Photo: @RMHCCHI/Twitter

It’s Chicago versus The World, and it’s all for charity.

Members of the 2010 Stanley Cup-winning Blackhawks team — including Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Adam Burish, and Brian Campbell — will be taking on various other hockey stars in “Champs for Charity” at Allstate Arena. This exhibition game will take place on October 26 at 7:30pm  and will benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Streeterville.

To get your tickets, go here. For a list of who will be there, check it out after the jump.

» Continue reading “Fresh Brew: Getting The Band Back Together For Charity”

Toews leads the team during practice. (Via @adamjahns/Twitter)

The NHL might be locked out, but that doesn’t stop the Blackhawks from getting a skate in.

Most of the team that has already made their way to Chicago — including Jonathan Toews, Jamal Mayers (who worked the whistle), Patrick Sharp, Dave Bolland, Steve Montador, Johnny Oduya, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Marcus Kruger, and Sheldon Brookbank — skated in an informal practice today at Johnny’s Ice House West. Ben Smith, Brandon Pirri, Adam Clendening, and Jeremy Morin also joined the group, along with ex-Blackhawks Brian Campbell, Ben Eager, and Troy Brouwer. (Chicago Sun-Times)

Funny thing about this lockout — the Blackhawks can go to Johnny’s Ice House West to practice, can wear their own practice sweaters — but they can’t use their locker room. (@TimSassone)

» Continue reading “Fresh Brew: Blackhawks Continue To Practice”

Who knew he'd be the one ex-Blackhawk left in the Stanley Cup Finals?

Before Colin Fraser was in the Stanley Cup Finals with the Los Angeles Kings, writing blogs and scoring goals — he was on the Blackhawks, mostly warming the bench. However, he did get a lot more time in front of the camera during Blackhawks TV, and his BHTV shining moment was probably this interview with some of the other Blackhawks on the subject of Mario Kart.

» Continue reading “From The Vault: Colin Fraser And Mario Kart”

Your bum shoulder was your ticket out... (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

The Blackhawks take on the Washington Capitals tonight at 6pm. Previews: NHL, Chicago Tribune, CSN Chicago, CSN Washington, Second City Hockey

Corey Crawford will be in net for the Blackhawks. (@ESPNChiHawks) Michal Neuvirth will be between the pipes for the Caps. (Washington Post)

Jonathan Toews will miss his 13th straight game. (CSN Chicago) Dave Bolland knows what he’s going through. (NHL)

» Continue reading “Warmups: Welcome Back, Brouwer”

We have some catching up to do when it comes to Blackhawks news (thanks to my little detour to the NHL Draft). So what better time to do so than tonight, on Free Agent Frenzy Eve?

The Dearly Departed

See ya later, guys. (Photos: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

The Blackhawks have said goodbye to three players — Brian Campbell, Tomas Kopecky, and Troy Brouwer.

Campbell has ended up in Florida with Dale Tallon and the Panthers. According to the Sun-Sentinel:

“I’ve had guys call me, guys I’ve played with before, saying, ‘Dude, you’re lucky, get me down there,”’ Campbell said on WQAM radio. “Dale said to me, ‘I’d like to bring you in to be the [pioneer], making this the place to be where everyone wants to play.’

“Obviously, with Dale there, I’ve had guys under contract and free agents say that to me … If it’s going to be a good situation guys want to be involved in it.”

Campbell played a similar role in the Blackhawks’ rebuilding — also thanks to Tallon. Let’s hope that it works out for the Panthers, as well. I always thought that Campbell never got a fair shake here in Chicago because of his inflated contract, but maybe his skills will be more appreciated down in South Beach since his contract is helping the Panthers make the cap floor.

Kopecky, too, has ended up on the Panthers. According to the Chicago Tribune, he was signed to a four-year contract worth $12 million. Wow, really? The Panthers really do need to make the floor, don’t they? (As of right now, they’re about $23 million below the floor, according to CapGeek. Jesus.)

