There are very few sure things in this world. Death, taxes, the guy in the red shirt getting killed off on "Star Trek", and a game not being anywhere near over once Fro declares it over.

Tonight the Chicago Blackhawks lost Dave Bolland after he took a hit to the head following 8 shifts, fell behind by 2 goals 1:20 into the second (prompting Frostradamus' dire prediction) and somehow managed to salvage a point in the standings in a game they had already lost, finally yielding in the shootout in St. Pete Times Forum, 4-3 to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Let's get to this:


THE GOOD:

Jonathan Toews. He is all that is man. The game-tying goal, plus two assists. This game featured three number one overall picks (Patrick Kane, Steven Stamkos, Vincent Lacavalier) and a second overall (Victor Hedman). Toews was a lowly third overall. He obviously had something to prove. Right now, it's very fashionable to beat the Toews-for-Hart drum. You can predict the Hart voting as easily as you can predict a comeback after Fro declares game over...the top three in scoring will be your Hart finalists. The logic behind this is flawed...Hart voters rarely pick goalies, since they already have the Vezina. They rarely pick defensemen, since they already have the Norris. So, they pick the top three contenders for...the Art Ross. Toews has been scalding hot, but it's fantasy to think he'll finish in the top three in scoring.

The Patricks. Kane and Handsome also had goals. Since Handsome is a streaky scorer, tonight's goal might be the gateway to another hot streak. Kane fired a laser past Dwayne Roloson, and had a helper on the Handsome goal.

Bryan Bickell. He was -3 on the night, and munsoned a breakaway in overtime, but the most important thing he did tonight was take the body. He was an absolute wrecking ball. His biggest defect this season has been his reluctance to play to his size. It's easy to forget this is his first full NHL season because he's been on the scoresheet with some regularity, but his game is still developing. If he can keep racking up 15-20 goals a year and start laying guys out, then you've suddenly got a real game changer on your hands.

John Scott. He was pressed into service after Brian Campbell was scratched due to a lower body injury (he went to Disney World and got his prostate checked by Captain Hook), and wasn't terrible. In fact, he even clanged one off the crossbar. At this point, I'm fairly certain a John Scott goal will trigger the Rapture, so it's probably just as well it didn't go in.

THE BAD:

The first period, again. Specifically, the last minute of the first period, again. They looked like they were heading into the clubhouse with a 1-1 tie, and then Martin St. Louis pulled up his big-boy pants and potted his 25th of the year with 16 ticks until imtermission. Gotta keep your foot on the gas until the horn, boys.

Some bad officiating. There was an interference call on Bickell that got missed, then Chris Campoli got pulled down in the Tampa Bay zone before he pulled down Lacavalier in the Hawks zone. Again, no whistle. Then Niklas Hjalmarsson batted a puck with his glove off the glass and into the netting - delay of game. St. Louis' shootout winner was probably not legal - it looked like the puck had stopped moving, but I confess the rerun we had wasn't great. I'd probably bitch louder if the Hawks had won, since I hate blaming losses on the zebras.

THE UGLY:

Bolland's eggs getting scrambled. He took a hit high, and his bucket got turned sideways. He was done for the night, and hopefully it was just precautionary. Too many guys are getting hit in the head lately...some with more malice than others. But this isn't just guys' careers we're talking about here, it's also their long-term health. The recent news about Bob Probert and his brain condition just drives this home. Punitative action by the league has to be geared toward addressing this, and it needs to be consistent. Hits to the head need to carry automatic suspensions, regardless of intent or circumstance.

Next up for the Hawks is a Sunday brunch in the Nation's capital. Friday they visit the White House. All the Stanley Cup Blackhawks were invited, even the ones who now play for other teams. Current Flyers Kris Versteeg and Nick Boynton have declined. Which is just as well, since Boynton would just wind up injuring Obama anyway.