Tag Archives: Ray Emery

Blackhawks Recover For Shootout Win Over Canucks, Hossa victim of Hansen’s Forearm

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Jon Fromi| Leave a comment

By Jon Fromi

The Chicago Blackhawks let a two-goal lead evaporate in the final minutes, but got a surprising shootout goal from Andrew Shaw to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 in a shootout Tuesday night. Marian Hossa scored a pair of goals but missed most of the third period and may have suffered a dreaded upper body injury when he was hit in the back of the head by Jannick Hansen.

In the first period, the teams traded scoring chances in the first few minutes. The ‘Hawks top line held the puck in the Vancouver zone long enough for a couple of opportunities, the best coming when a Johnny Oduya slapper got redirected by Brandon Saad. The puck came out in front of the net but Jonathan Toews couldn’t get it by Cory Schneider. Read more »

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Hawks hold on to beat LA 3-2, within one game of NHL record

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Brad Vandenberk| 2 Comments

By Brad Vandenberk

Hockey Day in America was celebrated Sunday and the Blackhawks entertained the United Center with some matinee action.  The Stanley Cup champions, LA Kings, were in town and looking to take some revenge over the Hawks.

Game one of this season had the Hawks spoiling the Kings’ Championship banner raising ceremony, winning 5 -2.  On Sunday, the Hawks were looking to maintain their dominance throughout the NHL.  They currently have recorded a single point or better for 14 straight games.  They are also playing their third home game over seven straight.

After a big win against the Sharks on Friday evening, the Hawks were looking to keep the momentum high against the Kings.  Read more »

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Lindbloom’s View: Bickell and Ovid, Toews and Thornton, Kruger and Salvador Dali

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Rich Lindbloom| Leave a comment
image001(1)Metamorphoses: Basher unleashes his inner butterfly

By Rich Lindbloom

The Roman poet Ovid wrote a book called Metamorphoses about 2,050 years ago on people changing into new bodies – trees, rocks, animals, constellations etc. It’s a great read covering some 250 Greek and Roman myths, man’s feeble attempts to explain the why for and the where for of his existence. (Or as David Byrne sang, “You may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?”) Ovid states in his opening sentence, “I want to speak about bodies changed into new forms.” With those enticing words, the hook is set.

The transformation of Bryan Bickell this season was enough to send me to see if I could locate Ovid’s classic Metmorphoses in the attic. In its day, it was one of those books that you couldn’t put down. Who would have thought 40 years ago that I would be mentioning Bickell’s name alongside Ovid in a hockey piece?  Bickell has always been a bit of an enigma to the throngs pining for blood in the 300 section during the past two seasons. Read more »

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Lindbloom’s View: Introducing Flex Seal

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Rich Lindbloom| Leave a comment
Lindbloom_PhilSwift_2013Feb06“What he did was criminal.” Joel Quenneville on Razor’s performance vs. Calgary

By Rich Lindbloom

If you spend any time watching the NHL Network, you’re probably quite familiar with the man sitting in the boat with the screen door bottom. “Hawker” extraordinaire, Phil Swift, exuberantly promotes this new miracle product, finishing his pitch with the classic, “Buy one can, and we’ll send you another one for free –“but you must order now!” Uncle Rico and his sailing-ship-in-a-bottle offer got nothing on this guy. Just how good at sealing leaks is this supernatural product? Well, you get a little idea when you see Phil with a can standing on the Hoover Dam. I’m pretty sure even Blues fans could put 2 + 2 together on that image. Read more »

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Emery makes 45 saves, ices Flames 3-2 in shootout

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Brad Gardner| Leave a comment

By Brad Gardner

The Blackhawks got back into the win column on Saturday night in Calgary, pulling out a 3-2 victory in their third consecutive game decided by shootout.

Patrick Kane scored the deciding goal in the shootout, but Ray Emery was the story of the game. Making just his second start of the season, the veteran goaltender made 45 saves against perpetual pressure from the Calgary Flames.

Emery saw plenty of action in the opening frame, but apart from a couple rebounds let out in front of his net, he did not have any trouble getting locked into the game early.

