A sports blog by and for Midwest Sports Fans
With baseball wrapping up, no NBA season in sight, and the NFL only being on a couple times a week, looks like you’ll be turning to the ice for your sports fix.
I mean, you could just do something else, but you won’t. So kick back, relax and enjoy the conclusion of the MSF NHL Preview. (View Part 1 here: Eastern Conference Preview and Predictions.)
Now let’s make like Ice Cube and “Rep That West”
It’s NHL playoff time again.
I’m taking a break from bringing you forgotten baseball players to preview the Sweet 16 of the National Hockey League. This year looks to provide some intriguing match-ups to go along with the standard blow-outs.
Let’s get to it, with previews and predictions of each 1st round series.
The Chicago Blackhawks’ 2-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks was a tough loss for fans to swallow for many reasons. The ‘Hawks fell to eighth place in the Western Conference behind Anaheim and one point in front of Calgary.
Just like after the loss to Dallas back on March 17th, Anaheim now has the tie-breaker over the ‘Hawks, taking the season series after Saturday night’s win.
With one of their better defenseman out, forcing coach Quennville to switch the lineup just a little but, this three game road trip is a test for the “new” Hawks team.
The Hawks start in Anaheim tonight with, surprisingly, recently recalled goaltender Corey Crawford in the net. Cristobal Huet has fallen under the weather this week so Crawford, who was called up earlier this week, will take Huet’s position as back-up behind Antti Niemi.
It was a forgettable weekend for the Chicago Blackhawks as they dropped both games they played.
The Hawks traveled to Minnesota on Saturday to face the Wild, and after a great start the Hawks feel apart in the 3rd period.
The Hawks were feeling more than good heading into the 3rd period, and who could blame them. They were up 5-1, their offense had scored 4+ goals the last nine games, and the game looked to be in the bag. But as those last 20 minutes went by the Hawks just stopped playing.
Even good things must come to an end. That’s exactly what happened Thursday afternoon. The Hawks lost to the Anaheim Ducks 0-3. A loss that ended an eight game win streak, a chance for a road trip sweep, and that further delayed coach Joel Quennville’s 500th career win.
Everything that the Hawks did well in the eight games before this one just weren’t there. Their power play kill unit, one that was ranked #1 before the game, gave up three power play goals. The offense lost some momentum after failing to score on the game’s first power play.
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.
