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”

A COMPLETELY RELEVANT PICTURE OF PATRICK SHARP THIS WEEK. (Photo: Mel Boysen)

Second Balcony Breakdown makes a triumphant return this week live from Casey’s apartment (which means the sound quality is about 500% better than any podcast that came before it)! Casey was out of the country last week, so we have a lot of ground to cover, including…

• Making Casey’s dad drink his first shot of Jeppson’s Malört
• Working backwards, the Chicago Blackhawks‘ games against the… (deep breath) Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche times two, Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues, and Edmonton Oilers (again)
• Other happenings around the NHL, including the debate on visors being reignited by Marc Staal‘s injury, the Anaheim Ducks and Ryan Getzlaf‘s baldness contract extension, the Philadelphia Flyers‘ woes, and the Blue Jackets as the Little Team That Could.
• Patrick Sharp‘s insatiable vanity during warmups
• Jonathan Toews‘ spread in Splash magazine (click here for the online article about it — you’ll be able to tell what photos I’m talking about when you get there) and his new nickname, Captain Tiger Beat
• Casey’s experience watching a Belfast Giants-Cardiff Devils game in Ireland
• The best hockey bar Casey has ever been to is in Belfast at the Odyssey Arena, and it’s called Rockies Sports Bar. They have every sort of jersey you can imagine… except for a Blackhawks jersey. Someone needs to get on that. Have the Blackhawks’ people call their people.
• The Line Cocktail for the week, which is the most disgusting one yet.
• Question for this week: I don’t even know — you find it.
• Make sure you’re following us on Twitter! Casey is @Raedances, and I’m, of course, @RunsOnDuncan.

Click 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.)

Feel better soon, Crawford. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

It took all of 12 seconds for the Chicago Blackhawks to score the game-winning goal against the St. Louis Blues, and it was a beauty. The pass went from Brent Seabrook, to Duncan Keith, to Marian Hossa, to Brandon Saad, who deflected the puck off of Jonathan Toews‘ skate and past Jaroslav Halak to make it 1-0.

You need to see this goal for yourself. It’s just everything good and pure about the Blackhawks right now.

» Continue reading “17-0-3: Chicago Blackhawks 3, St. Louis Blues 0″

I’m starting to think that Patrick Sharp should just be our “logo.” (Photo: Mel Boysen/flickr)

Welcome to our newly-renamed podcast, Second Balcony Breakdown! Casey and I would like to thank Fork from HOCKEENIGHT for providing us with part of the name (the “Second Balcony” part). Seriously, go check out HOCKEENIGHT if you haven’t already. Just don’t click the links if you’re at work. You might get fired… or arrested.

Onto the topics, which include…

• Last week’s Chicago Blackhawks games against the San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets (we already had a special podcast about the game against the Vancouver Canucks, which you can listen to here)
• Duncan Keith is a weirdo (talking about Brandon Saad‘s “big, hairy” body after the Sharks game). Check out his quotes to Brian Hedger on Hedger’s Twitter, for example.
• Lindy Ruff, and why the Buffalo Sabres are terrible
• Various games around the league, including the shitshow that was the Pittsburgh Penguins/Philadelphia Flyers game, the return of Luocho in the Canucks game against the Detroit Red Wings, and Evgeni Malkin‘s concussion in the Penguins’ game against the Florida Panthers
• The NHL’s proposed realignment plan and why it’s boring (check out my post about it)
• This week’s Line Cocktail Whoops, no Line Cocktail for this week, because we forgot. Next week’s will be a doozy to make up for this.
• This week’s question: With Detroit possibly out of the Blackhawks’ conference next year, who will take their place as their top rival?

Click the green button below to listen. One of these days, I will sound less like I’m talking with a scarf wrapped around my face while inside a tin shed. Hopefully by next week.

