It’s that time of year again for the Chicago Blackhawks.
If you are a Hawks fan you know exactly what I mean. This is the time of the year when the Circus comes into Chicago, forcing both the Bulls and Blackhawks to go on a 2-week road trip.
The Hawks go into their 2-week road trip confident after winning four straight games. They sit at the 3rd spot in their conference and 1st in their division.
According to an article by the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Blackhawks are set to sign Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane to new contracts. Both are restricted free agents at the end of this year.
The Hawks are also near an agreement with defender Duncan Keith.
It was a happy return for the Hawks captain Jonathan Toews.
Toews scored his 2nd goal of the year, his first since missing two weeks from a concussion. Goals by Toews, Brouwer, Madden, and Ebbett helped the Hawks beat the LA Kings 4-1.
The win propelled the Hawks back into 1st place in the Central Division and 3rd in the Western Conference.
The Bears defensive problems were yet again exploited today by Arizona and their potent offensive game. Kurt Warner threw for 5 TD passes, which tied a career high for the 38-year old.
The Cardinals came into the game without Anquan Boldin, but that didn’t slow down the team at all. Larry Fitzgerald had nine catches for 123 yds and two touchdowns, while Steve Breaston also tallied a TD catch. It was all Arizona in the first half as Warner had four TDs and Arizona went into the half with a 31-7 lead.
The Bears’ defense looked like a high school defense in the first half as they couldn’t stop the Cardinals’ run or passing game. The Cardinals scored on every drive they had in the first 30 minutes.
It was embarrassing to watch the Bears get manhandled on their own turf, and the fans let them know that by booing after every Arizona TD.
This Saturday, the 19th ranked Fighting Irish will take on their long-time rivals, the Navy Midshipmen.
Notre Dame’s game last week against Washington State was the first boring game the Irish have played all year as they swamped the Cougars 40-14. Even though it was a boring, one-sided game, I was happy.
For one time in the season the Irish dominated a team they should have dominated.
This week the Irish play the Midshipmen in a rival that began in 1927. The Irish have a 71-10-1 edge on the rivalry. The Irish had a NCAA record of 43 straight wins against the Navy, but that was broken in 2007 when the Midshipmen won in OT. Even though the rivalry has been one-sided both teams hold this game in high regard. Both teams respect each other, and that’s what gives this game a little extra meaning.
It has been a long break for the Hawks, but you will finally get to watch them in action again Thursday night.
It is kind of a relief to finally be watching the Hawks again. Life is a little more dull when the Hawks aren’t playing. The way this season is going I don’t ever want it to stop as the Hawks are currently 3rd in the Western Conference with 17 points.
Last Sunday for the Bears was nowhere near fun.
It wasn’t fun for the players, coaches, or the fans, and I was disgusted by the Bears just plain awful playing. Their weaknesses were heavily exposed by the Bengals in a game game that showed something needs to be fixed and fast.
Huet played yet another fantastic game, but the offense for the Chicago Blackhawks couldn’t produce anything Thursday night.
It was the first time the Hawks’ offense looked off key. The Hawks powerplay woes continue as they went 0-5 last night. The Hawks were unable to get anything setup during those powerplays, especially on a Nashville interference penalty late in the 3rd period.
The lack of offense and not capitalizing on the powerplays lead to the Preds handing the Hawks their 4th loss of the season.
I was very fortunate to see the hockey team I love play at the United Center last Monday. It’s always a great time at the UC (which is short for United Center). When the Hawks play the place is packed with red and white jerseys, and the occasional road team jersey.
Ten first thing you will get from going to a Hawks game is that the fans are crazy loud. The best part of any Hawks game is the National Anthem. During the Anthem the crowd cheers and claps and cheers and claps more. The last line is answered by a deafening scream.
It surely will make any first time goer feel the love and just pure adrenaline that a Hawks game gives to its fans.
This is the Cristobal Huet that fans had been hoping they would see. Huet had a spectacular night against the Predators. He had 27 saves and didn’t let one single puck go in the back of his net. Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd both had goals in the 2nd period.
It was a nice thing to see Huet play so well, but Huet always has good days. They just seem to be spread out. Huet’s problem is his lack of consistency. This game will sure make Huet look good, but it won’t completely destroy the criticism that he gets for under-performing. He still has a job to do, and that is to prove to the fans he can live up to the high expectations they have of him this year.
During the 2-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, the Hawks’ captain Jonathan Toews and defender Brent Seabrook were injured.
Both are on the injury report with upper body injuries, and the report says that they “PROGRESSED WELL OVERNIGHT, COULD PLAY SATURDAY.”
“Seabs and Johnny both presented well today,” Quenneville said after practice on Thursday. “They progressed well overnight, so it’s encouraging in those regards.”
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded Gaines Adams to the Bears for a 2010 2nd round draft pick.
Adams had been a ‘07 1st round draft pick from Clemson, but he did not meet the expectations the Bucs had for him.
Saturday is a huge day for the Notre Dame football team as they go against the 6th ranked USC Trojans. The Trojans have beaten the Irish seven years straight, and since the “Bush Push” the Trojans have won easily every time.
Still the Irish players believe they can beat the Trojans.
A win against the Trojans would elevate not only the Notre Dame coaches and players, but all their fans as well. The Irish have a stellar offense, but they haven’t seen a defense as good as the Trojans.
It will be a tough challenge, but one that means a lot to both teams.
Before 12 minutes had passed, the Hawks found themselves already down 0-5, as well as being booed by their fans. Huet had also been benched. It looked like we were seeing total beatdown, but did that stop the Hawks?
Not one bit.
The Flames were shut out in the 2nd, 3rd, and OT. John Madden scored late in the 1st. Kane, Big Buff, and Bolland all scored in the 2nd to cut the deficit to 1. Sharp’s goal in the 3rd tied it at 5-5, and Brent Seabrook’s OT goal, a goal that was scored in just 26 seconds, clinched the win for the Hawks.
It was a record-tying comeback for the mighty Hawks.
After my rundown of the AFC, it’s time to change gears and look at the NFC.
NFC EAST
1. New York Giants 4-0
The Giants, again, are off to a hot start, led by the younger Manning brother, Eli, who is one of the most underrated QB in the league. His presence in the pocket can now be compared to his older brother, Peyton.
The defense is allowing the 2nd lowest yards per game, and the running game is 6th best in the league. All these factors contributed to wins against Washington, Dallas, Tampa, and Kansas City. While you could say two of those wins are against teams that are not very good, you should look at the Dallas game.
Beating Dallas at home, in their new stadium, just proves that this Giants team is, once again, the real deal.
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