Holy cow (as Harry Caray would say), what has happened to the Hawks? Dare I ask if we have a Cristobal Huet-type situation brewing in net? Something went wrong in tonight’s game when the Hawks were shut out by the Avalanche, 4-0. Ouch. Are ya missing Antti Niemi yet? How about Marty Turco? Well, hopefully Corey Crawford finds a way out of his “sophomore slump” because I just don’t think Ray Emery is going to fly as back-up. (more…)
After Daniel Carcillo’s dirty hit on Tom Gilbert in Monday’s Blackhawks/Oilers game, it is no surprise that the NHL suspended Hawks’ Carcillo seven games without pay. I think this time the NHL got it right. That kind of long suspension is meant not only as a deterrent but as a warning: Keep delivering dirty hits, and you’ll be outta here. For that, I must applaud the NHL. We wouldn’t want that kind of hit on one of our guys, so why would it be acceptable for other teams’ players? To nip dirty hits in the bud protects everyone. It protects our guys from escalated retaliation à la a Todd Bertuzzi-type incident and it keeps outside interference from our sport (again pointing to a Bertuzzi-style criminal investigation or civil lawsuit). So long as the NHL keeps their suspensions and fines consistent for first-time offenders and repeat-offenders regardless of who it is, I will continue to support their decisions, no matter whether it’s a member of the Blackhawks or not. (more…)
As Chicagoans have been saying for days, referee Dan O’Halloran killed the Hawks in games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals. He called so many penalties on the Hawks while ignoring so many others from the Flyers that it would be safe to argue that O’Halloran alone cost the Hawks games 3 and 4.
In tonight’s game 5, it looked like Dustin Byfuglien agreed when during a check of Flyers’ d-man Kimmo Timonen at about the 10 or 11 minute mark of the 3rd period, he took out Dan O’Halloran as well. Two goons with one hit. It was a thing of beauty! O’Halloran seemed to know that hit was meant for him too by the look on his face. Karma can be tricky Danny boy. The hockey gods don’t seem to like your intentional missed calls on the Flyers.
Finally, just to add insult to injury, Hawks’ Dustin Byfuglien scored the last goal of the 7-4 victory over the Flyers with an empty-netter in the last minute-and-a-half of the game with Dan O’Halloran having to rule it a good goal. So sweet. Go Hawks! Get that cup!
P.S. Hats off to Q for taking Big Buff and Kaner off the first line and moving Marian Hossa and Tomas Kopecky up with Toews. It totally threw off the Flyers. They couldn’t put the bullseye on any one player and with Buff checking up and down like a mad man, it was discombobulating to the Flyers. Hopefully Niklas Hjalmarsson can figure his game out by game 6 though, because we need him blocking shots. Don’t know what’s up with him, but he has that deer-in-headlights look about him.
Update: The NHL suspended Wisniewski for 8 games without pay. Good! I hope this means that instead of adversely affecting all players when dirty hits happen, the NHL sees that they need only punish the offenders, and even more harshly repeat offenders like Wisniewski (and Ovechkin). Thank you NHL for finally getting it right!
When the Blackhawks traded James ‘Wiz’ Wisniewski last season, I was not shy about saying what a mistake that was. How could the Blackhawks trade a valued and tough d-man like that? Since then, the Hawks have been struggling with their ‘D’ no question about it. But watching as Wiz and Brent Seabrook exchanged pleasantries before the first intermission in tonight’s Hawks/Ducks game and then watching Wisniewski gun for Brent Seabrook in the 2nd period, charging across the ice and purposely leaving his skates to take Seabs out by the head?! Oh, them’s fightin’ words Wiz! And are you kidding me with just that “charging” call? What? No automatic ejection?
At least Duncan Keith rushed in to box Wisniewski’s ears after that dirty hit. Similarly, Nick Boynton more than proved his worth in having a go at Wisniewski in the last minute of the game. If only Boynton had gotten some good shots under Wiz’s visor!
Ok kids, I’m back. Sorry to leave my little hockeylings hanging yesterday, but as much as hockey is life, sometimes real life interferes. Luckily, I taped the game and was able to go radio silent until this morning so as not to hear the score. So here, belatedly, is your run down of last night’s loss to the Kings if it’s not still too painful. (more…)
Tensions ran high tonight in the Hawks’ 7-2 win over the Sharks. Coach Quenneville was barking early at a missed boarding call wherein Tomas Kopecky was hit from behind and his helmet went flying; Brian Campbell got booed as he always does at the HP Pavillion (and I always try so hard not to laugh at that and am never successful); the penalty-kill unit had an awesome night, even for them; and of course Marian Hossa made his debut with the Blackhawks. Boy did he ever. (more…)
Last night’s Hawks/Maple Leafs game was a bit laborious. The Hawks gave out in the 3rd and I think so did we. Fans seemed contented with the win seemingly oblivious to the fact that the Hawks squeaked out a win against one of the worst teams in the NHL. Should the game have been as close as it was at 3-2? (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…)