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

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”

GO GO BIG-LIPPED MOFO! (Photo: Cheryl Adams/flickr)

Corey Crawford was named the NHL’s Second Star of the Week, sandwiched between the San Jose Sharks’ Patrick Marleau (channeling his Jeremy Roenick hatred into something useful?) and the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Martin St. Louis (who will always be Teeny Little Super Guy). (nhl.com)

While I think there are a couple of Blackhawks worthy of mention in this discussion (Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane, mostly), Crawford has been solid in net so far with a 1.78 GAA and .933 SV%. He was also a big reason why the Blackhawks were able to take last night’s game into overtime, with key saves while everyone around him was dying on their feet.

So, keep it up, Crawford. We’re counting on you (mostly because Ray Emery‘s hip isn’t fully functional yet, and the Blackhawks’ goaltending depth goes off a cliff after you two).

» Continue reading “Fresh Brew: Crawford Is NHL’s Second Star Of The Week”

SOON. (Photo: Shay Haas/flickr)

• The Chicago Blackhawks take on the St. Louis Blues tonight at the United Center at 7:30pm. The game will air on Comcast Sportsnet.
• Previews: NHL, CSN Chicago, The Committed Indian
• Corey Crawford will be in net for the Blackhawks. (@ChrisKuc) Brian Elliott will backstop the Blues. (@Jkellyhockey)

» Continue reading “Warmups: And Ya Say Chi-City”

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”

Congratulations to Ray Emery on his Masterton Trophy nomination! (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

The Blackhawks take on the St. Louis Blues at 7:30pm CST. This is the final meeting of these two teams in the regular season, thank goodness.

With any form of a win tonight and a Phoenix Coyotes regulation loss to the San Jose Sharks, the Blackhawks have a chance to clinch a playoff spot. They will have to do so without two vital members, Jonathan Toews, missing his 18th straight game and Duncan Keith, who is out for the third straight game serving his five game suspension.

Corey Crawford will be in goal for the Blackhawks. (@ChrisKuc) Jaroslav Halak will be in net for the Blues. (@NormSanders)

Though Jonathan Toews is once again out tonight, he will soon be cleared for contact. He has skated for 10 straight days, but is out for the weekend. When he will return to game action is still unknown. (Chicago Sun-Times)

Steve Montador returned last game against the New Jersey Devils, but after taking an inadvertent elbow to the head is again out indefinitely. (Chicago Sun-Times) Sami Lepisto skated for the first time since his lower body injury. He hopes to return for the playoffs. (CSN Chicago)

The Blackhawks announced today that Ray Emery is their nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy. Emery was also nominated last season with the Anaheim Ducks for his return following hip surgery. (Chicago Sun-Times)

John "Pie" McKenzie. Because it's Pi Day. Get it?

Even though he was probably best known as a Boston Bruin, John “Pie” McKenzie got his start in the NHL as a Chicago Black Hawk in 1959. And this is your Blackhawks history lesson for today. (Wikipedia)

Recaps of last night’s win over the St. Louis Blues: Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, ESPN Chicago, CSN Chicago, Second City Hockey, HOCKEENIGHT (DIY)

Although the Blackhawks have played in eleven straight games without captain Jonathan Toews, the team has been holding their own. (NBC Sports)

Even though Brandon Bollig has received much attention for smiling through most of his fights, he didn’t smile much last night, since his fight was a response to a hit by Ryan Reaves on Jamal Mayers. (Chicago Sun-Times)

Jimmy Hayes is the focus of this latest fluff piece. His biggest influences?

“My biggest influence would have to be my parents and family,” he explained. “My parents have dedicated a lot of time and commitment to get me where I am today. I have to give my sisters credit, as well, because some of their summer vacations would be going to Canada with me to watch me play in tournaments.” (Boston.com)

Viktor Stalberg‘s younger brother, Sebastian, signed with the San Jose Sharks. (Burlington Free Press)

And, of course, since we can’t go one month without getting yet another adorable picture of Patrick Sharp with his daughter, here’s another one, courtesy of Eric and Kathy…

» Continue reading “Fresh Brew: Happy Pi Day!”