Monday, October 17, 2011

The first 4 games of the season 11'-12'

Hello Blackhawks fan....been a long off-season!  The Hawks have played four games so far and they are 2-1-1.  A couple of guys were missing from the line-up due to injuries but looks like all of them are back. Sharp played the first game of the season.  Stalberg came back last game and Benny got sent down to Rockford.  Do not worry.....Benny will be back!  Hossa (upper body) is the only one who is questionable for the next game but he did make the trip so he's going to play either against the Yotes and/or the Avs. 


Top Leader is each category
Goals- 3 Bolland
Assists-4 Kane
Points- 6 Kane
+/-  +3 Hossa, Montador, and Kane -3 Brunette
Takeaways- 8 Kane
Hits-15 Bickell
PIM-16 Sharp
FO%- 56.5 Kane (won 26 out of 46)
TOI- 25:50 Keith
Blocked shots 9 Seabrook & Hjalmarsson
Giveaways- 4 O'Donnell
PPG- 2 Brunette


Overall as a team
Power play- Hawks have only scored 2 goals out of 17 chances......YIKES!  They are 11.8% on their power play. 

Penalty Kill- Hawks penalty kill is  91.7%.  They have only given up 1 goal while being short-handed 12 times.  Pretty good!

Goaltending- In the four games the Hawks have played... Crawford has been good in 3 games with a 1.98 GAA and .934 SV% while Emery played one...he is 3.00 GAA and .900 SV%.  Emery needs some work and hopefully he will improve but don't have any complaints towards Crawford.

Offense- In the last four games,  the Hawks have averaged out 3.0 goals per game.

Defense-In the last four games, Hawks goals against is averaged of letting in 2.25 goals per game.


The good-PK, scoring, and goaltending
The bad-Power play and defense


Who's Hot
Patrick Kane-leads with points, assists, takeaways, and fairly well on the dot.
3rd line-Frolik, Bolland, and Bickell- great chemistry especially Bickell using the body

Who's Not
Patrick Sharp- I know you were hurt and was out for pre-season but you seem a step behind... What's up with the 16 penalty minutes already?!????
Jonathan Toews- well doesn't surprise me cause every season you start out slow


Game recaps
Hawks vs. Stars (10/7/11)
Stars win 2-1
There was no score after the 1st.  Goligoski opened the scoring at 59 seconds of the second period on a one-timer from the high slot.  Benn scored 3:58 left in the 2nd off a rebound.  The Hawks outshot the Stars 22-12 in the second period with 3 power plays but were not able to cash in on any.  Nick Leddy score the lone goal for the Hawks 13.6 seconds left in the game with six attackers but that was not enough to win the game.
-Hawks were outhit 37-19
-Hawks were -3 while Dall was +4 overall as a team
-Kane, Mayers, and Sharp were above 65% at the dot

Hawks vs. Stars (10/8/11)
Hawks win 5-2
Brunette scored the 1st Hawks goal on a rebound during a power play in the 1st period.  In the second,  Bolland scored a goal after he took a shot and got hit.  Toews who just came out of the box, had a breakaway, and scored to make it 3-0.  A little after a minute Fiddler scored a goal for the Stars with a very sharp angle lifting it over Crawford's shoulder.  Then in the 3rd, Sharp scored on a 2-on-1 breakaway during a delayed penalty.  Ott scored  a power-play goal midway through the third that cut it to 4-2 when Sheldon Souray's shot deflected in off him. Bolland had a empty-net goal to seal the win for the Hawks.
-Stars were 1 for 5 on their power play while Hawks were 1 for 7
-Sharp had 2 minor and 1 game misconduct giving him 14 penalty mintues
-Hawks were outhit again with 32-17
-Hawks were +15 overall and Stars were -16 overall
-Hawks won at the dot 58 to 42
-Former Hawks Jake Dowell and Jamal Mayers had a fight

