Tag Archives: Dave Bolland

4-0, Avs take it to tired Blackhawks

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Brad Vandenberk| Leave a comment

By Brad Vandenberk

The Chicago Blackhawks returned home Friday night to play the Colorado Avalanche.  Chicago played the night before in Philadelphia where they erased a two goal lead only to loose with 30 seconds left in the third period.  This game was one the Hawks needed to win in order to maintain the 1st place status in the Western Conference and Central Division.

Andrew Shaw and Dylan Olsen remained with the big club as their games spoke volume against the Flyers less than 24 hours earlier.  Dan Carcillo served his 2nd game of his seven game suspension.   Marcus Kruger and Steve Montador also remained out of the Hawks’ lineup with injuries.

With new faces in the lineup, Coach Q, again, made some adjustments to his four lines.  Shaw saw time at center between Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp.  Michael Frolik had a chance to show what he could do as he was put up with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa.  The line of Dave Bolland, Bryan Bickell and Viktor Stalberg were reunited after showing some good chemistry just a few games ago.  Finally Jamal Mayers, Andrew Brunette and Jimmy Hates rounded out the Hawks top 4 lines.

Corey Crawford got the nod for the Hawks and was busy early.  The pace to the game had a great start as both teams had some chances to score.   Half way through the first period the Hawks started to show their tired legs from playing the night before. Read more »

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Stalberg’s two goals, Crawford’s gem, paces ‘Hawks to a 4-1 victory over hapless Blue Jackets

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Jon Fromi| Leave a comment

By Jon Fromi

Monday night, the Chicago Blackhawks became the first NHL team to reach the 50-point mark this season, using a trio of second period goals to hand the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets a 4-1 loss.

The game, which was a bit lacking in execution at times, was noteworthy in a pair of goals from the red-hot Viktor Stalberg and another solid game in net by Corey Crawford.

The four-day layoff was apparent in the first period as the ‘Hawks struggled to hit tape on their passes. Stalberg set up Bryan Bickell with a nice pass in the early going which led to a hooking infraction by Antoine Vermette. After failing to score on the resulting power play, Rick Nash earned a roughing call in responding to Marcus Kruger with a punch to the head after Kruger head checked Nash over the boards and into the Hawks’ bench. Read more »

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Complete effort drives Hawks over Ducks 4-1

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Brad Gardner| Leave a comment
photo: Yahoo! Sports

By Brad Gardner

Ray Emery earned another start in net with the Anaheim Ducks in town and helped the Blackhawks beat his former team by a score of 4-1. Emery’s shutout bid was spoiled by Teemu Selanne with less than two minutes to play in the game, but the veteran goalie turned in another strong start for Chicago in collecting his fourth consecutive win in as many starts.

Emery’s cause was aided by the effort of the skaters in front of him. For all the ink the ‘Hawks top players have earned so far this season, it was Jamal Mayers and the fourth line that opened the scoring for Chicago at the 6:37 mark of the first.

Andrew Brunette won the puck on the forecheck against Francois Beauchemin and passed it to an open Mayers behind the net. Jonas Hiller was slow to cover his post and Mayers was able to flip the puck off the goalie and into the net.

Chicago extended the lead quickly at the start of the second after pressure from Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp gave the ‘Hawks possession in the Duck zone. Sharp picked up a loose puck and fed Hossa driving in all alone on Hiller. Hossa powered the backhander through the legs of Hiller just over a minute into the second period to put the Blackhawks up by a pair of goals. Read more »

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Hawks Close Circus Trip with 2-1 Victory in LA

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Jon Fromi| Leave a comment

By Jon Fromi

The Chicago Blackhawks brought their six-game road trip to a close Saturday night with their second victory in a row. The Blackhawks swept the back-to-back, following up Friday’s come from behind victory in Anaheim with a 2-1 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings.

