Three is a magic number

The Blackhawks returned to the UC and kept the winning streak going beating the TJ Oshie-less St. Louis Blues 7-5.

With a 5-1 lead at one point, the Hawks dominated, let up and then had to hold on as the Blues tried to fight their way back into the game.

With Marian Hossa out the Blackhawks once again called up Jeremy Morin from Rockford. Morin was impressive in his 11:38 TOI. He earned his first ever NHL point, an assist, on a crazy bounce off the boards that ended up perfectly placed in front of Troy Brouwer for a tap in on an empty net as Conklin was out waiting for the puck behind the night. He also got into a fight with Chris Porter which resulted in him needing 4 stitches. He ended the night as a +2, one of just 5 plus Blackhawks players. Link to Morin's post game interview here.

(picture from the Blackhawks' Facebook page)

I'm curious as to what is going to happen with Morin. He has 10 games until his contract kicks in and has played 3 games already. I wonder if the Blackhawks will let that happen. Given the way Morin played tonight, if he can continues to play that way it'd be a mystery if he's sent back to Rockford.

Personally, I think Morin should stay up with the big club. He was out there making things happen and bringing energy which the Blackhawks definitely need on a consistent basis.


Jonathan Toews & Patrick Kane both had a solid nights as well. Both putting up 3 points of the 2 goal and 1 assist variety with both Toews' goals coming on the power play.

Tomas Kopecky, who hasn't been the most popular Hawk with fans put up a solid night with 1 goal, 3 assists and a plus 3 in 16:51 TOI. Impressive considering he's not playing sidekick to Hossa.

Patrick Sharp, however just keeps chugging away on his All-Star game ballot spurned, handsome scoring train. He had a goal and assist tonight and has now scored a goal in 5 straight games. With 16 goals in 26 games he ranks 4th in the league and is ranked 6th in the league in points with 29.


Sometimes you just can't win: Nick Boynton isn't having such a great week.
He was involved in an accident during Blackhawks practice Monday in which he collided with Marian Hossa. The collision resulted in Hossa landing on IR for 2-3 weeks with a lower body injury.

Then as a result of his play tonight he ended up with his own hashtag, #BlameBoynton. Yikes.

And because a certain some requested it a picture of Jack Skille.

Hope Crash lights the lamp against the Canucks Friday! (picture again from the Blackhawks' Facebook page)

I'm going to apologize in advance if blog posts seem sporadic, it's getting to the always busy end of the semester and school is my number one priority.

Here's to making it four on Friday! Plus a win is always better over the Canucks ;)

They say it's your birthday.

Happy 22nd birthday to Patrick Kane!

Hopefully he can get the 250th point of his regular season tonight against the Flames. It would make him the 2nd youngest Blackhawk to ever do so behind Denis Savard.

Tonight the Blackhawks keep on rolling with the same lineup as they used in Calgary. Hendry & Scott as the two scratches.
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Not so Super: Team WHL lost 5-2 to Team Russia in the final game of the Subway Super Series. Team WHL lost both games to Team Russia with losing in a shootout Wednesday night in Kamloops and then the 5-2 loss Thursday in Prince George. With the win Team Russia won the series with a record of 4-1-1, the first time this has happened in the 8 years of the event.
Team OHL was the only league of the WHL & QMJHL to win both games against Team Russia. Before this year Team Russia had only won 6 games of 42.

Hawks prospect & Everett Silvertips Kent Simpson played in net for Team WHL on Thursday in the 7-6 shootout loss. Fellow Hawks prospect Byron Froese & Simpson's teammate with the Tips Ryan Murray also played Thursday. The Chiefs Jared Cowen was Team WHL captain on Thursday.

I remember in years past that people had complained that the series was pointless in that the CHL teams were blowing out Team Russia who wouldn't send over their best prospects to play in the series.

Guess you can't complain about it now with Team Russia turning the tables on the CHL teams this year. To be honest I'm a bit upset with Team WHL's less than stellar results but hey what can you do?

Link to the Super Series site if you want to learn more here.
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On a more serious note, rest in peace Pat Burns who passed away after battling cancer at age 58.

He won a Stanley Cup in 2003 with the Devils. Also he won 3 Jack Adams awards the first NHL coach ever to do so.
Here are the links to the NHL & CBC's reports.

Though I really never watched Pat Burns coach, the outpouring of love by the hockey community shows just how much Burns meant to hockey and speaks to the type of person he was.

My heartfelt condolences to the Burns family.

Toews & Turco for the win.

Jonathan Toews, he's undeniable. (sung to the tune of California Gurls)

By himself the game would have been Jonathan Toews 3 - Edmonton Oilers 0. But with a Sharpy SHAWTY! and a blast from Bickell the Blackhawks beat the Oilers 5-0.

Marty Turco with his first ever shutout as a Blackhawk. And boy has he ever deserved one.

Thankfully Captain Serious led the charge of the "We're Sorry Turco" campaign.

This was the type of game I had missed from the Blackhawks. A dominating win.

The first Toews goal was the type of goals that I thought the Blackhawks need, a dirty, hard working goal. The 2nd goal was a lucky one, but it doesn't matter how you get it, it just matters how many and Toews wasn't satisfied with 2 though so he went out and got a 3rd to complete the natural hattie.

After Dowell rang one off the post, Sharpy made sure and got a shawty (always shawty never shorty guys).

Add the cherry on top of the Bickell goal and you've got yourself a Blackhawks win sundae.

That was the right way to kick off the Circus trip. Next up the Calgary Flames & Patrick Kane's 22nd birthday on Friday. I think there's only one way for PK to properly celebrate his birthday but I'm not going to say it.. Let's just say I think him and J.Toews need to match up.

Here are the Hawks, the Mighty Blackhawks. Have I ever missed you guys.

Pucks & a loss in your face

• Soupy’s back thank God, I feel like slowly but surely the defense is going to find it self & the overall team defense will get better.
  
• The 1st period was good, however after giving up a goal in the last minute it was kind of all downhill from there.
• Hjalmarsson & Potulny took pucks in the face, I think Duncan Keith just sat and laughed about it. "Feels good, don't it boys?" *grin*
  
• Patrick Kane scored (THANK GOODNESS), he's temporarily in my good graces unless this becomes a regular thing then he's good.. which it should.
  
• The happiness over that goal lasted all of 30 seconds, because the Rangers scored pretty much right after.
• This was the one and only meeting of the Hawks/Rangers all year.
• UGH, that’s all.

I wait for the day, when the ENTIRE Blackhawks team is healthy.

I hope this day comes soon.