For the Predators, they found out that matching the intensity of their opponent is essential to winning a critical game. Failing to do so resulted in losing puck battles and failing to finish chances.

And it allowed the Wings the opportunity to even the series heading back to the Joe.

Pekka Rinne got the start in net and he wasn’t sharp. He gave up 2 goals on 8 shots in the first period as the Predators found themselves in a 2-0 deficit at the end of one period.

Ian White opened the scoring for the Wings as his shot through traffic found the back of the net at 8:25 of the first period. Rinne seemed to lose the puck through traffic, and the goal energized the Wings.

They capitalized on that momentum with a goal from Cory Emmerton at 15:33 of the first as his wrist shot beat Rinne cleanly over his shoulder to give the Wings a 2-0 lead.

The Wings did a good job of disrupting the offensive flow of the Predators throughout the first period and for the bulk of the game. The Predators struggled to establish their offense in the zone, and when they did, Jimmy Howard made some good saves to stymie the Predators offense.

The Predators finally broke through and tallied a marker at 9:01 of the second period as Alexander Radulov got the puck to Andrei Kostitsyn and he buried his chance to make it 2-1.

Finally, the Predators had life, the arena was rocking, and the momentum was with the Predators.

That changed just 56 seconds later as Johan Franzen potted a goal that appeared to completely elude Rinne and made the score 3-1 Red Wings.

The Predators cut the deficit to 3-2 as Shea Weber tallied his first goal of the series with a backhand shot from the slot at 15:16 of the third period.

The Predators were not able to find the back of the net in the remaining time, and the Wings had tied the series at 1.

For the Predators, this loss had to be extremely disappointing. Throughout the night, they lost puck battles and were ineffective moving through the neutral zone. In the offensive zone, they could not finish. For the night, the Predators out shot the Wings 26-17, but their inability to finish chances doomed them in this contest.

The Predators power play was once again impotent. The power play went 0-6, and if this is not corrected soon, will spell immense trouble for the Predators. Often, the power play was stagnant, with players not moving to the open lanes and shots not getting on net.

Detroit’s designated thug, Todd Bertuzzi, fought Shea Weber early in the game as retribution for Weber’s hit on Henrik Zetterberg in game one. Bertuzzi was busy grabbing at Weber and hoping he did not get hit. A meaningless fight that served no purpose in the game, but one that the Wings felt they needed to engage in to respond to Weber’s hit.

Several concerns are present for the Predators. Their power play has to start clicking for them to capture this series. Presently, the power play is not a plus for the Predators, and after the effectiveness of the regular season, this is troubling. The man advantage unit has to simplify their game and get shots on net rather than waiting for the pretty play. Through two games, the power play is 0-12.

The Predators need to finish their chances. They had them tonight and failed to capitalize. Finish the chances and Detroit is looking a t a 2-0 deficit.

It is imperative that the line of Mike Fisher, Sergei Kostitsyn, and Marty Erat start tot step up their game. They have been invisible in the first two games, and for the Predators to have success, they must produce. Through two games, they have combined for 10 shots and no points. This has to change for the Predators to have success. And the change needs to occur immediately.

The Predators have and opportunity to rebound and take the series lead with the next game on Sunday at Joe Louis Arena.

It is a simple task.

Be strong on the puck and get shots on net. Finish your chances.

And take control of the series.

My three stars:

1. Jimmy Howard

2. Johan Franzen

3. Shea Weber

The Coyotes were outplayed badly in the opening 15 minutes Thursday night but when all was said and done, they put forth the more complete effort. The Blackhawks were beaten 3-2 in overtime, in a game that was theirs for the taking.

It would be understandable after watching Thursday night’s contest to come away with the impression the Coyotes are a team the Hawks should handle. They aren’t very flashy, although they have some young players who are highly skilled. What matters most to their head coach Dave Tippett is that his club takes care of the details and finds a way to win close games, which is exactly what happened.

