Loss to the Blue Jackets Sparks Blackhawks' 8 Game Point Streak

Since losing to the Blue Jackets three weeks ago the Chicago Blackhawks have been getting much better results, and winning more games after a rough start to the season.

The worst part of the start for the Blackhawks had been the power play. They were giving up a power play goal 50% of the time. The normal percentage of penalty kill is usually in the high 80s or low 90s, to give you an idea of how bad the Blackhawks' penalty kill had been.

Since the loss, the Blackhawks have won seven of eight games. The only loss came in a shoot out against Calgary. They are currently riding a six game win streak.

The Blackhawks' point streak started with a comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The game ended in a shootout win for the Blackhawks.

Following the loss to Calgary, the Blackhawks came back with other OT win, this time against the New Jersey Devils. It was another comeback win. Hossa's goal at the 17:49 mark in the third period tied the game. Anisimov scored the game winner in OT.

The Blackhawks came back to the United Center to face off with the Kings. It was the Blackhawks best effort of the season to that point. They won the game 3-0 and it was Crawford's first shutout on the season.

Next, the Blackhawks welcome the Flames to the United Center. They got a bit of revenge on the Flames with a dominating 5-1 win.

The Blackhawks closed out the home stand with another dominating effort against the Avalanche. The final was 4-0 and it was Crawford's second shutout in the last three games.

The Blackhawks flew to Dallas for the start of a home and home with the Stars. The Hawks were down 2-1 after the first; goals from Hartman and Kane in the second period sealed the victory.

Darling kick save

The second game against the Stars started in a similar way. After one period, they were down 1-0. Kane's goal in the second period made it 2-1 Stars.

The Blackhawks got the first two goals of the third period. The Stars were able to tie the game late in the third period. Luckily for the Blackhawks, Darling made a huge kick save in OT. Hossa scored the game winner with 28.7 second left in the OT for the Blackhawks' sixth straight win.


Center of Attention

During the current win streak, the Blackhawks have aided greatly by the play of former Blue Jacket, Artem Anisimov.

Currently, Anisimov leads the NHL in points (17) and goals (8). It helps playing with Kane and Panarin but you still got to put the puck in the net. Anisimov is making the most of his opportunity to play with two of the best players in the NHL.

2010 Stanley Cup Champions

We've Been Here Before

Towards the end of the 2009-2010, the Blue Jackets beat the Blackhawks in two straight games 8-3 and 4-2. Over the next seven games after the two losses, the Blackhawks won 6 of 7 games. That run also included a six game win streak. That season ended in the first Stanley Cup for the Blackhawks in 49 years.

Widespread Panik in Chicago

Panik Scores!

While the start of the NHL season has not been all that the Chicago Blackhawks have hoped for, there has been one bright spot and that is the play of Richard Panik.

Richard Panik is currently leading the NHL with 6 goals. He has scored in 4 of 6 games, including a hat trick against Nashville on 10/15. He also has points in 6 of the 7 games.

He had another good game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 3-2 loss for the Blackhawks. Panik scored a goal, and assisted on the other Hawks goal.

He had the game tying goal against his former team the Maple Leafs in the Blackhawks’ last game. The goal was huge in the comeback effort by the Hawks, which resulted in a shootout win. The goal was scored late in the third period at the 18:32 mark, just what the Hawks needed to force overtime.

Panik is playing his second season with the Chicago Blackhawks. He played in 30 games for the Blackhawks last year.  Panik was acquired in a trade by the Blackhawks for Jeremy Morin. Panik had been playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs’ AHL team the Toronto Marlies.

He had a breakout with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2014-2015. Panik played 76 of the 82 games, compiling 11 goals, and 6 assists. The 11 goals were a career high for the right winger with only three years of limited NHL experience under his belt.

He was expected to make the team the next season however he failed to make a roster with the Leafs. So he was sent to the Marlies. This was not the first time that Panik had been sent down to the AHL after struggling in the NHL.

Before being claimed off waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Panik had spent a couple of seasons in the Tampa Bay Lightning organization. He started in 2012-13 with the Syracuse Crunch because of the NHL lockout. He finished the 2012-13 by playing 25 games with the Lightning. The next year he saw his play with the Lightning cut and he ended up back in Syracuse to finish out the season.

Panik has experienced success in the AHL, amidst being sent up and down from the AHL to the NHL in his short professional career.  He was part of the 2011-12, Norfolk Admirals that won the Calder Cup. The team also set a professional, North American record of winning 28 games in a row.

Hopefully, this success will continue for Panik. The Chicago Blackhawks need all the help they can get right now. They have had to start a bunch of rookies this season so Panik’s scoring has greatly boosted the team.

How the Chicago Blackhawks Saved the NHL

When Sports Illustrated put on the Chicago Blackhawks on the cover, after the lock-out of 2013, claiming they brought hockey back, one had to pause on that motion. I, for one, was a little skeptical that the Blackhawks could save the NHL. Though three years after the lock-out the ratings don't lie, the Blackhawks are running the show, and Chicago is loving it.

