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PuckChatter~Radio returned Tuesday night with special guest Stephen Nelson, formerly the Rockford IceHogs radio; pre, intermission and postgame host.
Stephen joined us to share his experiences working for, and with the Rockford IceHogs this past season. He talked about his favorite players to work with and the new player profile feature he helped craft this season.
He also talked about the team’s early struggles experienced this past season and why Stephen always remained confident the IceHogs would turn things around.
Nelson gave us some behind the scenes insight on some of the top IceHogs and Blackhawks prospects including the special bond Ben Smith developed with the late Jimmy Newcomer, the 19-year old Rockford area kid who was suddenly diagnosed with terminal cancer who Smith visited in the hospital late one night and remained in contact with up until Newcomer passed away a few weeks ago.
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Links to the Bacon Buddies video segments, hosted by Stephen Nelson, we talked about on the show:
Instead of white t- shirts on the seats of the Jobing.com arena, Game 2 of the western conference quarterfinal saw white pom pom’s riddled throughout the arena. The Chicago Blackhawks needed a big win to avenge the loss they suffered on Thursday night in overtime. Martin Hanzal’s tip past Corey Crawford gave the Coyotes and 1-0 lead in the series. The Hawks were looking to head back to Chicago with a split in the series. Read more »
“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every first born-both men and animals-and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” – Exodus12: 12-13
And you thought Pharaoh Shanahan’s rulings were severe!
The Jewish Feast of Passover, so inextricably bound with Christianity, is one of the most incredible events I’ve ever pondered. The Readers Digest version is God rescues the descendants of Jacob from the intense persecution they were facing in Egypt. He accomplished this through an obedient servant, (a servant who initially tried to convince God he had the wrong man for the job), and a series of ten plagues. The last plague was the death of the first born throughout Egypt, unless the door posts were covered by the blood of a one year old male lamb, without defect. One of the most unique aspects of the Bible is it’s almost completely devoid of humor-although I would say that God’s command of finding a male without blemish comes about as close to humor as you can get. Read more »
The sixth and final meeting of the season between the Blackhawks and Red Wings went down to a shootout, where Patrick Kane scored the deciding goal to give the visiting ‘Hawks a 3-2 victory. Corey Crawford played a strong game, despite giving up a pair of third-period goals, and did not allow a goal in the shootout to register his 30th win of the season.
Detroit’s third period comeback secured one point in the standings, thereby sealing up either the fourth or fifth seed of the Western Conference and a first round match-up against Nashville.
Despite the two points, Chicago settled into the sixth spot with 101 points (45-26-11 record) on the season. They will open the playoffs on the road against the winner of the Pacific Division.
The game played much like the rest of the season series. Each game between the two Central Division rivals has been decided by one goal. It was the fourth time in six games that the final score was 3-2 and the fourth time Chicago came out victorious. The ‘Hawks ended up taking 10 of a possible 12 points out of the season series against the Wings with a 4-0-2 record. Read more »
The Chicago Blackhawks controlled the first two periods in every way except for the scoreboard, allowing Minnesota to tie the score late in Thursday’s contest. For the second time in as many games, the Hawks fell to the Wild in a shootout 2-1 in the Xcel Energy Center.
Chicago was aggressive in the first period, getting some good passing and outshooting the Wild 7-1 until the 8:19 mark, when Patrick Kane made a nice move into the Minnesota zone. Dany Heatley committed a slash, which nearly allowed the ‘Hawks to score. Only a great save by goalie Josh Harding robbed Patrick Sharp. Once the Hawks started the actual power play, the shots dried up.
