Back when Westward Expansion took place, you started out with a bunch of people and a bunch of wagons. As you traveled onward, people died and babies were born. By the time the trip ended, you had a different group of people than you started with.

Tonight, you had Michael Frolik and Jeff Taffe dressed, two guys who weren't here when this brutal road trip started.

Tonight, the Chicago Blackhawks got a late goal from Duncan Keith to force overtime, before being stoned by Ilya Bryzgalov in the shootout to lose 3-2 in Jobing.com Arena.

Now the Hawks come home and see what they can do about maybe not having to shave before Easter.

Let's get to this:

THE GOOD:

Troy Brouwer. A sweet goal, and setting a screen for Keith's goal. He's been scoring a lot lately, and he's doing all the things we saw him do last year. He's been one of the few bright spots in this abysmal trip.

Marian Hossa. He's starting to look like the Hossa we saw at the beginning of the season. Hopefully all his maladies are behind him,  and hopefully if he gets back to...well, back to playing like Marian Hossa, it's not too little too late.

Corey Crawford. One brutal, weak-assed goal. Radim Vrbata smoked him on a breakaway,after Nick Leddy got beat badly,  then again in the shootout. Still, Crawford was the reason the Hawks actually got a point at all. He stood tall throught the second and third periods, and kept the Hawks within striking distance.

Dave Bolland. Two more assists. More of this, please.

THE BAD:

The injury bug. Jeff Taffe is now a Blackhawk. This is to where the Hawks have sunk. Fortunately the salary cap constraints the Hawks are suffering through go away after this season, but that doesn't mean anything right now. We knew the Hawks won the Stanley Cup on credit, and the loss of players and bonus penalty were the principal. Apparently being at the point where we wish Jake Dowell and Fernando Pisani are in the lineup are the interest.

THE UGLY:

John Scott was on a power play shift. Are you shitting me? Seriously? I don't care how bad things are, but Scott has been too much saurus and not enough murder. But putting him out on the man advantage means you are basically playing 4-on-4.

Tonight was also the Chicago Pucks Cancer event, where, sadly, Hockeenight was not represented. I was looking forward to buying Sam Fels a shot of Malört.

As for the Blackhawks, they come home to play the Minnesota Wild Wednesday night. Free bobbleheads!