The really disappointing fact about the Blackhawks losing Game 1 was they were in the contest although they didn’t play nearly as well as they could. Phoenix was the better club for the majority of the night, but mostly because not enough Blackhawks showed up with an effective full-time effort. Joel Quenneville commented the same in his postgame interview.

Quenneville didn’t mention any names but he probably was thinking Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp, Johnny Oduya, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Sean O’Donnell and the entire fourth line were of little help. In the case of Hossa, Sharp, and Oduya, their performances could be categorized as simply bad. There were other players like Patrick Kane, Viktor Stalberg and Bryan Bickell who weren’t as good as they can be. A spotty team performance won’t normally be good enough when playing the hard-working Coyotes.

Tippett, in his postgame remarks, complimented his team for finding a way to win without leading goal scorer Radim Vrbata. The winger was injured early in the opening period. It has been speculated Vrbata may have suffered a concussion coming on an Andrew Shaw check. Losing Vrbata after playing only 30 seconds could have been a deciding factor. On a club that doesn’t score much, Vrbata had 35 markers, 11 more than the next highest Coyote. There hasn’t been any official word on Vrbata’s injury status other than to list him as day to day.

The Blackhawks didn’t take care of the details. It appeared poor shift changes caused the Hawks problems on the first two Coyote tallies. Unfortunately, some old Blackhawks bad habits of turning the puck over in their own zone happened too often. Then the follow up was to get mesmerized by the puck and chase the Coyotes, which also happened often.

Although the Hawks had 45 shots on goal, there wasn’t enough traffic in front of Smith. The game-tying goal by Brent Seabrook was off a goal mouth battle but the same effort wasn’t there most of the night. Throughout the middle frame and in much of the third period the Coyotes outworked the Blackhawks.

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Next article will be out Sunday morning.

Not too long ago, it was mentioned here that the Hawks offensive production was more of a sore point than many believed. During the last five games the Hawks have scored a total of only seven goals. As has been much publicized, the Blackhawk defense leaves a lot to be desired and has ranked close to the bottom of the NHL for much of the season.

A group with offensive production issues as well as defensive difficulties points to a scattered and ineffective club. Blend in a bad power play, spotty penalty killing and a bubble playoff team has been described. Factor in an apparent concussion to the Hawks leader plus questions as to when he can return and qualifying for the playoffs may not happen.

Sunday, the Blackhawks didn’t show the necessary passion to win. Once they got behind, the life came out of the team. Actually, the questionable Anaheim goal, which tied the score, caused the Ducks to get energized and the Blackhawks to begin to crumble. As has been customary, the Hawks were outshot and outhit in the game. The Ducks blocked more shots and did control the final 40 minutes of play.

It hasn’t been a fun time to be a Blackhawk fan. GM Stan Bowman has only until 2 p.m. CST Monday to construct a trade which will improve his club. Bowman has a lot of holes to fill and acquiring spare parts won’t do the trick.

Playoff invoices are due in at the end of the week. Some long time season ticket holders have mentioned to me they are not sending in their checks. It wouldn’t be a shock, if the Hawks do make the playoffs, crowds are down compared to the first round last year.

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On Wednesday, Joel Quenneville commented on the injury status of Jonathan Toews for the Dallas game. He listed Toews as day-to-day with an upper body injury and is out for Thursday night’s contest.

Shorty thereafter it was reported by Jay Zawaski of 670 The Score, that his source indicated Toews suffered a concussion. The injury is thought to have occurred during the Hawks recent nine game road trip. The conjecture being Toews suffered the concussion most likely in the San Jose game on February 10. The Blackhawks have not confirmed Toews has suffered a concussion.

Hawk fans will recall Toews was being abused in the Sharks game. In that contest seemingly after every whistle in the early going, Toews was a target. The chippy play finally settled down after Jamal Mayers was moved up to play on the Toews line.

The concussion issue in the NHL may be worse than in any other sport. Not only are players being diagnosed with more head injuries, these days the system to deal with them is cloudy at best.

