On the plus side, Jonathan Toews will enjoy feasting on the blood of his new rivals. (Photo: Mel Boysen/flickr)

Last season, the NHL proposed a realignment plan that was swiftly rejected by the NHLPA. Well, guess what? It returns… but not without a few tweaks.

According to Elliotte Friedman from Hockey Night in Canada, the four conference plan is back with a couple of changes. After the jump is the video detailing the plan.

» Continue reading “Proposed Realignment Puts Chicago Blackhawks In Most Boring Conference Ever”

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…”)

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!”

Who's happy the Blackhawks clinched the playoffs? This guy. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Yes, the Blackhawks went up 4-0 before surrendering four goals to the Predators.

Yes, the Blackhawks’ faceoff stats were horrifying. Jamal Mayers was 3-6 for 50%, and he led everyone who took at least five faceoffs this game. Dave Bolland went 10-22 for 45%, and then everyone else’s stats fell off a cliff. I don’t even know.

Let’s all thank Brent Seabrook for his goal so that this game didn’t have to go into overtime, or I’m sure we’d all be dead.

With that goal and the win over the Preds, the Blackhawks have clinched a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive year. This is the first time in fifteen years that the Blackhawks have made the playoffs four years in a row. And, really, this is all that matters to me right now. Sorry I’m not sorry.

Also, Viktor Stalberg broke the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career — all at even-strength, mind you. He’s come a long way from being Swedish for “Jack Skille.”

After the jump, reaction tweets from the Blackhawks and the greatest goal song ever.

» Continue reading “So Glad We Made It: Blackhawks 5, Predators 4″

You know who got caught? This guy. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

The Blackhawks play the Nashville Predators for the final time this season tonight at 7:00pm. Thank God.

The Blackhawks can clinch a playoff spot tonight by winning this game or losing in OT/shootout. All they need is a point. If they lose tonight in regulation, then they can still clinch with a Kings loss (regulation or OT/shootout), a Coyotes regulation loss, or a Stars regulation loss. (@tylerc1)

Corey Crawford will be in net for the Blackhawks. (@TramyersCSN) The bane of my existence, Pekka Rinne, will be starting for the Predators. (@JoshuaCooper)

Jonathan Toews has been cleared for contact. (SB Nation) He could play in one or two games before the end of the regular season. This is not a drill! (CSN Chicago)

In prospects news, Phillip Danault has joined the Rockford IceHogs, while goaltender Kent Simpson signed an amateur tryout agreement with the ‘Hogs. (Chicago Blackhawks)

Duncan Keith looking good in a suit. He'll have four more games to get used to this look. (Photo: Benjamin Reed/flickr)

The Blackhawks lost their first game without Duncan Keith – and lost badly.

So let’s not focus on that. Let’s turn back the clock almost four years to when Keith was only missing one tooth. On November 21, 2008, the town of Fort Frances, Ontario celebrated Duncan Keith Day… and made the grave mistake of putting a microphone in front of his face.

If you can stay awake through his soothingly monotone speech without nodding off once, you’re a better person than I am.

» Continue reading “0-1-0: Blackhawks 1, Predators 6″

Duncan Keith: Still suspended. (Photo: Cheryl Adams/flickr)

The Blackhawks take on the Nashville Predators tonight at 6:30pm. Previews: NHL, Chicago Tribune, CSN Chicago, Second City Hockey, The Tennessean

Tonight is also Ed Belfour Heritage Night at the United Center. The first 10,000 people at the UC will get a hat. Check out Bob Verdi‘s article here, and then go watch videos of Belfour’s greatest saves with the Blackhawks. (Chicago Blackhawks)

Corey Crawford will be in net for the Blackhawks tonight. (@TramyersCSN) It’s unknown who will be in net for the Predators; Preds’ coach Barry Trotz says that he won’t make that decision until after warmups tonight. (The Tennessean)