The NHL has enjoyed higher viewership when the Chicago Blackhawks have been in the Stanley Cup finals. Five of the ten most watched Stanley Cup Finals games have featured the Blackhawks. This includes the top rated Stanley Cup Finals game, Montreal vs. Chicago, from 1971.

Outside of the Boston -Vancouver series of 2011, in game clinching Stanley Cup Finals games, the NHL has struggled to get a rating above 7. In the years, that the Chicago Blackhawks have been in the finals ('10, '13, '15), the rating in similar games has not been below 8. What this means to the bottom-line is that, on average, one million more people are watching the Blackhawks' Finals compared to the rest.

Toews vs. Crosby

Not even Sidney Crosby can pull better rating than the Blackhawks. The 2016 Stanley Cup Finals lost out to the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals in every game except one. The clinching Game 6 rating for 2015 was 8.0, and the rating for 2016 was 5.4. That means that more than 2.5 million more people watched the Blackhawks get the Cup, then the Chosen One get his second cup in 2016.

The nay-sayers will tell you that the NBA Finals brought down the Stanley Cup Finals ratings in 2016. They won't tell you that the same teams played in the NBA Finals both years (2015 and 2016). Personally, I think the hockey fans chose not to watch because they did not want to see the Penguins win the cup.

Stanley Cup Rally Chicago

It has not always been this way though. When the Chicago Blackhawks were not as good in the early 2000's, their attendance was near the bottom of the league. As the Blackhawks struggled, so did the ratings for the NHL. During the early 2000s, the Stanley Cup Finals struggled to get ratings better than 4.

Things began to turn around in 2008-2009, the Blackhawks were getting better and the league decided to push all their chips behind Crosby. The Stanley Cup clincher rating finally got 8 million viewers in 2009 with the Pens - Red Wings Final. They were topped the very next year though with 8.3 million viewers in the game clincher between the Blackhawks - Flyers. Crosby was no match for the machine that was the Chicago Blackhawks.

Taking Over Soldier Field

So why does this happen? Chicago is a sports town. The people love their teams especially the Cubs. Chicagoans show up for Cubs games even when they are terrible. Other big cities like New York and LA have their teams but the support is not always there. Example, the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals (Rangers vs. Kings) game clincher only drew six million views. This was two million less viewers than the 2015 and 2013 game clinchers. The numbers don't lie, Chicagoans show up and the rest find something else to do.

It doesn't stop there, this fall for the 2016-17 season, the Blackhawks will be featured in 21 nationally televised games which leads the league. They will play in their third Winter Classic, which also leads the league. The Chicago Blackhawks drive the ratings right now in the NHL. It is safe to say that a team led by Captain Serious and that kid from Buffalo, NY did save the NHL.

References!

Stanley Cup Finals Ratings

2015-2016 NHL Attendance

Chicago Blackhawks Yearly Attendance

Chicago Blackhawks: More Soup Please!

The Chicago Blackhawks have signed Brian "Soupy" Campbell to a 1 year deal just north of the $2 million mark. Campbell played for the Blackhawks from 2008-11. He became a cap causality and was sent down to the Florida Panthers. He had made it pretty clear in the last couple of weeks that he wanted to return to Chicago. He stated that, "his heart was in Chicago." The Panthers offered him a $5 million deal but he passed it up to become a Blackhawk one more time. There are a lot of people happy to have him back in Chicago.

Campbell got the primary assist on Kaner's goal that won the Stanley Cup in 2010:

Campbell's return will definitely help the Blackhawks on the blue line. Though Van Riemsdyk is up and coming, it will be nice to have more veteran leadership. Once Oduya was traded to the Dallas Stars, the Blackhawks were definitely lacking some leadership back there.

Soupy's Cup!

Not only will Campbell be able to provide some extra leadership, he will be able to save some minutes from top line defensemen, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. Both of those players have logged a ton of minutes the past couple seasons. Having Campbell back will cut down on their minutes especially on the power play, if Quenneville does not want to play the younger players.

So, the Blackhawks got a veteran piece at a super discount price. The haters will say they only got a discount price because of his age. As I mentioned before, the Florida Panthers offered 5 million, and the Blackhawks signed him for 2.2 million. When you are as close to the cap as the Blackhawks are, saving 2.8 million can help you sign a couple of prospects or go after a free agent.

Soupy getting defensive!

I am going to stay optimistic about the signing. I think its great that Campbell is coming back to the Blackhawks. The top 4 defensive positions will be solidified again. Campbell's veteran leadership will help younger players like Van Riemsdyk, and assist on the power play. There are just too many pluses about the Campbell signing to be ignored. Soupy is a great player, and I am thrilled he is back on the Blackhawks.

The Legend of the Token Blackhawks Fan

Chicago Blackhawks

Ever since the Chicago Blackhawks have risen back to contention for Stanley Cups, the Chicago Blackhawks band wagon has grown by leaps and bounds. This has created a phenomenon known as "The Token Blackhawks Fan." It does not matter where you are, which teams are playing, but as long as you are at a hockey venue, there is a great chance that you will see someone wearing a Blackhawks sweater. The grassroots effort has gained so much traction that Waldo fears that he might be out of the job in the coming months.