Troy Brouwer, however, was dealt to the Washington Capitals in exchange for their first-round pick in this year’s draft. Though there was some controversy earlier this week when he claimed that Blackhawks players were “frustrated” by the recent moves, we still wish him the best of luck in Washington. He hopes to bring some leadership to the Caps, according to USA Today:

“Sometimes you need a little bit of outside views, just to come in and make sure that guys are doing what they need to do in important games,” Brouwer said. “There’s no boundary on leadership age. Whether you’re wearing a letter on a team, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re not a leader. I want to come in and help out with all the experience that I’ve had.”

The Capitals made him a qualifying offer on Monday.

» Continue reading “Your Daily Cup: The Free Agent Frenzy News Round Up”

Get well soon, Brouwer! (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

On Tuesday, Troy Brouwer had surgery on his right shoulder to repair a tear. The press release from the Blackhawks’ head physician, Dr. Michael Terry, is as follows:

“Troy Brouwer underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair a right shoulder labral tear which had been symptomatic intermittently throughout the season. The surgery went very well and we anticipate a full recovery.”

Though Dr. Terry says that this was a thing that had been nagging Brouwer through last season, I’m sure the missed check that drove his shoulder into the boards during the game against Montreal on April 5 didn’t help matters.

Troy Brouwer will be a restricted free agent on July 1st.

And so, the Blackhawks begin their summer vacation a little earlier than last year.

But not before facing the media.

(The links will lead to the video on the Blackhawks website.)

Top priority to re-sign: EVERYONE.

Stan Bowman on…

Re-signing Crawford: “a top priority. It’s nice to know we’ll have stability in goal next season.”
NHL experience gained by the new kids this season: “There’s a lot of things to be excited about.”
Offseason priorities: “This summer is much different, fortunately, for us. We’re not in the crunch that we were in a year ago.”
Re-signing Sharp: “It’s no secret here — Patrick’s been a huge part of our success over the past four or five seasons.”
On Brouwer and Campoli: Brouwer: “His offensive production was down a little bit, but he was one of the more physical guys on the team.” Campoli: “It’s like he fit right in with the system we play here.”

» Continue reading “The Blackhawks Clean Out Their Lockers”

Blackhawks lose to the Canucks 2-1 in overtime.

Canucks take the series 4 games to 3.

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Well if there was ever a way to go out, the Blackhawks would go out this way. The most dramatic way possible. While yes it does suck, as does any time your team’s season ends, let us reflect on how the Blackhawks got to this point.

Throughout the regular season the Blackhawks were a team plagued by inconsistency. At times they looked like defending Stanley Cup Champions. For a majority they looked like a team that just couldn’t gel together and struggled mightly to put together 60 minute efforts. The power play was infuriating with it’s inability to convert golden opportunities, though somehow it stayed among the top units in the NHL. Then there was the penalty kill which was celebrated every time it actually did it’s job.

This less than desirable mixture left the Blackhawks on the cusp of making terrible history, by winning the Cup the previous year only to miss the playoffs. Not only that, but losing a game that would have put them in the playoffs on the last day of the season had they won. Instead they relied on the Minnesota Wild beating the Dallas Stars, which allowed the Blackhawks to sneak into the 8th and final spot in the Western Conference to face none other than the Vancouver Canucks. A team they had faced the past two years with little love lost between the two teams.

This series had enough bad blood from the prior two post-season match-ups that a third match-up was bound to be incredible. It didn’t disappoint. After three straight wins by the Canucks, it seemed like the Blackhawks were destined for a sweep, going down with little fight. A hit by Raffi Torres on Brent Seabrook and Dave Bolland returning to the lineup changed things for games 4 and 5. Two five goal wins and you had to wonder whether or not Roberto Luongo was truly mentally plagued by the Blackhawks. In an even stranger turn of events Cory Schneider started game 6 only to leave hurt and the Blackhawks forced a game 6 in overtime scoring on Luongo. The man of the hour? None other Ben Smith, who ended with more games played in the post-season than the regular season.

Game 7 was the crashing crescendo of a series that looked so far tilted in the Canucks favor only for the playing field to level. Early on the Blackhawks looked like a timid team and the Canucks on a mission. The Canucks were hitting anything that moved and were like junkyard dogs on a bone on the forecheck. An early goal by the Canucks’ Alex Burrows on a slick feed from Ryan Kesler and the Blackhawks were reeling.

