Tag Archives: Blackhawks

Ben Smith says he doesn’t regret fight that cost him a chance to make the Blackhawks for 2nd straight season; For now, focused on leading the IceHogs

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Chris Block| 7 Comments
Smith_Ben_IceHogsphoto courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs

The following is the piece published in Tuesday night’s issue of The Committed Indian, the official~unofficial Chicago Blackhawks home game night program, which you can buy individual copies or subscribe to at this link.

By Chris Block

You have to focus on what’s right in front of you and I think at that moment …  I was focused on winning two points against Grand Rapids and fortunately that night we did. –Ben Smith

With the NHL/NHLPA collective bargaining dispute having been settled and NHL training camps set to commence in less than three days, Blackhawks prospect Ben Smith took to the BMO Harris Bank Center ice in Rockford on January 11th to face off with the IceHogs division-rival, and Detroit Red Wings farm team, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

At this time Smith was the IceHogs’ leader in goals scored, game-winning goals, a member of both the first-team power play and penalty killing units and among the top three forwards in ice time on a nightly basis.

And on a team up to that point which couldn’t help itself but take careless or undisciplined minor penalty after minor penalty, Smith had just 4 penalty minutes on the season and had not stepped foot in the penalty box since mid October.  That’s quite the accomplishment for the gritty and tenacious two-way forward Ben Smith is. Read more »

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Hawks need 3rd period comeback to beat Avs, 3-2; Shaw, Sharp leave game with injuries

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Brad Gardner| 2 Comments

By Brad Gardner

The Blackhawks escaped with 3-2 regulation victory over the visiting Colorado Avalanche Wednesday night at the United Center. Despite entering the third period down by a goal, the home team had the legs at the end to extend their streak to 24 games to start the season without a regulation loss.

Jonathan Toews scored a shorthanded goal early in the third period to tie the game, exploiting forward Ryan O’Reilly in the defensive zone for a highlight reel goal against Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov.

The score remained knotted for almost 17 minutes, but inside the final minute of regulation, Daniel Carcillo banged home a rebound to put the Blackhawks ahead. Marcus Kruger and Viktor Stalberg chipped in on the forecheck and the scramble in front of the net, but it was Carcillo’s whack that put the puck between Varlamov’s legs to seal the win. Read more »

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Streak 23-Blackhawks win 10th straight, top Wild 5-3

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Jon Fromi| Leave a comment

By Jon Fromi

The Chicago Blackhawks got a pair of goals from Bryan Bickell and a three-point night from Brandon Saad as the home team won a franchise-record tenth straight contest Tuesday night, a 5-3 decision over the Minnesota Wild.

On a night honoring Marian Hossa, the ‘Hawks used four unanswered goals in a six-minute span in the first period to avenge one of their three losses on the 2013 season. Chicago wins their 20th game and have now earned 43 of a possible 46 points.

In his first shift back from an upper body injury, Dave Bolland earned a high sticking penalty when his blade caught Torrey Mitchell in the face. Jonathan Toews had a breakaway chance even after losing his stick. Thanks to some NASCAR-like efficiency from the bench, Toews took a pass from Hossa but was turned away by Backstrom. The ‘Hawks did kill the penalty, however. Read more »

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Kane saves ‘Hawks point streak, then takes the second point from Detroit in the shootout

Posted on March 3, 2013 by Brad Vandenberk| 2 Comments

By Brad Vandenberk

On a cold afternoon in Detroit, the Blackhawks invaded Joe Louis Arena for a 12:30 ET start.  This lone NHL afternoon match was viewed nationally and did not disappoint.

The Hawks came in riding their 21 game point streak and the Red Wings were looking to play spoiler and break that streak.

With the talk of re-alignment throughout the NHL, the Red Wings will move over to the Eastern Conference and only see the Hawks 2 times a year versus the regular 6 times.  This could be a big blow to the already great rivalry between these 2 clubs.

Marian Hossa played in his 1000th game, etching his name among the elite in the NHL.  Dave Bolland missed his 5th consecutive game with an upper body injury.  Read more »

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Point streak now 21; Hawks top Columbus in OT

Posted on March 2, 2013 by Brad Gardner| 3 Comments

By Brad Gardner

The Chicago Blackhawks took the ice against the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second time this week on Friday night. A back-and-forth affair eventually swung in favor of the home team, with Brent Seabrook scoring the game winning goal in a 4-3 overtime victory.

Ray Emery got the nod in net for the Blackhawks after posting two thirds of the team’s shutout the previous night in St. Louis. Corey Crawford, who left that game against the Blues after the first period due to injury, dressed as Emery’s back-up.