The Chicago Blackhawks have not always been this prominent. For much of the late 90's and early 00's, the team struggled to stay out of the basement. Attendance fell towards the bottom of the league as the team went into a downhill spiral. It's almost as if it was set up like a movie, with a person down on their luck, and the eventual rise to power.

Toews and Kaner

The Chicago Blackhawks rise started in the late 00's with the draft picks of Kane and Toews. It was around these two players that the core of the new team was established. By 2009, the team was back into the playoffs and all signs were pointing up. The very next year, the Chicago Blackhawks won their first championship since the 1960s, and the bandwagon fans piled on the ship.

All of this winning increased the number of jerseys being bought by fans.  Not only by fans of Chicago but by other people that had never watched hockey before. By 2010, Kane and Toews broke into the top 10 of player jersey sales. By 2014, Kane was #1 and Toews was close behind. As of last year, Toews was #1 and Kane was #2. So after topping jersey sales, the rise of The Token Blackhawks Fan had begun and exploded from there.

Waldo

I honestly would not be surprised to see books come out to compete against Waldo. Pictures of fans in the stands, where you can find the guy or gal wearing the Blackhawks sweater. It's great entertainment to try to find The Token Blackhawks Fan, especially during intermissions when there is nothing to do. Personally, I am always on the lookout for the Blackhawks jersey and you should be too.  It's great, wholesome fun for the entire family!

The Lake Erie Monsters Resemble the Chicago Blackhawks

As I watched the Lake Erie Monsters play the Ontario Reign in the Western Conference Finals of the AHL playoffs, I started to notice something; the Monsters look much like the Chicago Blackhawks. The players, the game, and how the team played were eerily familiar. As I have continued to reflect on this thought, more and more evidence came to light that really helped me piece together this post.

Since I opened talking about the Monsters playing the Reign, let's discuss that for a moment. The Reign are the farm club for the LA Kings, a team that the Chicago Blackhawks know all too well. Between the Blackhawks and Kings you can account for the Stanley Cups won in '10,'12, '13, '14 and '15. The two teams met in the Western Conference Finals in almost all of the years mentioned. They had some very thrilling series over that span, and it was really great hockey to watch.

Quick (Kings) and Crawford (Blackhawks)

What makes this more eerie and more similar about the Blackhawks - Kings reference is they played against each other in the 2013 Western Conference Final. That year the Kings were the defending champions, just like the Reign were the defending champions. Both the Blackhawks and the Monsters used their speed and scoring as an advantage. The Kings/Reign could not keep up as the Blackhawks won the series 4-1 in 2013 and the Monsters won 4-0, sweeping their series in 2016.

The win against the Reign sent the Monsters to the Calder Cup Final. The Monsters are looking for Cleveland's first hockey title since 1964. The 2010 Chicago Blackhawks knew a little about a droughts for hockey titles; they had not won the title since 1961. The Blackhawks had not much to show for, besides being swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992. Cleveland has been through a couple of franchises since 1964; the Barons, the Lumberjacks and now the Monsters; with limited success.

Ending the drought began in similar way, a changing of the guard. In Chicago, Rocky Wirtz took over and started building the team through the draft. Top draft picks like Toews and Kane helped to solidify the core of the Blackhawks in the latter stages of the decade from '00-'10. In Cleveland, a similar change took place as the Columbus Blue Jackets became the parent team for the Monsters. High draft picks like Sonny Milano and Zach Werenski were added to the team. They definitely have given the Monsters an infusion of youth for this year's playoff run.

Phil Simon

As you know a teams run to the playoffs is filled with ups and downs. The Monsters have recently mourned the loss of the beloved equipment manager Phil Simon. Phil died after a 6 year battle with Leukemia. The 2015 Chicago Blackhawks shared a similar loss with the apparent suicide of their equipment manager, Clint Reif. The Blackhawks dedicated their win in 2015 to his memory and made Clint's son part of the celebration after they won the cup. Our hearts go out to the Reif and Simon families, as they try to move on. We will keep you in our prayers.

Now, that we have talked about the teams a little bit, let's talk about the players:

Kane and Shaw

I think you have to start with Sonny Milano as Patrick Kane. Both of them have spin-o-rama goals to their credit. Both them have great speed and offensive abilities. Just give Milano some time and he might challenge Patrick Kane's numbers in the NHL.

Zach Werenski as Duncan Keith; both players have a great slap shot from the point. Not only that but both players have a great sense about when to jump in the play and when to hang back. Both have scored game winners in OT in the playoffs. Both played college hockey in the state of Michigan; Keith at Michigan State and Werenski at Michigan. They are very similar players.

Bjorkstrand

Oliver Bjorkstrand as Patrick Sharp or Brandon Saad. This comparison comes with Bjorkstrand's speed and ability to score goals. Both Sharpie and Saader have this and you can see it in Bjorkstrand's game. You let this guy on a break away and it's good night sweetheart.