The only redeeming value in the entire mess is players are being diagnosed more frequently. Many believe the occurrence rate of concussions was high in the past but the injuries were not often recognized. That said, almost everything else about hockey and concussions is a tangled web.

NHL players, maybe more so than other professional sports, are hard-wired to play through injury. If in fact Toews suffered a concussion against the Sharks, he kept playing for another five games. Some would say that’s brave as the captain didn’t want to sit out, especially because his team wasn’t playing well. Others with a more pragmatic view would conclude it’s stupid to risk long term health by not recognizing symptoms as soon as they occur.

Toews only knows for sure what he felt like and when. What we do know for certain is Toews has suffered at least one concussion in the past. A reasonable mind could conclude Toews has suffered a few concussions since he began playing hockey at an organized level. The danger is, no one can reasonably say what the lasting effects from concussions are likely to be.

In my view, the concussion procedures for the NHL leaves a lot to be desired. If a player hides an injury and it wasn’t obvious when he received it, there probably isn’t much that can be done. In the past, players who have suffered concussions have been quoted to say they have hid their injury from a team doctor.

To take it a step further, my thinking is there could be a possible conflict of interest for team physicians who administer the test to conclude there is a concussion. The same doctors would then administer additional tests which would indicate when a player is cleared to return action.

Not to say a team doctor would look past an injury so a player could stay in the lineup or return more quickly, but they are being put in a difficult position. It has been reported players will “game the system” if they can. In essence they will give the answers to questions which they believe the team doctor wants to hear. Those verbal replies can be lies, or the player could have a familiarity with the doctor so he can answer in a way to get by.

Hopefully someday soon the NHL will follow the lead of the NFL and have independent doctors administer tests for concussions.

The NHL is aware the process can be made better. I have spoken to someone from the league office who concurs current procedures have holes. The issue now is one of money and logistics. In the NFL, teams play once a week. In the NHL, clubs can play four or five times in the same span of time. That makes it more difficult to organize standardize testing with an official third party doctor.

Toews was held out of action for Tuesday’s game versus Detroit with a reported upper body injury. When a NHL player is injured, specifics are normally not given as to the nature of the problem. The thinking behind the vague reporting of either being an upper or lower body injury is to protect the player when he returns to action. Hockey can be a brutally rough sport. A player returning from a hand/wrist injury for example, could receive a few more slashes to that area depending on the game conditions.

Unless a player is out for an exceedingly long time and or has a broken bone or requires surgery, the true nature of his injury is normally not reported. Sometimes it is well down the road or after the season before anyone from the media gets a substantiated reason for a player’s absence from the lineup.

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Next article due out tomorrow morning.

The Hawks may have finally come to realize hard work and a strong defensive structure is necessary for lasting success. Having a ton of skill helps but everyone has to pull on the rope. Not only consistently pull on the rope but everyone must pull in the same way. Over the last four games, despite injuries which have depleted the defensive crew, the Hawks have given up fewer scoring chances.

After the lockout the aim for the NHL was to have more scoring. The concept being the more goals the better to help grow the game in the States, but that really hasn’t been the case. An exciting hockey game doesn’t have to end with a bunch of goals being scored. A low scoring fast paced contest which features outstanding goal keeping can be a treat to watch. The NHL is more popular than ever and it isn’t because of additional goal scoring.

On Tuesday night the goal tenders shined.

Corey Crawford was very good as he appears to have turned his game around. Crawford is acting more confident and not allowing many rebounds. Even though Crawford would probably like to have the lone Detroit goal back, he gave his club a chance to win and stay determined. Crawford stayed in control of his crease despite some heavy net presence from the Red Wings.

Patrick Kane might have nightmares about Wings goal keeper Jimmy Howard. Kane was repeatedly stopped by Howard on clear cut scoring opportunities. Howard made his first start since suffering a hand injury back on February 2. There were no signs of rust for Howard as his performance was worth the price of admission.

