs during this condensed season.

Ray Emery earned a second consecutive start after shutting out the Predators on 20 shots in Nashville on Saturday. He stopped 19 of 22 shots in this one, coming up with key saves during the second and third periods while the game was still up for grabs. Read more »

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Once is enough; Hawks beat Preds 1-0 in Nash City

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Brad Vandenberk| Leave a comment

By Brad Vandenberk

Now that the trade deadline has come and gone, it’s time to get down to business and make the final push for the playoffs.

The Hawks only acquisition before 3pm EST Wednesday, was Michal Handzus from the San Jose Sharks.  He made a great first impression on Thursday in Chicago winning important face offs and proving to Stan Bowman that his only deal was a good one.

Today was a trip to Smashville to play the pesky Predators.  Although the Preds are on the outside of the playoffs looking in, they still give the Hawks trouble when they meet.  This would be the second meeting between these teams within five days and this game is the first of a home and home series with the Preds invading the UC on Sunday evening.

Dave Bolland and Patrick Sharp did not make the flight to Nashville and it is still undetermined when they will return to the line up.  Read more »

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Hawks can’t close the deal; Blues win in shootout

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Brad Gardner| 5 Comments

By Brad Gardner

The Blackhawks hosted the St. Louis Blues at the United Center on Thursday night for the first meeting between the two teams since the end of February. Thursday’s tilt marked the first of three games scheduled between the Central Division rivals this month.

Another lead was given away in the third period by Chicago, but they managed to come away with a point in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Blues, who registered their first victory over the Hawks this season. The back-and-forth battle saw the Blackhawks out-shoot the Blues 36 to 22 in the game, while the Blues out-hit the home team 43 to 21.

Adam Cracknell opened scoring in the first period with his first career NHL goal. Duncan Keith lost an edge in the offensive zone and Chris Porter’s outlet pass sprung Cracknell on a 1-on-1 break. Brent Seabrook moved over to pick up the man, but appeared to get a piece of Cracknell’s shot that caused it to deflect past Corey Crawford. Read more »

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Hawks Blow Lead; still beat Preds 3-2 in the shootout

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Jon Fromi| Leave a comment

By Jon Fromi

The Chicago Blackhawks nearly let a two-goal advantage go for naught Monday night against the Nashville Predators. It took a shootout goal in the fifth round by defenseman Michal Roszival, but the ‘Hawks avoided the tag of April Fools with a 3-2 shootout victory.

The Blackhawks spent most of the first half of the opening period on the attack in the Nashville zone. Jonathan Toews had a couple of opportunities early, as did Nick Leddy off a feed from Patrick Kane.

Andrew Shaw had the puck on his stick in the ninth minute but couldn’t get off a decent shot. Dave Bolland centered Kane at the 10:45 mark for a nice scoring chance but Pekka Rinne stopped the attempt. Read more »

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Blackhawks re-acquire Michal Handzus, send Brandon Bollig back to Rockford; More roster notes

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Chris Block| 1 Comment

MichaelHandzus_Flow

By Chris Block

Chicago Blackhawks on Monday acquired center Michal Handzus from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a fourth round selection in the upcoming 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

In 28 games this season with the Sharks, Handzus posted 1 goal and 1 assist.  He was a minus-9 while playing mostly third and fourth line minutes for the Sharks.

The pick the Blackhawks sent San Jose had originally belonged to the Sharks.  At the 2012 Draft, the Hawks and Sharks swapped 4th round picks, so the Sharks could move up and the Hawks could pick up an additional 7th round selection.  That later pick, obtained from San Jose, originally belonged to Tampa Bay which the Sharks obtained in a trade involving center Dominic Moore.  Chicago used the additional 2012 7th round pick (191st overall) to select goaltender Brandon Whitney of the Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL), the same team Phillip Danault played for at the time.

Handzus turned 36 last month.  This will be his second stint with the Blackhawks organization.  He is now the second-oldest Blackhawk behind Jamal Mayers, who is 38.

Michal Handzus previously spent the 2006-07 season with the Blackhawks, appearing in only 8 games in October of 2006 before knee surgery ended his season.  Read more »

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Saad, Blackhawks dominate in Detroit

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Chris Block| 1 Comment

By Chris Block

Coming off a 2-1 loss to Anaheim at United Center on Friday that had many Chicago hockey fans grumbling and anxious for changes, the Blackhawks flew through Detroit on Sunday and dampered Gordie Howe’s 85th birthday celebration with a 7-1 thumping of the Red Wings.