Michael Chaput as Andrew Shaw. Both players are always the first down on the fore-check. They're energy guys that get other guys involved. You are not always going to see them on the score sheet but their presence on the ice is greatly appreciated by their teammates.

Hossa

Josh Anderson as Marian Hossa. Both are very good two way forwards. They are not scared to play physical if necessary. Both players are also known for timely goals. When they are out of the lineup, they are greatly missed.

That was just to give a little taste of what the primary players on the Lake Monsters translate over to the Chicago Blackhawks. As you can see they have quite a few guys that translate very nicely to some guys that have won multiple Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks. You just need to give these guys some time in the NHL and I am sure you will see the next generation of superstars.

Now that you understand that they have similar types of players, it is easy to see that they play a similar brand of hockey. Both teams, the Monsters and the Blackhawks, like to play with speed. They have many players that can get up and down the ice in the blink of an eye. The speed is a great tool especially against teams that like to play physical because sometimes they just cannot keep up.

Bruce Lee

Another thing both teams like to do is, wait for their opportunities to strike on offense. It is like Bruce Lee said, "When my opponent expands, I contract and when he contracts, I expand." Meaning you take your chances when you get your chances. If the other team is pressing, you contract in a defensive shell to prevent goals being given up. If you give either team a turnover, it's mostly going to end up in the back of your net.

Both teams have killer power plays. I think this stems from the amount of talent that the Blackhawks and Monsters possess. When you give either team a power play opportunity it is most likely that they are going to cash in. You might see a lot of passing at the beginning of the power play but by the end it is going to result in a goal.

Toews

Well, I just wanted to give you a flavor of how similar the Lake Erie Monsters and the Chicago Blackhawks are. As you can see they have a lot of things in common. Hopefully, it can translate into a Calder Cup win for the Lake Erie Monsters. The Chicago Blackhawks have captured three Stanley Cups and they are looking for more!

NHL Pump Up Songs

What better way to get pumped for your team's game then a great song!  By no means is this a definitive list. Some songs include adult language, you might want to cover your children's ears from time to time. Here is our list of great songs for every team:

Eastern Conference:

Boston Bruins - I'm Shipping Up To Boston by The Dropkick Murphys; For Boston by The Dropkick Murphys; I Wanna Be a Bear by The Descendents, The State of Massachusetts by The Dropkick Murphys;

Buffalo Sabres - Let Me Clear My Throat by DJ Kool; A Box of Sharp Objects by The Used; Boris the Blade by MyChildren MyBride; House of the Flying Daggers by Raekwon; Your Sword Versus My Dagger by Silverstein;

Carolina Hurricanes - Rock You Like A Hurricane by The Scorpions; Hurricane by Bush; When the Levee Breaks by Led Zeppelin; They Said a Storm was Coming by Jamie's Elsewhere

Columbus Blue Jackets - For Whom the Bell Tolls by Metallica; Ohio is for Lovers by Hawthrone Heights; We're From Ohio by My Sky Your City; The Whip by Locksley; For Those About to Rock by AC/DC, Ohioisonfire by Of Mice and Men;

Detroit Red Wings - Detroit Rock City by Kiss; Bawitdaba by Kid Rock; Mighty Wings by Cheap Trick; On Wings of Integrity by MyChildren MyBride;

Florida Panthers - Black Cat by Janet Jackson; Cat Scratch Fever by Ted Nugent; "Cha!" Said the Kitty by Local H; Tommy the Cat by Primus;

Montreal Canadiens - Le But by Loco Locass; Because You Love Me by Celine Dion;

New Jersey Devils - Runnin' With the Devil by Van Halen; Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones; What Hell I Have by Alice in Chains; Countdown to Hell by Crossfaith; The Man Named Hell by The Showdown;

New York Rangers - Rangers Victory Song by J. Fred Coots; Eyes of a Ranger by Tirk Wilder; New York, New York by Frank Sinatra;

New York Islanders - No Sleep Til Brooklyn by The Beastie Boys; Islander by Falling Up;

Ottawa Senators - Wake Me Up by Avicii, Politican by Cream; Studying Politics by Emery; Politically Correct by SR-71;

Philadelphia Flyers - Motownphilly by Boyz II Men; Flying High Again by Ozzy Osbourne; Fly By Night by Rush; Flights by Falling Up; Given to Fly by Pearl Jam; Learning to Fly by Pink Floyd; Learning to Fly by Tom Petty;

Pittsburgh Penguins - Song 2 by Blur; Pittsburgh by The Amity Affliction;

Tampa Bay Lightning - Thunderstruck by AC/DC; Ride the Lightning by Metallica; Thunder Rolls by Garth Brooks; Lightning Crashes by Live; Southern Weather by The Almost; You Can't Wrestle Swordfish in Tampa by Scarlett O'Hara;

Toronto Maple Leafs - Forest by System of a Down; Sweet Leaf by Black Sabbath; Fat Lip by Sum 41; Freewill by Rush; No Leaf Clover by Metallica

Washington Capitals - Out of Control by Capital Lights; Paul Revere's Midnight Ride by Four Year Strong; The Shot Heard 'Round the World by Ween; I'm Just A Bill by Deluxx Folk Implosion