There was calm in the midst of the storm though, provided by absolutely stellar goaltending from Corey Crawford. On a team that has looked lost a lot of the season, Crawford has stepped up to give his team a chance to win every night. In a second period in which the Blackhawks were clearly outplayed Crawford kept his team within one. He did everything he could to keep his team in it. Though much was made of Luongo’s series, Crawford quietly went about his business being incredibly solid in net.

Crawford was the picture of consistency in times when the Blackhawks were anything but and tonight was no different. Without Crawford there was no way the Blackhawks even make it to overtime or even keep the game at a respectable score.

The man who scored the game tying goal? None other than Jonathan Toews. Who singlehandedly drove the net while on the penalty kill and absolutely refused to be denied pushing the puck past Luongo on a second chance while falling down his stomach. His one and only goal of the series was nothing short of stunning.

It wasn’t enough though as the Blackhawks much maligned power play couldn’t take advantage of a glorious chance in the extra frame with Burrows in the box. With that opportunity wasted, one could only predict that killing that penalty once again tilted the ice in the Canucks favor.

This proved to be true as Burrows buried a bad turnover by Chris Campoli to put the final nail in the coffin to the Blackhawks season. It was a redemptive end to a game of highs and lows for Burrows who scored the game’s first goal, missed on a penalty shot, was on the ice for Toews’ shorthanded goal, took a the penalty in OT and then scored the game winning goal.

From team who looked done after three games to losing overtime of game 7, the Blackhawks road ended. The Canucks finally took a series from the Blackhawks after three previous unsuccessful tries. It closed another epic chapter in one of the most intense current rivalries in the NHL.

For all intents and purposes maybe the Blackhawks didn’t deserve to be in the position they were, but they pushed statistically best team in the NHL to seven games when the series could have been over in four. They played with fire and tenacity after getting down 3-0 that seemed to be missing for large stretches of the season, including the first three playoff games, after winning the Stanley Cup.

For the large part though, the Blackhawks didn’t get the production they needed out of their big players. Duncan Keith, Dave Bolland, Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane led in scoring, each with 6 points. However the names that seem to resonate from the series are Dave Bolland, who played just 4 games of the series, Michael Frolik, who scored the game 6 tying goal on a penalty shot, and Ben Smith, who scored the game 6 overtime winning goal. Jonathan Toews ended the series with just four points with a single goal and a -4 rating. Who knows though what injuries will come out now that the season is over.

There is no shame losing in this fashion despite the shortcomings. The Cup winning goal hasn’t even reached it’s one year anniversary yet. The Blackhawks in the last year have given their fans numerous memories they won’t soon forget. This game and series have left the Blackhawks with the want of something more for next season, they know this season wasn’t good enough.

With all the changes, ups and downs, inconsistency, the 2010-2011 Chicago Blackhawks went out in an appropriate way, coming up just short, riding the coattails of their goaltender. They were a team that was one shot away from eliminating the number one team, but also the team that needed the Wild’s help to get into the playoffs the first place.

It was a roller coaster of a season but with the amazing play of Corey Crawford, the promise of young players and the leadership of the core there is a lot of to look forward to as a Blackhawks fan.

This game was just the last loop-de-loop in the 2010-2011 ride before the abrupt end.

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Box Score:

1st Period
02:43 VAN Alexandre Burrows (2) Slap Shot – Assists: R. Kesler (4) & M. Raymond (3)

2nd Period
NONE

3rd Period
18:04 CHI SHG – Jonathan Toews (1) Wrist Shot – Assists: M. Hossa (4) & B. Seabrook (1)

OT Period
05:22 VAN Alexandre Burrows (3) Slap Shot – Assists: none

__

Captain Force of Nature watch: A beautiful shorthanded goal on a fantastic individual effort. Even rating. 11-22 (50%) from the faceoff dot. Can’t ask much more of your captain, he left it all out on the ice.

Duncan Keith plus/minus rating watch: -1. Like Kat says as Duncan Keith goes, typically so do the Blackhawks.

