It’s Difficult To Water Down Expectations….*Update

Tis the season to be jolly especially for Chicago Blackhawk fans and the next set of games should be great to watch. The Hawks will battle the Bruins, Wings, Sharks and the Red Wings again before the Christmas break. Expectations in the Windy City are high and a successful run against these staunch foes wll only increase hopes for the Stanley Cup.

Tonight will be the first difficult test as Chicago tries to defeat Boston for the first time since 2004. This has been a season for Blackhawk unusual accomplishments so the stage is set for another rare occurrence tonight. 

The Bruins have been limited to three goals in their last two games, both losses. They have had their share of injuries and will be shuffling lines tonight looking for some offense. 

The Hawks make a habit of switching up lines and although the offense has had dry spells they are still a potent enough group. The power play could be better but the goal tending has been perfect. 

With Wednesday’s white wash of the Blues two different Hawks goal tenders have had back to back shutouts. Tony Esposito and Maury Bannerman were the last to have consecutive shutouts over 26 years ago. Cristobal Huet will be in goal tonight as he hopes to continue the Blackhawk shutout streak. 

It is a fun time for Hawk fans. 

This team is not without faults but they are among the best clubs in the NHL. 

It is not easy to temper ones expectations. Statistically the Hawks are among the NHL’s elite and they have a head a coach which pushes the correct buttons more often than not.  A spike in serious injuries could halt the Blackhawk express but for now it is time to enjoy. 

Long suffering Hawk fans remember when games in the last part of December and early January signaled the end to playoff hopes. Now the focus is whether this group can establish itself as the best team in the Western Conference. 

The next four games may indicate if it is too soon to hope to be the best, but for now it is a special season. 

Al’s Shots 

My simplistic, unscientific formula for a win is as follows.

A team needs to have the best goalie in a game and a player who performs better than anyone else on the ice. 

For the most part in every game the Hawks will have the best player on the ice. 

Marian Hossa is a cut above almost every player in the league. 

Hossa is getting stronger every game. He is a treat to watch and gives the Blackhawks the game changer every team would want. 

The St. Louis Blues remind me of past Blackhawk teams. 

The Blues have some good young talent but appear to be a disjointed group.

Players seem to be asked to be something they are not. The end result hasn’t been pretty. 

Blues fans came into this season with so many reasons to be optimistic. There won’t be any miracle sprints to the finish line like last year. At least it doesn’t look that way now. 

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In somewhat of a surprise Antti Niemi starts in goal tonight.

Niklas Hjalmarsson is out of the lineup.

It has been reported  Joel Quenneville commented Hjalmarsson is under the weather.

He also has blocked a lot of shots lately and was slow getting off the ice a couple of times the other night.

Forward Bryan Bickell was called up from Rockford.

blackhawkswin@comcast.net