Western Conference:

Anaheim Ducks - Bro Hymn Tribute by Pennywise; I Come From the Water by The Toadies;

Calgary Flames - Fight Fire with Fire by Metallica; Take This Life by In Flames; Fire by Jimi Hendrix; Burn by Alkaline Trio; Original Fire by Audioslave; Back Burner by August Burns Red; Burnin' For You by Blue Oyster Cult; Light My Fire by The Doors; Children of Fire by Oh Sleeper; The Flame in All of Us by Thousand Foot Krutch;

Colorado Avalanche - Trapped Under Ice by Metallica; Cold as Ice by Foreigner; Rocky Mountain Way by Joe Walsh; Sound of Winter by Bush; Snow (Oh Hey) by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Chicago Blackhawks - Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis; Sweet Home Chicago by The Blues Brothers; Here Come the Hawks by J. Swayzee; Bad Bad Leroy Brown by Jim Croce;

Edmonton Oilers - Gasoline by Audioslave; Fuel by Metallica; Gasoline by Seether;

Dallas Stars - Astronomy by Blue Oyster Cult; Starz by Smashing Pumpkins; Stars by Switchfoot; Texas is South by The Devil Wears Prada; Shooting Star by Bad Company; Star 69 by R.E.M.;

Los Angeles Kings - Our Kings by Miss May I; King Nothing by Metallica; Royal Blood by Bury Tomorrow; Hollow King by Fit For a King; You Wear a Crown but You're No King by Blessthefall; Flight of Kings by The Classic Crime; King for a Day by Green Day; Down with the King by Run DMC; King for a Day by Pierce the Veil; To Live and Die in LA by 2pac;

Minnesota Wild - Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf; Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N Roses; All My Friends are Wild by Adestria; Danger: Wildman by The Devil Wears Prada; Wild Out by The Lox; Wild Eyes by Parkway Drive;

Nashville Predators - Anything With Teeth by Bury Tomorrow; Beauty Through the Eyes of a Predator by Demon Hunter; Animal by Pearl Jam; Sabretooth by Hail to the King; Beast by Tech N9ne; Animal I have Become by Three Days Grace;

Phoenix Coyotes - Of Wolf and Man by Metallica; Bark at the Moon by Ozzy Osbourne; Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon; Cry Wolf by Texas in July;

St. Louis Blues - Country Grammar by Nelly; Roadhouse Blues by The Doors; When the Saints Come Marching In (Traditional)

San Jose Sharks - Savage Seas by Feed Her to the Sharks; Sink or Swim by Feed Her to the Sharks; Bloodlust by The Browning; Fins by Jimmy Buffett;

Vancouver Canucks - A Certain Shade of Green by Incubus; No Surprises by Theory of a Deadman;

Winnipeg Jets - Jet Airliner by Steve Miller Band; Jet Pilot by System of a Down, Cold Heart Bitch by Jet; Airport Song by Guster;

Disclaimers:

I had a hard time with some of the teams because not everyone is writing songs about Canucks. A Certain Shade of Green is a reference to the Green Men that harass opposing players in the penalty box.

In reference to the Washington Capital songs, I tried to pick songs about American History or at least had some reference to American History in the title.

Like I said, this list is not done, and if you have things to add just tell me.

The Chicago Blackhawks' Early Exit

Since the Chicago Blackhawks were bounced from the playoffs, I have been trying to collect my thoughts together to form a sensible post. For the most part, the struggle has been real. You never liked to lose to one of your rivals especially in the first round of the playoffs. Sometimes, you just have to accept that they played better than your team, and there's really nothing that could have stopped the defeat. Finally, to add insult to injury, a Blackhawks former player, scored the game winner for St. Louis.

It was just one of those seasons, it started out rough and it ended rough. We heard all about what and what not Kaner did with that woman for most of the preseason. I did not read all of the stuff that went down so I am not going to comment one way or another on that case. I try to focus on what players do on the field as opposed to the court room. If you want to read or hear about that, you'll have to look elsewhere. Kaner did have a great season winning the Art Ross trophy for the most points in the regular season.

Kaner and The Bread Man

Along with Kaner's play, Panarin aka the "Bread Man," had a terrific season. Kaner and Bread Man looked like they had played together for years. Hopefully, Panarin will win the rookie of the year. He broke the 30 goal mark in the last regular season game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. I wish him success in the future with the Blackhawks, he is a great player and he is only going to get better. That could be scary for the rest of the NHL.

The Translator

Another bright spot for the Blackhawks was the addition of Anisimov. Part of the deal that sent Saader to Columbus; he ended up centering the line with Kaner and Panarin. He provided a nice fit for the Blackhawks, on and off the ice. I have always thought his play is much like Hossa's, a solid defensive player that can score when necessary. One of those players that doesn't always get the credit he deserves because all the little plays that he makes do not end up on the stat sheet. He also provided translation for Panarin off the ice, which earned him the nickname "The Translator."