The Hawks were led by Kane who had one of his top efforts of the season while not scoring a single point. Kane had five shots on goal and was often the best player on the ice. He was playing with a lot of energy and was busting through the Red Wing defense. It was as if Kane and others knew they would be more heavily relied on with the absence of Toews.

Joel Quenneville loaded up one line because of the Toews injury and the Hawks survived. Kane played center flanked by Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp. Hossa and Sharp were also held without a point but they were a handful for the Red Wings as well.

Detroit outplayed Chicago in the opening frame but the Blackhawks were able to stay disciplined. The Hawks were credited with 17 take-aways to only nine for the Wings as their defense was solid.

After a needless slashing penalty by Brendan Morrison was killed off early in the second period, the Blackhawks took charge. They found another gear and had the Red Wings back on their heels. Whether it was by skating with speed through the neutral zone or chipping pucks behind the Detroit defense, the Hawks took control of much of the action from that point on.

The Hawks scoring attack was led by two young players who are different in stature but played in a similar fashion. Winger Jimmy Hayes is 6’6” tall and although not the best of skaters, he does have good speed. Marcus Kruger is all of 180 pounds and about six inches smaller than Hayes. Where both were similar is in the way they played the game Tuesday night.

Hayes and Kruger crashed and banged. Both were strong along the boards and did their best work in close to Howard. Neither player is at the top skill level of some others on the ice but both know what they need to do.

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Next article out on Friday morning unless news breaks first.

All seemed to be going according to plan for St. Louis, and if not for a stellar performance by Corey Crawford the Blackhawks would have lost an important Central Division contest. The Blues were by far the better squad until the third period, but it wasn’t enough. The Blackhawks were not to be denied and came away with a 3-1 victory.

Up until Sunday, the Blues had allowed only four goals in the third period during a 22 game run. In the final frame, the Hawks put two past standout goaltender Brian Elliott and added one more into an empty net. Elliott and goaltender partner Jaroslav Halak have been an unbelievable duo. Each goalie has recorded six shutouts this season, which has never happened before in the NHL.

Sunday, Elliot was solid, but Crawford was better as the Blues had more good scoring chances than the Hawks. Both teams scored a fluky goal and it’s safe to say this was a goalie win for the Blackhawks. In a span of three games, Crawford has allowed only four goals on 88 shots.

Lately the Hawks have been much maligned as a group. For much of this season Crawford, Bryan Bickell, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith have caught the ire of Blackhawk faithful. In the last three games, not only have the Hawks been victorious, but those who had been shown the most scorn deserve to be praised.

Against the Blues, Bickell did some nice work along the boards and used his size effectively. He picked up an assist on the game winner and has been skating with a purpose. With the help of Bickell’s strong effort, the Hawks finally got the puck deep into the St. Louis zone. Over the past three contests Bickell is a plus three and has notched two assists.

Kane did some heavy lifting as he was working hard to create chances and to get into prime scoring areas. Kane made his way to the front of the net on the Hawks opening score and helped to disrupt Elliott. During the Hawks winning streak, Kane is a plus five and has scored one goal while adding two assists.

Keith has had trouble hitting the net all season but made no mistake on Sunday to beat Elliott with a one timer. Keith has had a new partner in rookie Dylan Olsen and the duo has been good. Keith has been a plus six over the last three games and has recorded a goal and two assists.

Sunday’s contest was game number 60 for the Blackhawks, and unfortunately Joel Quenneville is still searching for the best mix. Coach Q. needs to find solid third and fourth line combinations or the Hawks will continue to struggle down the stretch.

Quenneville is giving Viktor Stalberg a try with Dave Bolland and Bickell as Michael Frolik has been a frequent healthy scratch. In some ways, Stalberg has the same poor puck management issues as Kris Versteeg did a few years ago. Quenneville had success in using Versteeg on the checking line and he appears to be looking for the same from Stalberg.

Some can view the previous two Blackhawk wins with some suspicion. Even though the Hawks prevailed over the somewhat disinterested Rangers and lowly Blue Jackets, their defensive play has been better. The Hawks improvement has come about because the entire club has been more focused and dedicated.

