Thanks for Playing: Hawks 4, Wild 1
Here's a vapid question, are we going to run out of good things to say about this team by the end of the season? Seriously, I'm not sure what to say anymore. If you're younger than me (34) then this is easily the best the Blackhawks team you've ever seen. It's not even close. This team is on pace to win something like 60 games, for a franchise that's never seen a team win 50 in a single season. I guess there's some room for criticism tonight. The Blackhawks came out a bit slow, as if they were taking the Wild lightly. Minnesota drew first blood, and the Hawks turned up the pressure. After getting a 2-1 lead, Chicago opened the 3rd period on the power play, ended up with a short 5 on 3 thanks to an errant clearing attempt and scored a power play goal for the 7th straight game. It was then that the team seemed to sense blood in the water, and from there they took complete control of the game. Minnesota didn't play badly, they were quite simply outclassed, and you'd think I'd be used to seeing it by now, but I'm not. Anyway, I hope all Hawks fans are taking a minute to stop worrying about the playoffs and salary cap armageddon and how much they hate John McDonough to appreciate just how special this season is. Teams like this don't come around often.
THE GOOD
Marian Hossa: 2 goals for Hossa, the second coming when Hossa made a sick move to get to the front of the net, then put back his own rebound. That brings Hossa's goal total to 10, making him the 7th Hawk to reach double digits this season.
Patrick Kane: Kane was Kane. He was electric tonight, and scored his 18th goal of the season on a bullet of wrist shot that beat goalie Josh Harding high to the glove side, while Troy Brouwer provided a screen. Kaner also drew a key penalty at the end of the 2nd period, when he surprised the Wild by not just running out the clock, but attacking. Minnesota then opened the 3rd period short handed which led to Kane's aforementioned goal.
Penalty Kill: I can't remember seeing a penalty killing unit that attacked so much. The Hawks didn't score any shorthanded goals, but they generated quite a few chances and time spent attacking the opponents goal is time that they can't set up their power play. It's also helpful that Joel Quenneville has 8 different forwards (Toews, Sharp, Brouwer, Madden, Versteeg, Hossa, Fraser and Ladd) that he can use to kill penalties.
THE BAD
The First 10 minutes: Not terrible, but the Hawks just came out flat. They let Minnesota dictate the play, until the Wild finally scored which seemed to wake up the Hawks. Which meant bad news for the Wild.
Whistling: I know there are a lot of new fans at the United Center, so I'd like to point something out. Maybe in the past you've heard people in the crowd loudly whistle, usually 3 short whistles in succession. This is essentially the equivalent of a "boring" chant. It should be reserved for times when the Hawks are tripping all over themselves in the neutral zone, or fucking up the power play, or clearly not giving an effort. It should NOT be done during the third period of a 4-1 game when the Blackhawks are clearly taking the play to an inferior team and generating scoring chances at even strength and even when down a man. SO CUT IT OUT YOU FUCKING IDIOTS!
THE UGLY
The Pittsburgh Penguins Alternate Jersey: If you could sew clothes out of cancer, this is what the product would look like:
THE GOOD
Marian Hossa: 2 goals for Hossa, the second coming when Hossa made a sick move to get to the front of the net, then put back his own rebound. That brings Hossa's goal total to 10, making him the 7th Hawk to reach double digits this season.
Patrick Kane: Kane was Kane. He was electric tonight, and scored his 18th goal of the season on a bullet of wrist shot that beat goalie Josh Harding high to the glove side, while Troy Brouwer provided a screen. Kaner also drew a key penalty at the end of the 2nd period, when he surprised the Wild by not just running out the clock, but attacking. Minnesota then opened the 3rd period short handed which led to Kane's aforementioned goal.
Penalty Kill: I can't remember seeing a penalty killing unit that attacked so much. The Hawks didn't score any shorthanded goals, but they generated quite a few chances and time spent attacking the opponents goal is time that they can't set up their power play. It's also helpful that Joel Quenneville has 8 different forwards (Toews, Sharp, Brouwer, Madden, Versteeg, Hossa, Fraser and Ladd) that he can use to kill penalties.