TVR

On the blue line, the Blackhawks had to be happy with the progress of Trevor Van Riemsdyk. With the departure of Oduya, TVR stepped up in a big way. He logged big minutes for the Blackhawks this year compared to last year. He was barely getting into the game and now he is a top or second line defense men for the future. With Keith and Seabrook getting older, it's nice to know that the Blackhawks have players like TVR on the blue line to fall back on. I hope to see much more of TVR in the future, he will be a great defense men for the Hawks.

In the net, Crawford looked very nice. He led the league with 7 shutouts on the season. Though hampered by injury at the end of the regular season, he kept the Blackhawks close in the series against St. Louis. He is a great goalie, and probably will go down in Hawks history as one of the best goalies that the franchise has ever had. Hopefully, the Hawks can keep him around as long as he stays in the league.

Belfour at North Dakota

The Blackhawks this year also continued their connection with North Dakota. They signed Luke Johnson and Nick Schmaltz, both were big reasons why North Dakota won the NCAA tournament this year. North Dakota has produced Blackhawks greats like Toews and Belfour, so they definitely have a recipe for success up in Grand Forks. It will be nice to get these players in the organization and see what they can do on the ice for the Blackhawks.

So in conclusion, it was not the end that the Blackhawks wanted but there were definitely some bright spots. Hopefully, the players can get some well deserved rest with the time off. It would be silly to think, oh yeah, we are going to win the cup every year. We need to be realistic about things, and move on. The future while filled with uncertainty, there are some very bright spots for the Chicago Blackhawks. I will end this post in three words, LET'S GO HAWKS! LET'S GO HAWKS! LET'S GO HAWKS!

Frozen Four: Championship Prediction

The moment everyone is waiting for is here: The final prediction of the NCAA hockey championship. For the next three hours, I am going to draw this out as long as humanly possible. Just Kidding!

Since I started writing this blog, I have never picked both teams in the championship game until this year. Coincidently, the last time I got the champion right was 2012, and that Frozen Four was also in Tampa Bay. Boston College won the Frozen Four that year. I don't think I have ever been as close on the picks as I have this year. Watching all of this hockey is finally paying off.

"Celebrate good times, come on!"

So, it's Quinnipiac vs. North Dakota for all the marbles. I have broken down games featuring both for the last two weeks. I think pretty much all the bases and all the analysis has been done. You know all about the schools, where they are from, where they play and a little bit of history. These are two great teams, clearly, because they have made it this far. So, let's get to the pick!

When this started, I picked North Dakota to win it all. I thought they were the best team. I also like them, so the pick was a little swayed by my heart. The North Dakota - Chicago Blackhawks connection has been well documented. I could not go against that pick. Finally, I like the Fighting Hawks ability to roll four lines and make life difficult for the Bobcats.

Bottom line: North Dakota 4 - Quinnipiac 3.  

FIGHT ON SIOUX!

Frozen Four: Semi Final Recap

Wow, what a day for NCAA hockey at the Frozen Four.  We had two really awesome games in Tampa Bay yesterday.  We had Quinnipiac, the No. 1 overall seed, just barely getting past Boston College 3-2 in the first game.  In the second game, we had North Dakota scoring with just under a minute left to beat Denver 4-2.  They added an empty netter at the end for the two goal victory.  I don't think we could have asked for anything better from the Frozen Four semi finals.  This is just means that the championship game will be just as awesome and intense!

As I said in the opening, Quinnipiac took down Boston College 3-2.  I think I was pretty spot on in my prediction of a 4-2 Quinnipiac winner.  I figured that it would be a close game.  I thought that Quinnipiac would get an empty netter, that is why I thought they would score 4 goals.  Quinnipiac was the better team and I think we all knew that going in but credit goes to the Boston College Eagles for giving them a hell of a fight to the finish.

Kevin McKernan got the opening goal for Quinnipiac just 2:31 into the first period.  It was a great way for the Bobcats to start the game.  Not so much what Boston College was looking for but hey it's a long game and there was time for a come back.

Quinnipiac's second goal of the period came just under five minutes later.  The goal was scored by Andrew Taverner and he was assisted by Travis St. Denis.  The first period was not even half over and the Bobcats had jumped out to a two goal lead.  After the second goal, Boston College settled things down and the teams went into the locker room at the intermission, 2-0 Bobcats.

Alex Tuch wasted little time as the second period began to get Boston College on the board.  His goal 23 seconds into the period made the score 2-1 Quinnipiac.  He was assisted on the goal by Colin White and Casey Fitzgerald.  It was a nice response from the Eagles and exactly how you wanted to start the second period.

Unfortunately for Boston College, Quinnipiac had other ideas.  Just over four minutes later Landon Smith scored on the power play for the Bobcats.  He was assisted by Tim Clifton and Travis St. Denis.  It was Travis St. Denis' second assist on the night.  Smith's power play goal was the end of the scoring in the second leaving the score, 3-1, Bobcats.

Like Al Michaels once said, "And they refuse to go quietly," Boston College was not done.  At the 15:44 mark of the third period, Ryan Fitzgerald scored on the power play for the Eagles.  He was assisted by Ian McCoshen and Teddy Doherty.  This made the score 3-2 Bobcats.  The Eagles could not put another one home and Quinnipiac took the game 3-2!