The Hawks opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Duncan Keith fired a shot on goal from the left point. Marcus Kruger got a piece of the puck, and the deflection struck the side of the net and rolled toward the end boards. As Dave Bolland swung from the crossbar, Andrew Brunette calmly collected the puck and executed a nice wraparound on goalie Jonathan Quick.

Brunette, who played on the third line with Bolland and Kruger, potted his first even strength goal of the season. He proved to be efficient with the puck, drawing twine on his only attempt of the evening.

Chicago limited the Kings chances to score in the opening period, but Los Angeles evened the score midway through the contest. Keith stopped Matt Greene’s shot attempt only to see Jarret Stoll get control of the puck. Stoll took advantage of the turnover, firing a shot over Corey Crawford’s glove to tie the contest at a goal apiece. Read more »

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Sharpie’s Hat Trick, Tazer’s five-points spearhead 6-5 ‘Hawks comeback win

Posted on November 26, 2011 by Jon Fromi| 3 Comments

By Jon Fromi

The Chicago Blackhawks shook off forty minutes of frustration in Anaheim Friday afternoon, roaring back from a two-goal deficit with four third period tallies to beat the Ducks 6-5.

A career night for Jonathan Toews was eclipsed only by Patrick Sharp’s second career hat trick and the euphoria brought on by the ‘Hawks refusal to pack it in at The Pond.

Chicago was up against an offense that was plugging along at two goals a game. Naturally, Anaheim hit the two-goal mark just 2:13 into the contest. A strong forecheck by Corey Perry separated Niklas Hjalmarsson and the puck. Bobby Ryan was turned away once by Corey Crawford, but Ryan slammed his own rebound home to open the scoring.

Less than a minute later, Steve Montador left the puck in front of the net after blocking a Teemu Selanne blue line shot with his hand. Andrew Cogliano cleaned up the mess, and just like that the ‘Hawks found themselves down 2-0 and completely on their heels. Chicago didn’t manage a shot until the sixth minute; by then Anaheim had laid siege to Crawford with seven shots. Read more »

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Blackhawks skid hits 3; Niemi Says No

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Brad Gardner| 1 Comment

By Brad Gardner

Despite a better effort at both ends of the ice from the Blackhawks, it was still not enough to get past Antti Niemi and the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday. Despite a pronounced lead in the shot count and possession time, the Blackhawks fell by a score of 1-0 for their third consecutive regulation loss.

San Jose was strong out of the gate, registering four shots on Corey Crawford in the first four and a half minutes. The Sharks’ offense was limited by a couple penalties as well as Chicago’s puck possession and managed only one shot through the last 15 minutes of the first.

The ‘Hawks finished the first with 10 shots on Niemi, including a pair of breakaways. Brent Burns whiffed on clear and Marian Hossa picked up the loose puck but shot high. Bryan Bickell broke in alone shortly after, but Niemi was able to square up and snuff out another chance.

Momentum went back and forth in the second period as the team’s traded penalties and prime scoring chances. Jamie McGinn rang a shot off the post just after a San Jose power play ended and then leveled Chicago defenseman Nick Leddy for good measure. Hossa had another great opportunity when he split between the San Jose defensive pairing of Douglas Murray and Dan Boyle but his backhand shot went off the outside of the net. Read more »

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Boots to Asses: Oilers 9, Blackhawks 2

Posted on November 20, 2011 by Brad Gardner| Leave a comment
photo credit: Yahoo! Sports

By Brad Gardner

The speed and skill of the Oilers put the Blackhawks on their heels early and the result was the worst whooping of the year for Chicago. Careless play with the puck and a parade to the penalty box in the second period sealed Chicago’s fate in their 9-2 shellacking at the hands of the young guns in Edmonton.

Ales Hemsky opened the scoring in the first minute by carrying the puck with speed into the zone and eluding a hip check by Steve Montador. The veteran winger had a clear lane to the net and beat Chicago’s starter Ray Emery over the glove.

