Hawks Hockey Hoiden

Congrats to the Hawks for hammering the final nail into the Vancouver Canucks. The boys are looking a little tired out there, and understandably so. As I noted in a prior post about Matt Walker, seems the Hawks are missing some of the grit from last season most notably seen in players like Matt Walker. But when push came to shove with the Canucks, some of the bigger, burlier players like Dustin Byfuglien and Ben Eager pushed back. And that made all the difference, as did outstanding goal tending on Antti Niemi’s part.

On to San Jose! Good luck boys!

All throughout this series with the Vancouver Canucks I have repeatedly been amazed at the classlessness of Canucks’ fans and the Canucks’ organization itself.  At every game in Vancouver, The Star Spangled Banner was butchered by some decrepit, sorry excuse for a vocalist who hurriedly warbled through our beloved national anthem in what was clearly an expeditious fulfillment of the requirement.  So very disrespectful Vancouver…even for you!  Compare that embarrassment with the Blackhawks’ vocalist Jim Cornelison who always sings O Canada with poise, sincerity, and beauty.  (more…)

If you’re a reader of this blog with any regularity you know that I have had a lot to say about how much of a mistake it was that the Blackhawks lost defenseman Matt Walker at the end of last season. So I was surprised that there wasn’t even a mention of Walker and his move to the Lightning before the start of the game tonight. (more…)

There were many goon moments in tonight’s 2-1 Hawks win over the Penguins. The Penguins trash-talked and were guilty of cheap shots and picking fights.  In fact, and I never thought I’d say this, there were too many scuffles.  The Penguins were obviously using their gooniness as part of their strategy, and too many times the Hawks did not keep their composure, not that you could blame them.  Still, for all the Penguins’ jawin’ and scrappin’ the Hawks still took them. (more…)

Games like tonight’s Hawks/Canucks match-up where the teams are scoreless even after the 2nd period can kind of drag on.  It feels more like tennis when you’re watching the boys skate back and forth.  But there was still some good scrappin’ to keep things lively, and things lit up in the 3rd period.  Seems to me like ever since that now infamous hair pulling incident, these two teams just can’t seem to get along. <chuckle> (more…)

In today’s blog post, Don Ehrenhaft of HockeyInsight.com takes a stab at the critics of the Blackhawks’ goal-tending — whether Huet or Niemi — arguing that they should get some perspective.  He admonishes:

It is always easy to point out a weak goal and base judgment on that particular event, but I would like to compare the Chicago goalies to the other so-called stars this season…

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Ok, maybe “hater” is too strong a word, but I’m definitely a Huet-disliker.  This does not mean I’m capricious.  I had doubts about Huet last season, but unlike some folks, I do not change my mind back and forth depending on a few wins here and there.  The fact remains that in back-to-back games Huet is generally abysmal. (And when he’s bad, he’s really bad!)  Indeed, Huet’s inconsistency is the bigger picture, if folks would simply pan out and look at it.  So if and only if Huet consistently starts winning games (like all season long) will I eat crow.  (more…)

No sooner do we not have to worry about Cristobal Huet in net (if only for a time), and the Hawks become undisciplined and commit penalty after penalty in tonight’s loss 3-2 to the Canucks.  And folks are talking about how Antti Niemi is responsible for losing this game?  I don’t think so!  Niemi was quite busy in the 3rd period blocking an onslaught of shots.  (more…)

Wow, I just can’t say enough about how improved the Hawks’ defense is this year.  So far I’ve seen backchecking (actual backchecking!), guys laying down to block shots and impede opponents’ lanes, and screening in front of the opposing net minder’s crease.  Finally I can say that the Hawks have a working offense and defense. (more…)

How  cool was it to see Jack Skille score that goal in tonight’s match-up against the Oilers?  Too bad they keep having to send him back down to Rockford.  I know, I know.  The cap.  Still, I’m excited to see him every time he’s on the ice.  (more…)