The Hawks squeezed past the Jackets, the NHL’s lowest ranked team in the standings, in a 1-0 regulation win on Sunday and Todd Richards’ club again proved to be all the Hawks could handle on Friday. The Jackets pushed out to a pair of one-goal leads during the first 40 minutes and were still able to put together a good effort in the third period to tie it up and force overtime. Read more »

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Streak hits 20; Blackhawks blank Blues in St. Louis

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Jon Fromi| 4 Comments

By Jon Fromi

The Chicago Blackhawks got to work early in St. Louis Thursday night, parlaying a quick goal into an impressive 3-0 win over the Blues. The continuation of Chicago’s NHL record point streak to start a season was tempered by the departure of starting goalkeeper Corey Crawford after the first intermission.

The ‘Hawks wasted little time getting on the board following the opening faceoff. Jonathan Toews won the draw, starting a sequence that saw all five Chicago skaters handle the puck. Brent Seabrook gained control of the puck and sent it across the ice to Duncan Keith. Keith quickly found Marian Hossa entering the St. Louis zone.

Hossa found Brandon Saad. Saad returned the puck to the doorstep, where his captain scored on what was officially labeled a backhand. The puck looked like it came off of Tazer’s skate, but it wasn’t a kicking motion by any means. The puck slid into the vacated net for a 1-0 lead twelve seconds into the contest. Read more »

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Lindbloom’s View: “Peaking” too early

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Rich Lindbloom| 1 Comment

image00116-0-3

Isaiah 40:31
“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not
grow weary, they will “skate” and not be faint. – RL abridged version

By Rich Lindbloom

There’s a legend that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching. In fact, while all other avian creatures seek the cover of the tempest tossed tree, the eagle will spread its wings and fly directly into the storm, using the updraft to rise above the approaching danger. Soaring heights and dizzying speeds are achieved that are not attainable under normal conditions. It takes great daring to jump into the maelstrom. Perhaps they achieve this feat by looking up instead of down. Keep your heads up Blackhawks, at the altitude you’re at right now, looking down might cause substantial dizziness. The Hawks are definitely breathing rarefied air at the moment. (At least when they’re not in the locker room.) Read more »

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Hawks soar on, beating the Oilers 3-2 in Overtime

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

By Brad Vandenberk

Now that the dust has settled after a weekend of NHL record setting, it was time for the Blackhawks to shift the focus toward the young guns from Edmonton.  This was the first meeting between these two teams this season.

If we take a second to remember last season, the Oilers dominated the Hawks with Sam Ganger recording an 8 point night during one of the contests in northern Alberta.  So, it would be sort of fitting if the Hawks were to have their record streak broken by the hands of these Oilers.   However, the Oilers were missing one of their top forwards in Taylor Hall.  He was serving his second game of a 2 game suspension for a vicious open ice hit on Wild’s forward Cal Clutterbuck.  This would slightly deplete an already star-studded Oilers’ line up.

On the other hand, the Hawks were missing second line center, Dave Bolland, who suffered an upper body injury during the Sharks game on Friday and missed Sunday night’s game against Columbus.  Read more »

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Shaw, returning Crawford, lift Hawks over Columbus

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Brad Gardner| Leave a comment

By Brad Gardner

The Blackhawks squeaked out win number 15 on the season with a 1-0 victory at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

One night after losing a 2-1 decision in St. Louis, the Jackets brought their physical, grinding game into the Madhouse on Madison intent on being the first team to knock the Hawks out in regulation time this season.

Corey Crawford, returning after missing four games due to injury and suiting up for one game as a back-up, matched up against Steve Mason in net. Both goalies played strong in what turned out to a tight-checking affair for the most part.

Although each team had their share of power play opportunities, they ended up a combined 0-for-8 on the man advantage. Crawford, for his part, made 10 saves against the Columbus power play on five opportunities. Read more »

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Blackhawks make history in defeating Sharks 2-1

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Brad Vandenberk| 6 Comments

By Brad Vandenberk

The time is almost upon us.  Yes that’s right, a completed Blackhawks roster.  Although the Hawks haven’t been bitten by the injury bug all that much, they have had their scares.

Steve Montador was the first victim, having his concussion symptoms come back during training camp.  Next up was Dan Carcillo, who injured his knee early in the year, saw his first game in over month tonight against the Sharks.  Michal Rozsival tweaked his knee and missed a few games.  Then Corey Crawford suffered an upper body injury just a week ago giving Ray Emery the keys to the crease.  Then, Brent Seabrook missed his first game of the year against the Canucks suffering a lower body injury.  The latest saw Marian Hossa take a forearm to the back of the head and being immediately helped off the ice, not returning to the game.  The perpetrator, Jannik Hansen, received a 1 game suspension for the incident and Hossa will not miss any action.  Read more »

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