Hawks vs. Jets (10/13/11)
Hawks win 4-3
Emery got the start for the Hawks.  Slater scored two goals early in the 1st to give the Jets a 2-0 lead.  Both goals were deflected and switched directions mid-air.  Brunette scored a power play goal off a rebound.  Then Kane scored on a one-timer from the right circle with a nice pass from Hossa.  In the second, Hossa scored 33 seconds into the period and Bolland tallied too.  Wellwood made up for his mis-hap on his breakaway by scoring 6 in a half let in the second.  The Hawks were able to hold off the Jets in the third and win the game. 
-Jets were 0 for 2 and Hawks were 1 for 3 on their power play
-Kane had a good game with 1G, 2A, 1 hit, 3 Tk, +2, and was 71% at the dot
-Hossa 1G, 1A, +2
-Carcillo first game since he was suspended from last season 1A, +2, 4 hits, 1 BS, and won his faceoff.
-At the dot Hawks were 59%
-Jets outhit the Hawks 34 to 20


Hawks vs Bruins (10/15/11)
Bruins win 3-2 SO
Bickell scored an unassisted goal late in the 1st.  The Bruins scored a short-handed goal just 1:33 in the second by Kelly.  Just 27 seconds after Horton's penalty expired, Kane scored a wrister past Thomas at 2:51 of the second.  In the third, Horton scored to tie up the game.  The game went into overtime and neither team score.  In the shootout, Toews, Kane, and Sharp did not score on Thomas but Seguin beat Crawford thru the five-hole. 
-Campbell and Mayers fought.
-Carcillo with the highest number of hits for the game at 8
-Thomas faced 37 SOG while Crawford faced 29 SOG
-Hjalmarsson had 4 blocked shots
-Both teams were 0 for 3 on their PP



Conclusion
The Hawks are okay.  They def need to work on some stuff.  Emery was shakey at times vs. Jets but he did his job and won the game.  Hopefully the power play can improve.... the Hawks need to cash in those opportunities more often.   Just wanting certain players to step it up cause you can tell by their game....they need to do something.  Coach Q needs to find some lines that will work cause the only one I've seen that has worked well together is the 3rd line besides Kane and Hossa.  The top two pairs on D need to be fixed.  Im not digging the defense showing up here and there and letting your goalie bail you out.  Time to play the full 60 and take advantage of the special teams. 

Can't wait for next game.  GO HAWKS!





Here's a video I took last season at Johnny's.
Toews with Mikey Haviland

LOVE IT!!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Dave Bolland...Hockey Night in Chicago

Recently, I went to a Dave Bolland appearance.  He was with Jay Zawaski from The Score 670am for the Bud Light Hockey Night in Chicago at Kenny's Irish Pub.  My friends and I arrived around 5ish eventhough the event didn't start til 7pm.  We got to sit up pretty close cause there was only another table taken and ordered some food/drinks.  Bolland arrived about 15 minutes before he was scheduled which was pretty sweet.  I like the guys who are early.....cause then they start early. 








Jay started the Q/A and encouraged fans to come on up and ask a question.   His favorite player watching when he was growing up was Brendan Shanahan.  It's a tough league to get in.  Line juggling will probably keep on happening as long as Coach Q does it (I don't really think he has a say in it).  Would like to get the Selke one day in the future.  Eventually, my shy self went up there.


Here's me asking a question to Bolly


I asked him about how come you chose to be a center....although I don't think it came out that way.  He's been playing center for a long time....he tried wing but really wasn't his thing.  He didn't like waiting so went back to center.  He's on the third line as a checking role so he will keep on doing what he's doing.  Another question I had asked was any goals this season or something you want to work on.  He said a whole bunch of goals, penalty minutes, assists, and maybe Selke.  It was pretty funny how he answered it.   Just try to play every game as best as he can. 

Here's a t-shirt I got for asking a ?

So once the Q/A was done....the fans could line up and get an autograph.  I got Bolly to sign my puck from last season playoffs and got a free pic of him.




Overall...I had a lot of fun.  I got another pic with Bolland, hung out with cool people, ate some food, and have a few drinks.  Hopefully I'll be able to attend another one of these with a different player.  As always....GO HAWKS!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Back-up goalie and Hawks players appearance in Oct. 2011

Well its only a couple of days til the actual hockey season starts....Woot Woot!  Lets drop the puck! 