THE BAD
The First 10 minutes: Not terrible, but the Hawks just came out flat. They let Minnesota dictate the play, until the Wild finally scored which seemed to wake up the Hawks. Which meant bad news for the Wild.
Whistling: I know there are a lot of new fans at the United Center, so I'd like to point something out. Maybe in the past you've heard people in the crowd loudly whistle, usually 3 short whistles in succession. This is essentially the equivalent of a "boring" chant. It should be reserved for times when the Hawks are tripping all over themselves in the neutral zone, or fucking up the power play, or clearly not giving an effort. It should NOT be done during the third period of a 4-1 game when the Blackhawks are clearly taking the play to an inferior team and generating scoring chances at even strength and even when down a man. SO CUT IT OUT YOU FUCKING IDIOTS!
THE UGLY
The Pittsburgh Penguins Alternate Jersey: If you could sew clothes out of cancer, this is what the product would look like:
Posted by CT at 1/5/2010 10:18 PM 
Categories: Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild
Tags: Wild Blackhawks Hossa
Categories: Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild
Tags: Wild Blackhawks Hossa
We're supposed to hate John McDonough?
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Well, mebbe you young fellers never saw Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita in their heyday, but lemme tell ya...that there Hoss Man is mighty good.
And that kid Kane...he's like Stan Mikita and Denis Savard rolled into one.
And...hell, I could go on all night about how good this team is.
As good as the '61 Cup team? As good as the early 70's powerhouse that fell only to the Heavyweight Habs?
Dunno...but they're better than the '92 squad that lost to the Pens.
Who needs Kovalchuk anyway?
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Dave, I go back to the ass-end of the Original 6, and I can safely say this team is better than the '71 or '73 teams, and there's no Yvan Fucking Cournoyer this year.
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Fork, sounds like you and I need to get together for some Geritol martinis sometime and swap Hawkey tales.
Dat Yvan Cournoyer was some kinda 'ockey player, eh. I'll see your Cournoyer and raise you a Claude Provost.
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I'm pretty sure I can still get my dad to go on a pretty good rant over how the Roadrunner played in the Finals in '71 and '73.
And ask Chelios how many Geritol cocktails you need before you register a DUI.
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Fork> while you're at it, ask your Dad about how Provost was like flypaper on Bobby Hull.
And why Cheli didn't take a limo instead of driving himself, well...only he knows.
PS recipe for Geritol Martinis:
Two shots of Zoladkowa Gorzka herb vodka in a old-fashioned glass over ice (two cubes max). Enjoy.
(There's not actually any Geritol in this one, we just say that to confuse the unitiated.)
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I was too young to remember the 91-92 team. My first dose of playoff hockey was the 95 team and they were good but ended up getting depantsed by Detroit. So yes. For me, this is the best team I have witnessed.
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I remember my grandfather telling me tales of Yvan Cournoyer.
Actually the 95/96 playoff run could have awesome if Amonte didnt get hurt against Colorado and the trainer didnt give Chelios a shot in the nads.
This team is easily the best Hawks team since the Cup finalists with much better balance.
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I don't know about you guys, but I'm pretty excited about Hockeenight sponsored Andrew Ebbett Heritage night, with free puck mark on the sleeve jerseys for the first 10,000 fans.
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couldn't they just paint over the black eye and coked nostrils and remove the detachable stripper off the theo fleury bobbleheads?
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I'm definitely one of those people that can say this is the best Hawks team they've ever seen. First time I saw them make it to the playoffs was in 02. Didn't start watching them till 96-97. Growing up in Georgia, I knew nothing of hockey till the Thrashers showed up. My dad took me to a game and after seeing me fall in love with the sport initiated me into the Hawkey Flock. Those were rough years gotta say. Although I'd never have been a fan if the Thrashers hadn't become a team, it's why i'll always support hockey outside of the frozen regions.
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Fork> Blackhawk Bob says you say the Hawks have offered Lalonde for Mahovulchuk.
Shawn or Newsy?
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Newsy is playing for the Wolves.
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In Pierre Lebrun's midseason awards, he gives Quenneville the Jack Adams, stating the Hawks have the best GAA eventhough they have two goalies would aren't even in the top 30 goalies in the league. Shoot me.
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