Duncan Keith‘s five game suspension begins tonight. (ESPN) The Blackhawks will also be without Jonathan Toews, Steve Montador, and Marcus Kruger. All are battling concussions. (NHL)

The Blackhawks (and especially Patrick Kane) were fired up by Trotz’s criticism of their play during their nine-game losing streak. (Chicago Sun-Times)

The Washington Times talks about billet families, and Dave Bolland‘s dad weighs in on own experience with his son’s billet family when he was playing on the London Knights:

“Gale and Scott [Tooke] were unbelievable billets. Unbelievable,” Drew Bolland said. “The money they get for watching these kids is nothing. Seventy-five bucks a week. They probably spend that in showers twice a day.” (The Washington Times)

Via sharsteeg10.tumblr.com

• The Blackhawks return to Nashville to take on the Predators, where their eight-game losing streak began. Lovely. Previews: NHL.com, ESPN, Chicago Tribune, Second City Hockey
• Ray Emery will be in net for the Blackhawks. (@TimSassone) Pekka Rinne will be backing the Predators. (@predsradio)
• Niklas Hjalmarsson and Steve Montador are out for tonight’s game. Both have upper-body injuries. (nhl.com)
• The Blackhawks support Coach Q unwaveringly. Which is nice, I guess. (Chicago Tribune)
• Sam Fels asks “What to do about Q?” I suggest you add him to the list of people who should get eight kicks in the ass. (Madhouse Enforcer)
• Should the Blackhawks try to trade for Rick Nash? Uh… no. (Committed Indians)
• Want some good news? Brandon Saad is ripping up the OHL right now. 54 points in 30 games, and the Blackhawks drafted him in the second round? Heh. (Chicago Blackhawks)
• Duncan Keith and his charity, Keith Relief, will be holding the Inaugural Keith Relief Benefit Event & Concert. Anyone want to sponsor my broke ass and get me a ticket? (DuncanKeith.com)

Hey, it's that guy again. (Photo: Cheryl Adams/flickr)

• Jonathan Toews has been placed on Injured Reserve. Now, before people get upset about this, just remember that IR means that he won’t play for a week… which is All-Star Break. Which he’s officially not going to attend, anyway (Philadelphia Flyer Scott Hartnell will be taking his place). Take a deep breath and calm down, people.
• Since Toews is on IR, Brandon Pirri has been called up to take his place tonight. (Chicago Blackhawks)
• Corey Crawford will be in net for the Blackhawks, while Pekka Rinne is still not confirmed to be in net for the Predators, but is the most likely to be there. (Left Wing Lock)
• Tickets for the 2012 Blackhawks Convention went on sale today, but I hope you already bought yours, because they are sold out. Damn, Blackhawks fans. (Chicago Blackhawks)
• I was on the radio today. You can listen to it here. (WBEZ)

Don't be mad, Toews. You'll be back soon. I hope.

• Jonathan Toews will be out tomorrow against the Nashville Predators. He left the game against the Predators on Saturday during the second period and didn’t return. Coach Quenneville said that Toews was day-to-day with the injury, which was “not serious.” Toews is now questionable for the All-Star Game on Sunday. (Chicago Blackhawks)
• Corey Crawford will be back in net for the Blackhawks tomorrow night. Pekka Rinne will most likely be in net for the Predators. (Left Wing Lock)
• Bryan Bickell is tired of being a healthy scratch. I’m tired of him not producing. (Rockford Register Star)
• Here’s a fluff story about Nick Leddy that you might like. (Chicago Tribune)
• Speaking of fluff, Patrick Sharp reads to children. You’re welcome. (Blackhawks TV)
• Finally, your humble dictator will be on WBEZ‘s Eight Forty-Eight tomorrow with the Committed Indians‘ Tab Bamford, who wrote 100 Things Blackhawks Fans Should Know And Do Before They Die. (Go pick it up if you haven’t already.) I’ll be part of a “quiz show” featuring other die-hard Blackhawks fans.