The fourth line put Chicago on the board with 8:23 remaining in the period following a faceoff win by Jamal Mayers at the right circle. Michael Frolik gathered in the puck, skated behind the net and fired a shot on Harding. The rebound came out in front of the net, where Mayers was around to bang it past Harding to put the Blackhawks up 1-0. Read more »
After clinching their fourth consecutive playoff appearance on Saturday night, the Chicago Blackhawks were back in action Sunday evening to face the playoff-eliminated Minnesota Wild. The night earlier the Hawks blew a 4-0 lead to a Nashville Predators quad which the Hawks could see in the first round of the playoffs. The Hawks came out victors with a 5-4 win. With a win Sunday, the Hawks could leap frog both the Predators and the Detroit Red Wings for 4th place in the Western conference. The Hawks sat in 6th in the West with home ice advantage in sight. The question is – Do the Hawks want to face the Wings or Preds in the first round? With Jonathan Toews now cleared for contact, the good ship Blackhawk will be cruising, heading into the first round no matter which foe they encounter. After Corey Crawford stole a Hawks win last night in the country music capital, Ray Emery started between the pipes for this match. This would give Emery a chance to get some game action in, in case he is called upon during the playoffs. Andrew Brunette was replaced by Michael Frolik as the top line winger. Brunette was seen limping around the arena early Sunday. He was later declared out with a lower body injury. The Wild played the night before as well, beating the LA Kings in a shootout. Josh Harding got the start for the Wild. Duncan Keith was serving the last game of his five game suspension. He will return to the line up on Thursday, when the Hawks travel to Minnesota to face the Wild. Read more »
The Blackhawks gave up another two goal lead in the third period and lived to tell the tale, taking two points against the Predators in regulation with a 5-4 win in Nashville. Brent Seabrook tallied the go-ahead goal at 8:19 of the third period to give the ‘Hawks just their second win in six games against the Predators this season.
With the win, the Blackhawks clinched a playoff spot and drew even in the standings with Detroit (off Saturday, now has a game in hand on both teams) and one point behind Nashville for fourth in the Western Conference.
The first period featured action at both ends of the rink with Chicago leading 16-12 in the shot column. The Blackhawks struck first on an early power play opportunity when Patrick Sharp got a fortunate bounce off a defenseman at 3:25 of the first period. Sharp picked up a loose puck and attempted to cross it to Patrick Kane. The pass instead deflected off Hal Gill as he attempted to fill the lane and past Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne to give Chicago the early 1-0 lead. Read more »
Despite watching a two goal lead evaporate in the last ten minutes of the contest, the Chicago Blackhawks were able to come away with a huge 4-3 shootout win over the St. Louis Blues Thursday night at United Center.
With the victory, the Blackhawks have taken four of six games from the top team in the Western Conference. They also move another step closer to locking up a spot in the postseason with a solid performance.
The pace favored the Hawks early, but Chicago didn’t get on the board until midway through the opening frame. Kent Huskins committed a high stick on Andrew Shaw a little over two minutes in. Although the Blackhawks got a shot on goal on the power play for the first time in nine attempts, a single shot was all Chicago could muster.
The first score came when Nick Leddy found Bryan Bickell in the neutral zone in the eleventh minute. Bickell entered the Blues zone with Dave Bolland, where he skated to just above the left faceoff circle before sending a wrist shot past Jaroslav Halak at the 10:38 mark. Read more »
After a gruesome loss on Sunday to their division rival Nashville Predators, the Chicago Blackhawks were on the road to play the New Jersey Devils. This would be the first and only meeting this year between the two clubs as each team came in sitting in the sixth position in their respected conferences. The Hawks are currently holding a five point lead in sixth, while the Devils are feeling the heat from the Ottawa Senators who are just two points behind them in the East. This game would mark the 17th straight contest that Jonathan Toews was not in the line up. The good news is he has been skating for seven consecutive days and sees a return in site. Duncan Keith was serving game two of his five game suspension given to him after hitting Canuck Daniel Sedin with a head shot just six days ago. On the brighter side, Steve Montador returned to the ice as a winger on the fourth line after missing 22 games with a concussion. He started with fourth line duties to ensure Monty eases himself back into game shape. Marcus Kruger also returned from an upper body injury giving the Hawks their second line center back. With the two players returning, Jimmy Hayes, Brendan Morrison and Michael Frolik were scratched. Carter Hutton was recalled from the IceHogs due to Ray Emery suffering an upper body injury during Sunday night’s debacle. Corey Crawford got the call from coach Q to start as fellow Quebecian Martin Brodeur was between the pipes for the Devils. Read more »
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