The second game of the night was another great one.  As North Dakota beat Denver 4-2.  I thought it would be a higher scoring game but I cannot complain the way the game turned out.  The teams set a record only taking a combined eight shots in the first period.  Just like the first game, I think everyone knew North Dakota was the better team on paper, like Quinnipiac, it was just a question of if they could execute and get the job done.

Like I said, there were only eight shots in the first period.  There were also no goals.  This should not surprise because these teams know each other so well.  This was the sixth contest between the two sides.  Maybe nerves and excitement got the best of the teams in the first period and that is why there were no goals.

The second period was the Drake Caggiula show.  The North Dakota senior scored his first goal of the period at the 1:03 mark.  He was assisted by Brock Boeser and Coltyn Sanderson.  Caggiula followed up with his second goal of the period just over five minutes later.  The goal was unassisted and just over six minutes into the second period North Dakota had jumped out to a 2-0 lead.  The lead would remain in tack as the second period came to an end.

Denver finally got their answer 2:50 into the third period from Will Butcher.  His goal made it 2-1, and gave the Pioneers new life in the third period.  He was assisted by Grant Arnold and Matt Marinew.  It was just what the doctor ordered for Denver, get a quick goal coming out of the gates of the third period and get your legs back under you.

Denver tied the game eight minutes later on a goal from Matt Vanvoorhis.  He was assisted by Gabe Levin and Blake Hillman.  So, just a little over half way through the third period we have a 2-2 game.  It looked like Denver had all the momentum on their side.

Things stayed tied until just under a minute left when Nick Schmaltz scored for North Dakota.  The Blackhawks' 2014, first round draft pick, got the go ahead goal for the Fighting Hawks at the 19:03 mark of the third period.  He was assisted by Brock Boeser and Drake Caggiulla.  It was Boeser's second assist and Caggiula's third point on the night.  North Dakota added an empty netter from Rhett Gardner for the 4-2 victory!

I cannot wait for the championship game.  It will be Quinnipiac vs. North Dakota on Saturday at 8 PM.  It will be televised on ESPN2 or available on WatchESPN.  Nothing like two No. 1 seeds going at it, with everything thing on the line.  I will post my preview and prediction for the championship on Saturday!  Have a great night!

Frozen Four First Round Friday

Wow, what a way to start off the Road to Tampa.  The first four games were very well played by all the teams.  We had perennial powers making opening statements and one instant classic, resulting in a double OT thriller.  Not to mention, a huge upset in the first four games.  It really had it all today!

Let's dive right into some analysis and recap of the first four games of the 2016 NCAA Division 1 Men's Hockey Championship!  Also, I have second round previews for the Midwest and Northeast regions!

Midwest Region

No. 1 North Dakota 6 - No. 4 Northeastern 2 - North Dakota did not waste any time with Northeastern today.  The Fighting Hawks of North Dakota had a great start to this game, scoring three goals in the first period.  We knew that North Dakota was comfortable playing in Cincinnati, because they had been there before. 

Nolan Stevens for Northeastern provided a little hope with his goal, 3:07 into the first period.  Stevens' goal was followed by 5 unanswered goals for the Fighting Hawks.  Simonson, Poolman and Johnson (PP) were the three goals for North Dakota in the first period.  Chyzyk and Boeser added goals in the second period for the 5-1 lead.

The bleeding was put on temporary hold for a brief moment in the third period when Matt Benning scored for Northeastern making it 5-2.  Drake Caggiula played the final trump card for North Dakota with his goal at the 12:15 mark of the third period.  A 6-2 final, and the North Dakota fans that made the 800 mile trip celebrated.

The Fighting Hawks came out and made a statement.  Yes, they did give up an early goal but the response was more than any fan of the team could have asked for.  Northeastern was one of the hottest teams coming into the tournament and North Dakota made it look like child's play.  It's a great sign if you picked North Dakota to go as far as I did, all the way!

No. 2 Michigan 3 - No. 3 Notre Dame 2 OT - The second game in Cincinnati featured two future Big Ten foes, and was much closer than the first game.  Michigan came in with a high powered offense and they were held in check for most of the game.  Credit Notre Dame's defense for coming up with a plan to stop Michigan and almost executing the plan to perfection.

Both team found the back of the net in the first period.  Justin Selman scored for Michigan just over the half way point.  He was nicely assisted by Kile and Downing. 

The answer was provided Anders Bjork, just over five minutes later.  The unassisted goal knotted the game at 1-1.  It would stay that way until just 24 seconds into the 2nd period, when Thomas DiPauli scored for the Fighting Irish to make it 2-1.  Bjork picked up the assist on the goal for his second point of the game.

Michigan struck back in the third period with a goal from Zach Werenski.  The Columbus Blue Jackets draftee scored just a little bit before the half way mark.  Thus, leaving the 2-2 and forcing the game into OT.

