Today’s preview is brought to you by Krista Golden, the Chicago Blackhawks beat writer for Rant Sports. Follow her on Twitter at @lechatsavant.

Good to have you back again, Hossa. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Welcome to the post-trade apocalypse, brought to you by…wait, this isn’t the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Twitter account. Anyway, tonight we shall see a new St. Louis Blues take on the Chicago Blackhawks. Ho hum, didn’t they beat the Blues twice already? Yeah, they did.

» Continue reading “Blackhawks Vs. Blues Episode III: Return Of The Hoss”

Shaw will be in the lineup tonight. (Photo: Mel Boysen/flickr)

• The Chicago Blackhawks take on the Los Angeles Kings tonight at the United Center at 7:00pm CT. The game will air on Comcast Sportsnet in Chicago.
• Previews: NHL, Chicago Tribune, The Committed Indian, Second City Hockey
• Corey Crawford will be in net for the Blackhawks. (@TramyersCSN) Jonathan Quick will most likely backstop the Kings. (@lakingsinsider)

» Continue reading “Kings For A Day: Chicago Blackhawks Vs. Los Angeles Kings”

COME BACK. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

So… there wasn’t a Second Balcony Breakdown last week. We explain why at the beginning of the podcast, but to sum it up: technology hated us. But now we’re back and better(?) than ever! Topics include:

• The Anaheim Ducks-Detroit Red Wings game — mostly because Teemu Selanne got a game misconduct(!?)
• The Chicago Blackhawks games against the Colorado Avalanche and Anaheim Ducks
• Feeling sorry for Patrick Kane
• Michael Frolik on the top line tonight, and why the Blackhawks can’t have nice things
• Brenden Morrow going to the Pittsburgh Penguins, which is an excuse to laugh at the Dallas Stars
• What the Blackhawks could give up to get Jarome Iginla
• Other goings-on around the NHL
• The Line Cocktail this week, which is completely accurate
• This week’s question: Do you have any questions for us? If so, what are they? Please send us something, or else I will be forced to make up questions. No one wants this.
• Make sure you’re following us on Twitter! Casey is @Raedances, and I’m, of course,@RunsOnDuncan.

Click on the green button below to listen.

Download the podcast here. (Right-click and select “Save target/link as…” to download the MP3 to your computer.)

Check out a couple of surprises after the jump!

» Continue reading “Second Balcony Breakdown: Finally, We Return”

This dumbass had the game-winning goal. What. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

The Chicago Blackhawks won against the Colorado Avalanche in regulation after trailing in the second period — the fifth time they’ve done that this season.

What.

» Continue reading “So Eloquent Right Now: Chicago Blackhawks 3, Colorado Avalanche 2″

Until we get a logo, you get a picture of Patrick Sharp. (Photo: Mel Boysen)

After some delay, here we are with our second episode of The Quiet Room with Casey and Kat! Topics include:

• Concussions, with a personal view from Casey
• Last week’s Chicago Blackhawks games against the San Jose Sharks, Phoenix Coyotes, and Nashville Predators.
• Other games around the NHL
• Fighting vs. hitting — here is the link to the Justin Bourne article we reference
• The (theoretically palatable!) Line Cocktail for the week
• This week’s question: How long can the Blackhawks go without a regulation loss?

Click the green button below to listen. We’re still working on improving the sound quality of the podcast, so bear with us.

Download the podcast here (To save this to your computer, right-click the link and “Save target/link as…”)

Good to have you back, Hossa. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

My face hurts from smiling.

I keep sitting here, trying to write a thoughtful review of this game, but I can’t, because I’m just so… happy!

» Continue reading “Sorry About Your Show: Blackhawks 5, Kings 2″

Happy birthday! (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Later on today, the NHL and NHLPA will (probably) sign a Memo Of Understanding to formally end the lockout.

Today is also Marian Hossa‘s 34th birthday. Coincidence? Yes, probably. But we’ll wish him a happy birthday, anyway.

» Continue reading “Fresh Brew: Hossa’s Birthday; Blackhawks Unofficial Schedule Leaked”

Don’t get too excited, Hjalmarsson haters. The Blackhawks will get him back after the lockout is over. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Niklas Hjalmarsson becomes the latest Blackhawk to go to Europe, signing with the HC Interspar Bolzano-Bozen Foxes of the Italian Serie A.

This makes Hjalmarsson the sixth Blackhawk to head overseas.  Michael Frolik was the first to sign with a European team, going to Piráti Chomutov of the Czech Extraliga. Michal Rozsival then signed with HC Plzeň in the same league. Soon after, Bryan Bickell signed with Orli Znojmo of the Erst Bank Eishockey Liga, also known as the Austria Hockey League. Viktor Stalberg signed with Frölunda of Elitserien. The biggest name to make the jump across the pond was Patrick Kane, who signed with EHC Biel of National League A in Switzerland.

Of course, this means we once again turn to Google Translate to butcher the latest press release. Take it away, Google!

» Continue reading “Hjalmarsson Goes To Italy”

But the Blackhawks JUST signed you! (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Another day, another Czech Blackhawks player making a run for Europe.

This time, it’s Michal Rozsival, who signed with the Blackhawks on September 11. He has signed with HC Plzeň of the Czech Extraliga.

What does tyden.cz have to say about this? Let us find out through Google Translate:

Pilsen hockey players in the league will strengthen during the NHL lockout Finnish goalie Tuukka Rask, who works in Boston, and before him rejoiced in victory in the Stanley Cup. Zapadocesky club also hired Czech defender Martin shoemaker, who will be in a month and then the team should move to Sweden, where he plays with an annual break in the KHL since 2008. By cadre from Pilsen has directed as well as other NHL bek Michal Rozsival.

…Okay, that used a lot of English words, but still wasn’t the least bit understandable. Also, I think that was mostly about Tuukka Rask and whoever has a name that translates to Martin Shoemaker. But that last sentence was totally about Roszival signing with the team, so it counts!

According to Matias Strokzyk, the contract is for one month.

As you’ll recall, Michael Frolik was the first Blackhawk to bolt to Europe, signing with Piráti Chomutov on Saturday.

This is the face I make whenever I think about the lockout. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

And the first Blackhawk to bolt to Europe to play during the NHL lockout is… Michael Frolik.

As first reported by eliteprospects.com, Frolik has signed on to play with Piráti Chomutov of the Czech Extraliga. Let’s see what rozhlas.cz has to say about this, through the magic of Google Translate:

Chicago striker Michael Frolik strengthen extraleague Chomutov. Czech hockey player will be at the club in the Central lockout NHL. The team should be a member of the team bronze from the last World Cup to join in the coming days.

Michael Frolik player but is positive, so the clubs must first agree on which should be the weekend of the state. The Pirates have signed čtyřiadvacetiletý player. 

In the NHL playoffs, including Frolik played 315 matches, of which he chalked up to his 53 goals and 83 assists. In Extraleague appeared already at sixteen, two years later, he was like the tenth order draftovala Florida. 

When lockout overseas competition in the domestic competition appear first Tuesday in Třinec since Sunday match in Liberec still misses. In Chomutov fans will see him on Friday in a game against Kladno. 

Wow. That was insightful.

Frolik might be the first Blackhawks player to head overseas to play while the NHL and the NHLPA fight it out, but he certainly won’t be the last. Viktor Stalberg has stated that he would like to play with Frölunda of Elitserien, while Niklas Hjalmarsson is already back home in Sweden. Meanwhile, Patrick Kane isn’t sure if he’ll head to Europe — but if he does, he would like to play with Jonathan Toews.