Patrick Sharp knotted the game at one goal apiece just a couple minutes later. The first power play unit notched another goal after Sharp picked up a rebound off the post and beat Nikolai Khabibulin.

The speed of the Oilers started to wreak havoc for the Blackhawks, though, and the home team rattled off four unanswered goals through the rest of the first period. Ryan Jones scored a goal from a horrible angle against Emery and it was downhill from there for the ‘Hawks. Ryan Smyth’s team-leading 11th goal of the season came on a good set-up from Jordan Eberle, putting the Oilers up 3-1 just 7:32 into the first period. Read more »

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Power play enacts measure of revenge on Canucks; Blackhawks conquer Vancouver 5-1

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Brad Vandenberk| 1 Comment

By Brad Vandenberk

The Chicago Blackhawks kicked off their 6 game road trip on Wednesday with a visit to Rogers Arena in Vancouver to square off against the Canucks.  This would be the 33rd time these two teams have met since the 2008-2009 season.  The last meeting on Nov 6th ended ugly for the Hawks as the Canucks went 5 for 6 on the power play and beat the Hawks 6-2.  Revenge is always a dish best served cold.

Cory Schneider got the start in net as Roberto Luongo had missed the last 2 days of practice with an upper body injury.  Dave Bolland returned to the line up for the Hawks after missing the last 3 games with a foot injury.  Brent Seabrook did not dress for this game after going hard into the boards during the Edmonton Oilers game on Sunday night.

The first period had a Game One playoff feel to it, as both goalies were tested early and both coaches tried to get there preferred match ups.  Bolland returned starting on the 4th line. It didn’t take long for him to regain his center position on the 3rd line pestering the Sedins.   Read more »

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Hawks get the Hustle Blues; St Louis 3, Chicago 0

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Jon Fromi| 6 Comments
This about sums it up; Blues 3, Blackhawks 0Corey Crawford gives up 3rd goal Tues vs STL – photo: Yahoo! Sports

By Jon Fromi

The Chicago Blackhawks sported a shuffled lineup Tuesday night in St. Louis. Unfortunately, the result was the same uninspired play that marked Sunday’s loss to Vancouver.

On this night, T.J. Oshie led the way as the Blues prevailed 3-0. In addition to winning new coach Ken Hitchcock’s debut, St. Louis handed the ‘Hawks their second straight loss.

Neither team came out with a lot of fire, likely in part to an emotional ceremony for former Blues Pavol Demitra and Igor Kovolev (also formerly with Chicago) that delayed the start of the contest by several minutes. The two teams skated seven uneventful minutes before it felt like more than an extended pre-game skate.

The Blues opened the scoring at the 8:15 mark of the period. Kevin Shattenkirk brought the puck into the ‘Hawks zone and easily skated away from John Scott’s attempt to halt the play. Shattenkirk found Vladimir Sobotka headed for the net, and Sobotka was able to use some second effort to muscle the puck past Corey Crawford. Read more »

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Hawks win shootout competition, thus earn two points, 3-2 victory over Anaheim Ducks

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Brad Vandenberk| 1 Comment
photo credit: Yahoo! Sports

By Brad Vandenberk

The Anaheim Ducks flew into the United Center on Tuesday to take on your Chicago Blackhawks.  The Hawks were coming off a shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night, while the Ducks were beginning their 7 game road trip after losing their last 2 at home.

Corey Crawford started in net for the Hawks, while his bobble heads filled the arena.   Jonas Hiller, starting goalie for the Ducks, was tested early on in the game, as the Hawks found themselves owning the offensive zone; even the fourth line had a few chances to score.

The Hawks got their first power play of the game as Corey Perry, flipped the puck over the glass and was called for Delay of Game.  Although the Hawks were one man up, they couldn’t break the score.  Not long after Perry’s penalty expired, Sean O’Donnell was called for tripping, and the Ducks 2nd ranked penalty kill in the league received their first test of the night. Read more »

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