Only goal scored. Only goal needed. (Photo: Mel Boysen/flickr)

One of these days, sooner rather than later, the Columbus Blue Jackets will learn how to score. Hell, they had a few good chances against the Chicago Blackhawks tonight, with only a couple of bad bounces off of the post keeping them off of the score sheet.

» Continue reading “Boring But Effective: Chicago Blackhawks 1, Columbus Blue Jackets 0″

He should’ve been nominated for “Frolik Navidad.” (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

• The Chicago Blackhawks take on the Nashville Predators tonight at 7:00pm. The game will be broadcast on Comcast Sportsnet in Chicago.
• Previews: NHL, Chicago Tribune, The Committed Indian, Blackhawk Up
• Corey Crawford will be in net for the Blackhawks. (@NHLBlackhawks) Pekka Rinne will backstop the Predators. (Predators)

» Continue reading “Warmups: Screw The Grammys — The Blackhawks Are On!”

Crawford’s going shark hunting. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

• The Chicago Blackhawks take on the San Jose Sharks tonight at 9:30pm CT. The game will air on Comcast Sportsnet in Chicago.
• Previews: NHL, Sports Network, Second City Hockey, The Committed Indian
• Corey Crawford will be in net for the Blackhawks. (@ChrisKuc) Antti Niemi will most likely backstop the Sharks, but that has not been confirmed.

» Continue reading “Warmups: Here Fishy, Fishy, Fishy…”

I didn’t know what picture to use, so have a photo of Marcus Kruger. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

• The Chicago Blackhawks take on the Calgary Flames tonight at 9:00pm CT. The game will be on Comcast Sportsnet in Chicago.
• Previews: NHL, Chicago Tribune, Second City Hockey
• Ray Emery will more than likely be in net for the Blackhawks, but it hasn’t been confirmed. (@TramyersCSN) Miikka Kiprusoff will be in goal for the Flames. Pretend to be shocked by this information. (@RogMillions)
• Injury Report: Daniel Carcillo (knee) is still expected to be out until late February. Michal Rozsival is still questionable with a lower-body injury, as is Dave Bolland, who suffered an injury against the Canucks last night. For the Flames, Sven Baertschi is out with a hip injury, while Anton Babchuk will be sitting with a back injury.
• I’m suffering through a migraine right now, so forgive me for the shortness of this preview.

Yes, let’s focus on this guy today. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

• The Chicago Blackhawks take on the Vancouver Canucks tonight at 9pm CT. The game will be aired on Comcast Sportsnet in Chicago.
• Previews: NHL, Chicago Tribune, Second City Hockey, The Committed Indian
• Corey Crawford will be in net for the Blackhawks, because Ray Emery‘s hip still needs oiling. (@ChrisKuc) Roberto Luongo will backstop the Canucks. It’s best if we don’t get into what’s going on in net for Vancouver. It’s not pretty. (@VanCanucks)

» Continue reading “Warmups: Who Are The Blackhawks Playing Again? …Oh, Right.”

Birthday boy. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Today is Brandon Bollig‘s birthday. He turns 26 today.

I guess that, since it’s his birthday, I should be nice and not mention that I wish he was back in Rockford, terrorizing the AHL with his limited skills.

I guess I shouldn’t say something like “Whatever you did to Coach Q, Jamal Mayers, please apologize for it so he can put you back in the lineup so we don’t have to suffer through another one of Bollig’s staged fights ever again.”

And I definitely shouldn’t wish Ben Smith a speedy recovery so he can eventually take Bollig’s place in the lineup if Coach Q is determined to keep Mayers in the doghouse for whatever petty, Coach Q-like reasons.

I should just be nice.

So… happy birthday, Bollig. I hope you get to celebrate by watching the game tomorrow from the comfort of Vancouver’s press box. I hear they have good popcorn in there.

(Oh, dammit, that was still mean, wasn’t it? Oh well. I don’t care enough to edit it.)

» Continue reading “Fresh Brew: Happy Birthday, Brandon Bollig!”

Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr

• The Chicago Blackhawks start their six-game Disney On Ice road trip with a visit to the Minnesota Wild tonight at 7:00pm CT. The game will be aired on NBC Sports Network in Chicago.
• Previews: NHL, Chicago Tribune, Second City Hockey, The Committed Indian
• Corey Crawford will be in net tonight for the Blackhawks, because of course he will be. (@ChiTribHamilton) Josh Harding will backstop the Wild. (Star Tribune)

» Continue reading “Warmups: Insert “Wild” Pun Here”

The game saver and the game winner. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

The last time the Chicago Blackhawks went 4-0 to start the season, it was in 1972. (By the way, after that hot start, the Black Hawks won one more game before they went into a seven-game slump. Let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself there, huh?) It wasn’t easy, but after Kari Lehtonen stoned them early in the game, the team found a way to solve him and get the two points.

Let’s break down what happened after the jump!

» Continue reading “4-0: Blackhawks 3, Stars 2 (OT)”

Pictured: A total badass. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

The second game of a back-to-back is never all that pretty, but at times, this looked as awful as whatever animal is hiding out under Mike Smith‘s helmet this season.

Ray Emery‘s rebound control was nonexistent until well into the third period. Duncan Keith looked like Drunken Keith, and Brent Seabrook looked like he shared the bar tab with Keith.

» Continue reading “The Best Revenge Is Living Well: Blackhawks 6, Coyotes 4″

Ladies and gentlemen, start your Saad puns.

Brandon Saad is going to be on the Blackhawks opening night! (Chicago Tribune)

Some other dorks broke the roster, too. Namely Brandon Bollig and Andrew Shaw — wow, really? Will the Bollig-Shaw-Daniel Carcillo Shithead line become a reality?

See video of Saad talking to the Chicago Tribune after the jump.

» Continue reading “Fresh Brew: Saad Cracks Opening Night Roster”