He showed good positioning, making an early save on a Dennis Wideman shot that was deflected in front of the net. Emery also received a little help from the post in the latter half of the period. Following a quick give-and-go with Alex Tanguay, Mike Cammalleri saw some open net to the far side but drew iron with a one-timed shot. Read more »

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Lindbloom: I Can’t Feel My Toes

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Rich Lindbloom| Leave a comment

Lindbloom_CantFeelMyToes

“Hockey captures the essence of the Canadian experience in the New World.
In a land so inescapably and inhospitably cold, hockey is the dance of life, and
An affirmation that despite the deathly chill of winter we are alive.” – Bruce Kidd

By Rich Lindbloom

Admittedly, two robust victories on the road can have an inordinate impact on one’s enthusiasm. Yet, after almost four months of saying I don’t care if they play or not, it’s truly great to see that the boys are back in town. (“Remember that chick that slapped Kaner’s face? Man… we fell about the place-if that chick don’t want to go forget her.”) Actually, it seems all the stars are lining up at the moment for Chicago hockey fans. Hockey and single digit temperatures go together like soup and sandwiches. There’s even a smidgeon of that white stuff on the ground. Hopefully Sam Fels and his street urchins will not develop frostbite while peddling ‘The Indian’ tonight. That lamppost doesn’t offer much protection from a bitter Northwest wind. Dig a little deeper and tip them tonight bucko’s! Read more »

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Hossa, 2nd line again ignite Blackhawks offense; trip to desert yields 6-4 victory

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Brad Vandenberk| 1 Comment

By Brad Vandenberk

The Blackhawks continued their back-to-back opening weekend road trip on Sunday night in Phoenix.  A dually important matchup to Chicago, as these were the same Coyotes that put them out in the first round of the playoffs last season.

After a convincing 5-2 win in LA on Saturday, the Hawks were looking to keep the momentum and emotions high to start the season.  With only two home games in the next four weeks, it was important to get the wins on the road when they could.  Read more »

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Season Preview: Great Expectations

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Brad Vandenberk| 1 Comment

By Brad Vandenberk

As I awoke on the morning of January 6th 2013, it was like Christmas all over again. I learned that the National Hockey League and the NHL Players Association had announced an agreement was in place and a condensed season was on the horizon.

The first thing I thought of was when do the Blackhawks play?  I immediately used every possible angle to let the world know that hockey was back!   Will the fans be coming back to watch their favourite teams?

Well, I believe that question was answered when arenas all over North America filled up to watch their favourite teams practice.  That’s right, I said Practice!  Fans will come back and watch the game because hockey is a culture.  I didn’t realize how much the sport of hockey has involved in every aspect of a fan’s life until I began to change my daily routines to get prepared for the upcoming 48 game season.  Adjusting my work schedules to be able to watch each game as well as waiting online to purchase tickets to a few of the road games.

Growing up In Niagara Falls Ontario, I have only made a few trips to Chi Town to see my beloved Blackhawks play at the Untied Center, however when they make the flight to Buffalo, Toronto or Detroit, I always head to the rink. Read more »

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Blackhawks preview: It’s Time to Step Up

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Brad Gardner| 1 Comment

By Brad Gardner

After two consecutive first-round playoff exits, the entire Blackhawks organization has a lot at stake heading into the abbreviated 2013 season. For better or worse, the club entered training camp with a roster that was very similar to the 45-win team from a season ago. The only new additions – defensemen Michal Rozsival and Sheldon Brookbank – do not figure to see huge roles during the upcoming season. If the Blackhawks are going to put the last two seasons behind them, they will need bigger contributions from the following groups of players with something to prove this season.

Goaltenders

The last time the Blackhawks entered a season with the same goaltending tandem as they utilized the year before was 2007-08, when Nikolai Khabibulin and Patrick Lalime returned to the Chicago crease for a second season together. Both Corey Crawford and Ray Emery will be relied upon to secure wins this season, something that is even more important out of the gate as the skaters get back into game shape and adjust to the breakneck pace of the compacted schedule. Read more »

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Lindbloom’s View: Song and Reflections on better days

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Rich Lindbloom| Leave a comment

“I want to bite the hand that feeds me,
I want to bite that hand so badly,
I want to make them wish they’d never seen me…” – Elvis Costello

By Rich Lindbloom

I heard a great definition of philosophy recently:  “A blind man, in a dark room, looking for a black cat, that doesn’t exist.”

Tell me that doesn’t describe the excruciating labor negotiations between the NHL owners and the players union in a nutshell. Quite frankly, I don’t think I’m alone in my burgeoning apathy in this greed laden, rapacious process. Waves of intense anger may belie my apathy, but I’m doing my best to cope with the situation. Trying to pretend I could care less is easier said than done. Read more »

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