Coach Q face color watch: Solid brick red. Not the best effort from his team.

Post-game quotes from @ESPNChiHawks:

Q exact quote on Crawford: “It was one of the greatest goaltending performances in a clutch situation you’re going to see. The kid was great.”

Campoli: “I didn’t get out. I didn’t get it over him.”

“Those are the kind of turnovers you can’t have and it cost us the game.”

“I made the play, not him (Burrows).”

Toews: “We’ve had some good series in the past but I have to say that’s been the best one.”

Toews on Crawford: “He was warrior out there. Everyone wants to talk about Luongo all the time and the superstars but for a rookie goaltender. I can’t say enough about him.”

Toews: “I’m not going to be a sore loser. You have to show some respect for the team that beat you.” (ESPN Chicago)

Bonus quote via @ChrisKuc:

Troy Brouwer: “As far as storybook endings go, this would have been one for the ages.”

Post-game videos: Brian Campbell, Joel Quenneville, Troy Brouwer, Corey Crawford, Jonathan Toews

Blackhawks lose to the Vancouver Canucks 2-0.

Vancouver leads the series 1-0.

__

Well.

That wasn’t the most auspicious of starts.

However, in the past two playoff series against Vancouver, the Blackhawks lost the first game. So, it’s not like it’s the end of the world.

Even though the game was maddening in the first period for myself and probably other Blackhawks fans, the last two periods give me hope. Things seemed to settle down defensively (even if Duncan Keith sometimes acts like he’s working for the other team — seriously, Defending Norris Trophy Winner, get your shit together), and if it wasn’t for a couple of bad bounces, the game might have ended differently. All in all, I’m less upset by this loss than I thought I would be.

I’m just hoping for a little less pretty, and a little more gritty for the next game. Specifically, someone needs to figure out how to park themselves in front of Luongo. Dustin Byfuglien figured this out — probably because he was too lazy to move at first, and then he learned that this worked well for him. Troy Brouwer or Bryan Bickell or somebody needs to find their inner slug and just sit there in Luongo’s goal crease. Don’t join the rush. Don’t do anything else. Just sit there, and good things will come.

__

Box Score:

1st Period
07:03: VAN Chris Higgins (1) Tip-In – Assists: K. Bieksa (1) & R. Kesler (1)
10:23: VAN Jannik Hansen (1) Wrist Shot – Assists: M. Samuelsson (1)

2nd Period
NONE

3rd Period
NONE

__

Captain Force of Nature watch: -1, no points and 9-17 (53%) at the faceoff dot.

Duncan Keith plus/minus rating watch: -1. Again, why do I even keep track of this anymore — besides to prove some cockamamie theory that, when he does terribly, the entire team is off? GET IT TOGETHER. DAMN. You don’t, and I’m changing this site’s name to “Runs On Leddy” or something.

Coach Q face color watch: Brick red for a majority of the game. Not that I blame him.

Post-game quote from @TramyersCSN:

Brouwer on his last penalty: “That’s not smart on my part. I don’t want to cost my team like that.”

Quenneville on start: “They came at us in waves and we had no response.”

Brouwer: “We need to have a better start otherwise we’re going to be coming from behind this entire series.”



APRIL 13, 2011

10:00 PM EDT/9:00 PM CDT

CSN Chicago, VERSUS, WIND 560

–

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (8)

Regular Season Record: 44-29-9

@

VANCOUVER CANUCKS (1)

Regular Season Record: 54-19-9

–

It doesn’t matter how you got here, boys, because the regular season doesn’t matter any more.

This is the playoffs, baby! Woo!

And here… we… go!

–

PREVIOUS GAME

Chicago lost to Detroit 4-3 on April 10

Vancouver defeated Calgary 3-2 on April 9

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INJURY REPORT

CHI: Dave Bolland (concussion) may be able to play during the series for the Blackhawks. Troy Brouwer (shoulder) returns tonight. (nhl.com)

VAN: Andrew Alberts (wrist) could return for the series. Manny Malhotra (eye) is done for the season. (nhl.com)