So the big news yesterday was the signing of Ray Emery who signed a one year $600,000 (one way) contract and assigned Salak (G) to Rockford.  Ive been rooting for Emery ever since he was given a tryout for the Hawks.  I will admit he didnt have that great of a camp...according to Tim Sassone...Emery was 4.54 GAA and .813 SV% in 119 minutes while Salak was 1.91 GAA and .929 SV% in 124 minutes of play. You would think Salak would be the back-up but I did find it interesting that they didnt announce it after the game yesterday which had me thinking they were in talks with Emery.  Im glad for Ray.  Remember people...hes a back-up so that means hes only going to play 20-25 games this season.  He will be a great presence for Crawford especially with being a veteran and knowing what it takes to win games in the playoffs going to the SCF a few seasons back.  Plus Salak needs the experience out in Rockford.  He would be playing close to what Crawford is going to play instead of sitting.  He will take the Icehogs far this season especially with all the guys that Ive seen in the pre-season.  Even if things dont work out with Ray Emery, they can always call up Alexander Salak.                                                                 


Latest news from today!
-Patrick Sharp will be playing on Friday!  WOO HOO! YEAH SHARPY! 
-Stan Bowman recieved an extension through 2016
-Brandon Saad signs a 3-yr entry level deal
-Stalberg wiil start on IR
-Ben Smith was back on the ice but with no contact
-Bolland is day to day with an upper body injury
-Morin was sent down to Rockford today




Here are some upcoming signings that are happening.

Dave Bolland            
Join 670 The Score Jay Zawaski and Dave Bolland at Cubby Bear North in Lincolnshire for Bud Light Hockey Night in Chicago on Tues Oct 4th

From 7-8:30pm
Location 21661 N. Milwaukee Ave
Lincolnshire, IL 60069
847-541-4700      



Stan Mikita
Will be doing a book signing "Forever a Blackhawk"  at Andersons Bookshop in Downers Grove on Thurs Oct 6th.

From 6:30-8:00 pm
Location 5112 Main St
Downers Grove, IL
630-963-2665
Here is more information about the signing.



Brent Seabrook
I posted this at the last blog but here's a reminder Brent Seabrook ICE celebrity Bowl on Sun Oct 16th. 
http://www.innercityeducation.org/brent-seabrook-celebrity-ice-bowl.aspx

Another signing that he is doing is PNC bank on Tues Nov 1st.  I haven't been able to find anything online but one of you guys could probably call the place and confirm it. 

When Tues Nov 1st from 6-8pm
Where PNC bank
19 W Golf Rd
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(847) 981-4300



Dan Carcillo
When: Sunday, October 23, from 4:30 - 6:00 pm
Where: At Cubby Bear North located at 21661 N. Milwaukee Ave in Lincolnshire
Cost: Only $30 per autograph, or two (2) signatures for $50. You can bring your own items to be signed, and merchandise will be available for purchase at the event for signing.

In addition, there are VIP tickets available for a Question/Answer session with Dan Carcillo prior to the public signing. For only $75 per VIP ticket you and your guest (1) will be part of a small group Q&A session with Carcillo starting at 4:00 pm prior to the public signing. Your VIP ticket also entitles you to an appetizer buffet, one (1) signature and you will be part of the first group in line for the public signing. Your guest may also purchase signature tickets and join you in the first signing group. This is your chance to ask what it's like to play against the Blackhawks, and for the Blackhawks. And what is it like to play with stars like Kane and Toews?

***VIP tickets are limited and can only be purchased in advance. Public signing tickets are also available in advance, and all advance tickets are numbered and guarantee a signature. To purchase in advance call Auction Merchandise Source (AMS) at 847-913-0177 or email
AMShelspeople@gmail.com. Dropoffs are also available.

Proceeds benefit the Lexi Kazian Foundation, a non-profit foundation dedicated to improving the comfort and quality of life for children with special needs
http://www.helpingfromheaven.org

Open practices Here's a link to the schedule
DATES AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE ON SHORT NOTICE Open practices at Johnny's IceHouse West (2550 W. Madison) usually start at 11 a.m.

Sun., Oct. 16

Sun., Oct. 23


Mon., Oct. 24

Thu., Oct. 27



That is all that I know of.  I'll probably hit the Seabrook one if he has it and possibly Carcillo cause he is not on my lampshade....but who knows.  I may not go to any.  Can't wait for the season to start on Thurs and for the Hawks to play on Friday.  Let's go HAWKS!