Chicago’s charge was led by its next wave of young core, with Brandon Saad, Jeremy Morin, Nick Leddy and Jimmy Hayes all figuring prominently in the scoring.

The Red Wings were without Henrik Zetterberg on Sunday.  He was a late scratch due to a groin ailment.  Detroit did see the return of veteran Mikael Samuelsson (finger) however.  Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp continue to be absent from the Blackhawks line up, though both are close to returning.

Corey Crawford was back between the pipes for Chicago for this Easter Sunday afternoon matinee in Detroit, while Jimmy Howard started in goal for the Red Wings.

Jeremy Morin, called up from the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday, made an impact on his first shift in the NHL this season.  Morin had scored 10 goals and 4 assists in 10 games in the month of March in the AHL.  And he didn’t waste any time picking up where he left off there. Read more »

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Late goal gives Anaheim season sweep of ‘Hawks

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Brad Gardner| Leave a comment

By Brad Gardner

The Anaheim Ducks completed the season sweep of the Blackhawks on Friday at the United Center with a 2-1 regulation win. Ray Emery suffered his first loss of the season because a Sheldon Souray shot deflected off a Blackhawks defenseman in front of the net for the game-winning goal.

Chicago managed just one of a possible six points against the Western Conference rival Ducks on the season. The Blackhawks still hold a three point lead in the standings with one game in hand over Anaheim, who entered the United Center on Friday in the midst of a four-game losing streak.

The Western Conference’s two best teams played another tight game with little difference when it came to the shots, hits, and blocked shots. Both teams managed nine shots in the opening period but neither was able to solve the opposing goaltender in the first. Read more »

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Blackhawks rebound, blank Flames

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Jon Fromi| Leave a comment

By Jon Fromi

The Chicago Blackhawks got goals from two defensemen Tuesday night with some help from Patrick Kane. Ray Emery and the defense took care of the rest as the ‘Hawks snapped back from Monday’s loss, defeating the Calgary Flames 2-0.

The Blackhawks had an early opportunity forty seconds in when Niklas Hjalmarsson held a puck in the Calgary zone. Patrick Kane centered to Dave Bolland, but the Rat couldn’t evaluate the puck past Mikka Kiprusof. Bolland took a high stick from Jerome Iginla at the 2:11 mark to set up the first power play of the night. Kane made a nice move late but Viktor Stalberg couldn’t provide the finish thanks to Chris Butler’s skate.

The first goal belonged to Chicago on a play started when Kane attempted to center to Bolland again in the eighth minute. The puck eluded Bolland but was retrieved by Nick Leddy at the left circle. Leddy’s shot glanced off of the left pad of Kiprusoff and into the goal to make it 1-0 7:09 into the first. Read more »

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Hawks can’t hold Kings down in the 3rd, lose 5-4

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Brad Vandenberk| Leave a comment

By Brad Vandenberk

The road trip has ended and the Blackhawks find themselves at the UC playing 3 games in 5 days.  Their recent road trip had them obtain 6 out of a possible 8 points.

Their only loss came at the hands of the Ducks on Wednesday, abolishing a 2-1 lead with 6 minutes left in the 3rd period, losing 4-2.

That’s not the only loss that was suffered.  Marian Hossa left the game in Colorado on Monday night and has yet to play a shift since.  Coach Q stated that the injury is not serious and that Hossa is expected to return shortly.  Sorry Hawks fans, Hossa did not dress tonight for the Kings match.  He has also been listed as questionable for Tuesday’s contest against the Flames.  Hossa was a big contributor to the Hawks beating the Flames in Calgary scoring the tying goal with 2.4 seconds left in the game.  They then went on to claim victory in the shootout.  Read more »

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Ducks rally, beat Hawks 4-2 in Anaheim

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Brad Gardner| 4 Comments

By Brad Gardner

The Blackhawks wrapped up their four-game road trip with one last stop in Anaheim on Wednesday night. The second meeting of the season between the league’s top two teams lived up to the billing, delivering a back-and-forth affair that saw each team carry play for stretches. After besting the Blackhawks in a shootout in the first meeting of the season, the Ducks mounted a third period rally to beat the ‘Hawks in regulation time by a score of 4-2.

Teemu Selanne’s third period goal proved to be the game-winner for Anaheim, who extended their current point streak to 12 games. They did so in front of a home crowd of 17, 610, the largest crowd at the Honda Center in team history.

The Blackhawks received goals from Jonathan Toews and Nick Leddy, both of whom had overall excellent games, but it was not enough. Corey Crawford stopped 22 of 25 shots in the loss as the Blackhawks fell to 3-1-0 to close out the road trip. Read more »

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