Patrick Kane has gone H.A.M. And, this season, that doesn’t stand for “hot ass mess.” (Photo: Mel Boysen/flickr)

Nick Leddy, Viktor Stalberg, and Bryan Bickell all had three-point nights.

Marian Hossa and Jonathan Toews scored two goals a piece.

Brandon Bollig, uh, skated for 9:51 — a new NHL record for him.

But I know what everyone is talking about, and it’s none of those things.

They’re talking about the Patrick Kane spin-o-rama goal that made Denis Savard beam with pride after the game like Kane was his only begotten son (which, honestly, he kind of is).

Well, here it is. This will be on the highlight reel when the Chicago Blackhawks raise #88 to the rafters in twenty years.

» Continue reading “Wow: Chicago Blackhawks 8, Dallas Stars 1″

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”

REAL AMERICAN HERO. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Alright, I’m exhausted and my brain hurts, so let’s get to the point.

The Blackhawks had one of their best periods in the first — only to be followed up by one of their worst periods in the second. The third is kind of a blur, since I was attempting not to pass out from holding my breath too long. The Red Wings tied it up, it goes to overtime, and I’m thinking “Hey, 5-1 isn’t so bad. At least we’re not the [insert terrible team right now here]…”

But Nick Leddy interrupted that thought by scoring the game winner. The Blackhawks have their best start ever. Boom.

Okay, now you can watch this video of Leddy’s goal a million times. I’m going to bed.

» Continue reading “6-0: Blackhawks 2, Red Wings 1 (OT)”

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″

All of these IceHogs are now up with the Blackhawks. (Photo Credit: Kim Wrona)

With the ratification of the CBA, the Blackhawks were officially able to recall players from Rockford. Their first round of call-ups featured seven players:  forwards Brandon Saad, Brandon Pirri, Brandon Bollig, Andrew Shaw, Marcus Kruger, and defensemen Nick Leddy and Ryan Stanton.

» Continue reading “Blackhawks Recall 7 IceHogs”

Ben Smith continues to be a consistent piece in the IceHogs’ line-up. (Photo Credit: Kim Wrona)

The end of week 13 brought the IceHogs’ only trip into Ontario for the 2012-13 season. In theory, the games should have been on total opposite sides of the spectrum considering the Hamilton Bulldogs sat near the bottom of the Western Conference and the Toronto Marlies sat atop the Western Conference. But, both games had similar outcomes, which weren’t in the Hogs’ favor.

» Continue reading “IceHogs Tuesday: Oh-For-Ontario”

Andrew Shaw tallied in one of the IceHogs’ games in Week 11. (Photo Credit: Kim Wrona)

Week 11 brought about three games for the IceHogs before the Christmas break. Two of them were against their rival to the North, the Milwaukee Admirals, and the other was their first match-up of the year against the Abbotsford Heat.

» Continue reading “IceHogs Tuesday: Two Holiday Victories”

Keep telling yourself that, Shawzer…

Sadly, the NHL lockout denied the Blackhawks an opportunity to attempt to top the Blackhawks Holiday Album from last year.

However, in Rockford, the IceHogs are trying their best by destroying “12 Days Of Christmas.” Check out the video after the jump.

» Continue reading “On The Farm: The IceHogs Butcher A Christmas Carol”