Tyler Motte would be the hero for Michigan today, as he scored 8:19 into the overtime period.  It was the first points of the day for Michigan's top line.  Motte, a Chicago Blackhawks draftee, benefited from a nice pass as he crashed the front of the net to put home the goal.

No. 1 North Dakota vs. No. 2 Michigan - Second Round Preview - There are going to be some offensive fireworks in this one! 

North Dakota showed us today why they have been in the top spot of the rankings for most of the season.  The ability to score many goals against a good team like Northeastern is not an easy task.  They will need a similar effort tomorrow against Michigan.  It will be a pro-Michigan crowd, so scoring an early goal or two would greatly help the cause.

Michigan has to be thinking about how to get their top line more points tomorrow against North Dakota.  Motte, Compher, and Conner are going to have to play better if Michigan wants to win.  They will also need to feed off the crowd, especially if they fall behind early.  This should be a close game but you just never know.

I picked North Dakota.  I like their talent and depth, not to say Michigan does not have either but North Dakota has more.  I feel like sometimes when the games are high scoring Michigan tends to fall asleep on defense.  If Michigan's goalie, Steve Racine is hung out to dry, this could be another blow out.  Game Time: Saturday, March 26th 6 PM - ESPN2

Northeast Region

No. 1 Providence 1 - No. 4 Minnesota Duluth 2 2 OT - I tried to tell you guys this was one of the games to watch!  Holy Cow! What a game!  It was everything we knew it was going to be low scoring, defensive, and physical.  It was the only game I missed all day, but I have to admit I was pulling for the upset.

It was a very physical game, both teams were hitting and making it difficult for the offenses to get on track.  The biggest hit of the game cost Providence, Conor MacPhee, he was given a 10 minute game misconduct and 5 minute major for a hit to the head.  It was a heavy hit, and I believe that the officials got it right.

There was not much to talk about scoring until the third period.  Tony Cameranesi scored an unassisted goal 3:18 into the period for Minnesota Duluth.  He was quickly answered, about four minutes later, by Steven McParland's goal for Providence.  The McParland goal would force overtime for the second time today.

Minnesota Duluth's overtime hero, in the 2nd OT, was Karson Kuhlman.  The goal was scored just 24 second in the period.  A huge upset win for Duluth.  The loss was Providence's second multiple OT loss in a row.  If you remember their last game was the triple OT thriller loss against the UMass Lowell Riverhawks.

No. 2 Boston College 4 - No. 3 Harvard 1 - The second game in Worchester was very similar to the first game in Cincinnati.  You have a perennial power, Boston College, playing a non perennial power, Harvard, and it was a bit one sided.

By the end of the first period, Boston College had jumped out to a 2-0 lead.  They were able to do this with goals from Alex Tuch and Austin Cangelosi.  Tuch's goal went to an official review but it was deemed a goal by replay.  It was a very close call, there was some contact by the Tuch on the Harvard goalie but not enough to overturn the call.  Good goal.

Things started to look like they were getting out of hand when Boston College scored their third goal, 1:58 into the second period.  Alex Tuch got his second goal on the night and the Eagles were soaring.

Harvard's lone strike in the game came midway through the second period, on a goal by Seb Lloyd.  Lloyd's goal made it 3-1 and gave the Crimson some hope entering the 3rd period.

Harvard's best chance for a comeback was when they went on the power play late in the third.  Ryan Fitzgerald (Boston College) took a hooking penalty at 15:42.  The Crimson emptied their net for the 6 on 4 advantage.  Things did not go as planned, Austin Cangelosi put the puck in the empty net for his second goal of the night.  Final score 4-1.

No. 2 Boston College vs. No. 4 Minnesota Duluth - Second Round Preview - This is going to look much like the preview for Minnesota Duluth's first game.  I am going to tell you again how you do not want to play Minnesota Duluth because they are a hot team right now.

Boston College needs to come out fast.  They cannot let Duluth's defense slow them down or they are playing right into their hands.  The Eagles are not as physical as Providence but they will not shy away from hitting.  They also need to get the crowd involved early.  If they do not come out fast and get the home crowd into the game, things will get tough for the Eagles.

Minnesota Duluth just needs to keep playing their game.  Be physical, get after it on defense and slow the game down.  They did a great job of this against Providence and who's to say they cannot do the same against Boston College.  If they can keep the crowd out of this game and slow the pace to a grinding halt.  An upset of the Eagles is definitely not out of the question!

I did pick Boston College in this game.  Game Time: Saturday, March 26th 9PM ESPNU

Notes:

The NCHC 2-0 with wins by North Dakota and Minnesota Duluth
The Big Ten's only team Michigan advanced
The Hockey East was 1-3 on day, Boston College was the only team to advance so far. (2 losses in OT - Notre Dame and Providence)
The ECAC lone team today Harvard lost, they have Quinnipiac and Yale playing tomorrow.
The game between Providence and Minnesota Duluth was the longest in Midwest Region history.

I hope you guys are ready for a full slate of games tomorrow!  There are more first round matchups and two second round matches.  By the end of tomorrow, two teams will have punched their tickets to Tampa!  Have a great night! Please Tip Your Bartenders!