A sports blog by and for Midwest Sports Fans
The NHL kicked off its second half this Monday, though you would probably never have noticed because of all the Super Bowl coverage and the non-surprising (but still appalling) lack of NHL coverage on Sportscenter.
Amidst the greatness of the MLB playoffs, the ending of the NBA lockout, the NFL season, college basketball and now the Super Bowl, the NHL has been wrongly overlooked this season, a season that is, arguably, one of the best since the lockout year in 2004. [Read more...]
Last Wednesday Chicago Blackhawks’ forward Patrick Kane won the game with an amazing shootout goal that had the whole ‘Hawk fan base in a buzz.
Frustration. More Frustration. Hopelessness. Exhilaration. Shock. Devastation.
Speechless.
Chicago Blackhawks fans went through every one of those emotions Tuesday night. It was a fitting end to one of the best playoff series played in recent history.
Sadly, the ‘Hawks find themselves heading home after a 2-1 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
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.
When it comes to playing in the NHL (or any other professional sport for that natter) there are two lives an athlete must balance: their life on-ice and their live off the ice. Whether they can juggle the two roles is up to them.
There are some players who go above and beyond the call of duty. These guys are able to balance being productive on the ice and having engaging personalities off it. They add flair and spice to their team while entertaining both fans and non-fans alike.
Here’s are a few of the most intriguing off-ice personalities in the NHL.
The last two weeks for the Blackhawks have been the best played, most productive, and most fun to watch weeks of the entire 2010-11 season. They haven’t been the most perfect weeks, but fans aren’t asking for perfection; they want their team to find ways to win.
And that’s exactly what the Blackhawks are doing.
As of Thursday, the ‘Hawks have a six game winning streak and are now tied with Phoenix for fourth place in the Western Conference. But why, so late into the season, are the defending Stanley Cup champions playing so well?
Chicago Blackhawks: 26-20-4 56 points. 8th in the Western Conference.
It’s been a long and winding road so far this season or the Chicago Blackhawks. Adjusting to the new players in the lineup has taken longer than hoped and expected, but that hasn’t brought down the players or fans.
Like I wrote earlier, I believe there is reason to be optimistic about the second half of the season.
With that in mind, let us get started with my midseason report card for the 2010-11 Chicago Blackhawks.
A 2-1 record after three games of the infamous six-game “circus” trip gives the Blackhawks momentum heading into Wednesday’s game against San Jose. Unfortunately they’ve failed all season, and during this road trip, to find the consistency that could get them out of the .500 bubble they are in right now.
A shut-out win in Edmonton was followed by a 7-2 loss in Calgary, and that was followed by a 7-1 win in Vancouver.
Where’s the consistency?
Frankly, there isn’t any.
Chicago’s long 49-year wait for a Stanley Cup is finally over after a 4-3 OT win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Chicagoans are going crazy, blasting fireworks in the street, and jumping all over reporters as they try to report the victory.
Yes, it’s all smiles in Chicago wherever there are Hawk fans because the Hawks have brought the sacred Stanley Cup home to Chicago, a place it hasn’t been since 1961.
It was a much better win for team USA this afternoon as they handed Norway a 6-1 loss earlier today.
Norway, talent wise, is not as good as Switzerland, but it was a much needed rout as the USA will face the much-favored Canada team Sunday.
“We know our game has to get better, especially in the neutral zone, in order to beat a team of the caliber of the Canadians or the Russians,” David Backes said.
Their game is going to have to get better if they want to pull an upset against the Canadians, who just beat Switzerland 3-2 in OT. It’ll be an early test for the young American team who still haven’t fully gotten used to each other.
The Chicago Blackhawks played in what could have been classified as both a hockey game and a boxing match.
It was by far the most physical game Chicago has played this season, but the physical nature of the game didn’t get in the way of the Hawks controlling the game.
In fact it was so physical that Hawk players Cam Barker and Ben Eager were both ejected for game misconducts, and captain Jonathan Toews even dropped the gloves for only the second time of his career.
It was a night of cheap shots and huge checks. Probably the biggest checks of the game was St Louis’ Mike Weaver’s hit on forward Patrick Sharp. Weaver hit Sharp center ice just as Sharp was looking up after getting control of the puck. The hit sent Sharp crashing to the ice and a retaliation by Cam Barker.
Patrick Kane was the butt of a cheap shot, a clearly evident forearm to the upper chest. No foul was called, but the Hawks knew that they were going to have to get more physical than usual.
No matter how physical the game is or how many hits a team laid on its opponents, all that matters is the score, and the Hawks beat the Blues in that category.
Chicago Blackhawks fans couldn’t have received a better Christmas gift than a weekend sweep of division rival Nashville. Two back-to-back wins against the Predators halted Nashvilles’ attempt of claiming first place in the Central Division, and gave the Hawks a league-leading 55 points.
It was the same team, but the Hawks played two different type of games to win this past weekend.
Cristobal Huet, not to be outdone by teammate Antti Niemi, shut out the St. Louis Blues 3-0. That’s the second shutout for Huet this year, but that’s not the important issue here.
What’s more important is I am seeing some really strong potential for a Stanley Cup championship this year now that it seems like the Hawks no longer have a goaltender problem.
