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”

That ends that, then. (Photo: Jed Sullivan/flickr)

The NHL has cancelled all remaining preseason games, which includes two Blackhawks preseason games.

• Friday, October 5 @ Pittsburgh Penguins
• Saturday, October 6 vs. Philadelphia Flyers

If you have already bought tickets to the remaining preseason home game, keep an eye on your email for further information on how to get your money back.

» Continue reading “Fresh Brew: Goodbye, Preseason Schedule”

When will we get to see the UC like this again? (Photo: Jed Sullivan/flickr)

The NHL has cancelled all preseason games through September 30, which includes four Blackhawks preseason games.

• Tuesday, September 25 @ Philadelphia Flyers
• Thursday, September 27 @ Detroit Red Wings
• Friday, September 28 vs. Detroit Red Wings
• Sunday, September 30 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

If you have already bought tickets to either of the two home games, keep an eye on your email for further information on how to get your money back.

» Continue reading “Fresh Brew: Blackhawks Lose Four Preseason Games”

Hope to see you on the ice soon, kiddo. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Deryk Engelland was handed a three game suspension for this hit on Marcus Kruger at 8:55 in the first period of the Blackhawks’ game against the Penguins:

According to Brendan Shanahan, Engelland left his feet to make an illegal check to the head. Kruger was also injured on the play. To view the entire ruling, click here.

Kruger sat out the game against the Canadiens last night. Here’s to hoping the Christmas break does him some good so he can come back on Monday.

Offer your soul to me, Dark One.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8H6C8sIfPM

I can’t be the only one who watches Adventure Time out there. Work with me, people.

Anyway, the Penguins played 40 minutes while the Blackhawks showed up for the last 20, and that’s pretty much why the Blackhawks lost. Ray Emery did well despite the talk of pulling him in the third (because beat writers were especially moronic tonight), and Stalberg played very un-Stalberg like in the third period — which is to say that he actually scored a goal.

Also, Deryk Engelland is a douche rocket, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching this fight:

» Continue reading “By Far The Most Evil Thing I’ve Encountered: Blackhawks 2, Penguins 3″

SOMEONE IS LYING.

The Blackhawks are playing the Penguins tomorrow, and Crosby is most likely out with concussion-like symptoms.

Wait, Crosby isn’t going to play the Blackhawks? Gee, this sounds familiar.

The last time Crosby played the Blackhawks was in the 2006-07 season, where he earned one assist. In 2007-08, the Blackhawks did not play the Penguins. The next time the Blackhawks met the Penguins on February 27, 2009, Sidney Crosby was out with a groin issue. On December 5, 2010, Crosby sat out the game with another groin issue. On October 1, 2010, Crosby was supposed to play in a preseason game against the Blackhawks… and then his groin started giving him issues yet again. Then came the concussion, which made him miss the February 20 game against the Blackhawks.

By the way, the 2006-07 season was the last time the Blackhawks played without Jonathan Toews in the lineup.

I’m sure that this is all just a weird coincidence, but coincidences aren’t funny. So, the theory goes that Crosby keeps missing games against the Blackhawks because he doesn’t want to play against Toews. Why this is so is because they are secretly boyfriends can be left up to speculation.

As for Toews’ feelings about Crosby, well…

» Continue reading “Crosby Still Won’t Hold Toews’ Hand In Public”

I can’t get too excited about preseason games. At the end of the day, they don’t really count, so I just shrug afterward. But I know some people would like to know how the Blackhawks are doing so far in these games, so here’s a roundup of the first three games of the preseason.

September 20, 2011
Blackhawks lose to the Edmonton Oilers 4-2.

This game wasn’t much to write home about. Probably the most exciting part of the entire game was that the Toews brothers played together on the same team for the first time since they were children. Rostislav Olesz and Jamal Mayers both scored for the Blackhawks. The three 2011 draft picks playing in this game — Phillip Danault, Mark McNeill, and Brandon Saad — showed a lot of grit and heart, which bodes well for the future of the Blackhawks. Ray Emery started the game, with Alexander Salak coming in halfway through. Both goalies impressed in their Blackhawks debuts, and the race for backup goalie was about even after this game.

» Continue reading “Weekend Preseason Roundup: Because None Of These Games Matter”

September 22, 2011

7:00 PM ET/6:00 CT

NHL Network USA, WGN Radio 720

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Chicago Blackhawks

Preseason Record: 0-1-0

@

Pittsburgh Penguins

Preseason Record: 1-0-0

The Enemy’s Aerys Sports Site: Black Tie Required

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Okay, so… the first preseason game didn’t exactly go as planned. The Blackhawks did lose 4-2 to the Edmonton Oilers, but considering that the Blackhawks lose more preseason games than they win, I’m okay with this.

Yesterday, the Blackhawks sent Mark McNeill and Phillip Danault back to their junior teams, leaving Pittsburgh native Brandon Saad as the lone junior player still on the team. All three were impressive, but Saad did seem a bit stronger on the puck and gets another look tonight. With these three in the Blackhawks’ future, things are looking bright.

The other big story from yesterday is that Marian Hossa has rejoined the team after having to take time off to mourn his best friend Pavol Demitra’s death, as well as celebrate the birth of his first child, Mia. He won’t be joining the group in Pittsburgh, but don’t be surprised if you see him on the ice on Friday.

Alexander Salak will be starting in net for the Blackhawks, with Ray Emery coming in halfway through. There were good and bad things to say about both of their performances from the last game, but I think both need another turn in goal to really start assessing who looks better.

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Previous Game

Chicago lost against Edmonton 4-2 on Tuesday

Pittsburgh won against Detroit 3-2 on Wednesday

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Roster

(From chicagoblackhawks.com)

The second-best thing to being here? (Photo: Cheryl Adams/flickr)

If you can’t catch the Blackhawks on CSN Chicago or WGN, and you don’t have Center Ice, don’t fret — you’ll still have a lot of opportunities to catch the Blackhawks on national TV. They will be exclusively on NBC or Versus (which will be re-branded as NBC Sports Network on Jan. 2) 12 times, while one game will be aired both on NBC Sports Network and CSN Chicago. The Blackhawks will also be on the NHL Network six times this season.

After the jump, check out the national TV schedule and plan your life accordingly. All times are CT.

» Continue reading “Blackhawks Will Be On National TV 13 Times; Bill Wirtz Keeps Spinning In His Grave.”

I miss the UC already. (Photo: Cheryl Adams/flickr)

The Blackhawks have announced their 2011 preseason schedule, which will open on Wednesday, September 20 in Saskatoon, SK against the Edmonton Oilers. This will be the second straight year that the Blackhawks open their preseason at a neutral site. Last year, the Blackhawks played in Winnipeg against the Lightning at the MTS Centre.

The other three preseason opponents are the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Washington Capitals, and the Detroit Red Wings. Here is the complete schedule:

TUE SEP 20: vs. Edmonton Oilers (Credit Union Centre, Saskatoon, SK) – 6:00pm

THU SEP 22: @ Pittsburgh Penguins – 6:00pm

FRI SEP 23: vs. Washington Capitals – 7:00pm

SUN SEP 25: @ Detroit Red Wings – 3:00pm

WED SEP 28: vs. Detroit Red Wings – 7:30pm

FRI SEP 30: vs. Pittsburgh Penguins – 7:30pm

SUN OCT 2: @ Washington Capitals – 4:00pm

Expect the regular season schedule to come out later this week.