Hawks Hockey Hoiden

The Blackhawks’ loss to the Edmonton Oilers, 4-3, last night came no doubt as a result of the change of mood brought about by Daniel Carcillo’s dirty hit on Oilers’ Tom Gilbert:

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A few posts ago, I wrote that it appeared that the Blackhawks still had bats in their belfry.  Many a hockey pundit criticized Jonathan Toews in particular because he had been off for a couple games.  I guess Tazer, the work horse, just couldn’t be off even for a game or two, even though Patrick Kane has, in the past, gone month after month turning in lousy performances, while no one but the fans would acknowledge Kane’s slumps. (Although who can blame sports reporters for treating Kane with kitty gloves?  No one wants to lose their press pass.)  For instance, remember the last time they tried Kane out at center?  He got bulldozed.  Even now Kane’s average face-off win percentage is 50% at best, but people seem not to notice things like lost face-offs if Kane scores a few goals.  (more…)

OK, surely Blackhawks fans can’t be the only ones who see that referee Dan O’Halloran has it in for the Hawks.  In tonight’s Blackhawks win over the Dallas Stars, 5-2, dreaded anti-Hawks referee Dan O’Halloran made two abominable calls on two of the Hawks’ most revered and even-tempered players: Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp.  About midway through the 2nd period, Jonathan Toews was called for slashing on Steve Ott.  As any ref should know, slashing involves a swinging or hacking motion of the stick on either the opponent’s stick or his body.  Toews did neither of these; he simply had an active stick in trying to harass the puck away from Ott.  Commentator Eddie Olczyk also indicated he too did not see slashing.  Nevertheless, the slashing penalty stuck.  Still, Tazer would have his revenge when, seconds after shooting out of the penalty box, he rocketed down the ice, paused, and hammered off a snapshot for a goal.  That’s what fans love about Jonathan Toews.  He doesn’t get mad; he gets even.  (more…)

Wow, what happened last night in the Blackhawks’ season opener against the Dallas Stars?  It would’ve been a shutout had Nick Leddy not crashed the net with sheer determination in the last few seconds of the game to score the Hawks’ lone goal.  The final score was 2-1 Dallas, but it could’ve been so much worse given how the Hawks played.  They did not appear to be well-conditioned at all.  They could not match the Stars on their stamina, and even Jonathan Toews was left far behind on one of Patrick Sharp’s mad dashes to the net.  And while Sharpy had a high-throttle game coming strong off of his emergency appendectomy, the rest of the team appeared tired and sluggish as early as the 2nd period.  (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…)

Wow, I take back everything I said about Colin Fraser not being a good choice for enforcer.  Fraser made it quite obvious in two scraps that he is more than equipped to be team agitator in tonight’s Hawks/Avalanche match-up (which resulted in a 3-2 Blackhawks win in OT, of course).  I renew my irritation, however, at the overpenalizing of fighting.  A 5-minute major penalty for a little roughing that doesn’t even draw blood is excessive. (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…)

Not to be unpatriotic, but from what I’ve seen so far of some of the shenanigans in the NHL, I can’t help but think the Americans are taking a bit too much liberty with hockey, the sport made famous by Canada.  For instance, the Phoenix Coyotes franchise is reportedly bankrupt which means a U.S. Bankruptcy Court is now involved.  When Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie offered to buy the Coyotes he was threatened with a “relocation fee” due to his wish to move what would be his team to Hamilton, Ontario.  Oh yes, and the “relocation fee” is purported to be $100 million!  Why would the Bankruptcy Court allow this??? (more…)

This interview with Patrick Kane really irritates me. In it he makes fun of the reason he wasn’t in game 3: His pet goldfish died and he had to fly back to Chicago to flush it down the toilet. Seems the only thing that’s going down the toilet lately is Kaner’s game. (more…)

In the last couple of games, we’ve heard the worst sound in the world: the “clink, clink, clink” off the iron as the Hawks have made some bad shots.  It’s to be expected because the Flames are just that good on ‘D,’ harassing the puck away or harassing the Hawks while taking shots.   But you know, that’s what you do in the playoffs.  You up the ante.  Unfortunately, the Hawks didn’t answer tonight in their 2-4 loss to the Flames. (more…)