The victory against St. Louis wasn’t picture perfect but there was little doubt the Blues realized the importance of the contest. Good clubs find a way to win and the Blackhawks did just that. Not to be forgotten is that the Hawks have been able to succeed although playing without injured defensemen Niklas Hjalmarsson and Steve Montador.

Hawks shooting accuracy finally improved in the third period as they hit the net with almost every shot. Shots on net along with traffic and players getting into position to score can make a big difference, but that requires hard work every shift.

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Next article  out on Wednesday morning unless a trade breaks.

The table was set for the Blackhawks to string together wins and put an end to a horrid road trip. The Hawks had won the previous four games when facing the Jackets by at least a three goal margin. Corey Crawford had played really well versus Columbus and that trend continued. Viktor Stalberg kept his scoring touch while facing the Jackets as he notched his eighth goal against them this season. Incredibly, Stalberg has scored 50 percent of his tallies versus lowly Columbus.

The woes for Jackets goal keeper Steve Mason continued as he made some miscues and wasn’t sharp. Mason was chased form the net in the middle frame after allowing a soft goal on a Patrick Kane wrist shot.

The Hawks continued to punish the Jackets and John Scott also punished tough customer Derek Dorsett. Scott appeared to have at least a 10 inch height advantage and destroyed the brave, but not so smart Dorsett in a third period fight.

The Blackhawks cruised to an easy victory to conclude their ugly road trip but Sunday’s opponent should offer a stiff challenge.

The Hawks finally will play a game at the United Center and it’s an early 11:30 a.m. start time. Sunday is Hockey Day across America as there will be a few afternoon games televised in the U.S.

The Blackhawks will square off against the St. Louis Blues who have surged to fourth place in the Western Conference. Unlike the Hawks, the Blues have had a very good February posting an 8-2 record.

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Next article on Monday.

Thursday night, the Blackhawks played a more effective game, the same as they did in Nashville on Tuesday night. It wasn’t a picture-perfect effort, but the sluggish Rangers, their goalie Marty Biron and some good fortune helped the Hawks to capture two points. The victory also halted an 11 game winless streak on the road for the Blackhawks.

There have been a few small differences, that when put together have made a big difference in recent games.

The Rangers were 0-7 with a man advantage and that sealed their fate. The Hawks penalty killing unit has been tweaked and Jamal Mayers has been playing a more prominent role. The Hawks have been using a bigger box when killing penalties. Their forwards have been positioned higher and more towards the blue line, which has helped seal off shots from the point. Defensemen Sean O’Donnell and rookie Dylan Olsen have recently contributed nicely on the penalty killing unit.

Goaltender Corey Crawford was absorbing shots Thursday night and not allowing many second chance opportunities. It appears Crawford has changed his style and is staying back in his crease. Crawford played that way last season and was using a more aggressive style this year. On Tuesday night, Crawford wasn’t up at the top of his goal crease or beyond that point as much as before.

A relieved Joel Quenneville commented after the game Crawford appeared “big” in net, meaning Crawford was positioned well, square to the shooter and would make himself look as big as possible.

Crawford was aided by a quick whistle that prevented the Rangers from scoring in the second period. The Hawks were also the beneficiary of some poor shooting by New York. Mike Rupp missed what appeared to be a wide open net on more than one occasion. The Hawks were due for some breaks and they got them last night. What can’t be overlooked is Crawford’s play was also a part of the success while killing penalties.

The Blackhawks were also overdue for some big contributions from their best players. Marina Hossa, Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews all dented the twine. The trio accounted for 10 of Chicago’s 22 shots on goal. Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook each played over 29 solid minutes. Seabrook was credit with two shots and had two assists. Nick Leddy has played some of his best hockey the past two games. Patrick Kane had a nice assist and is playing better on both sides of the puck.

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In hockey, many times goals are scored off of mistakes. Unfortunately, when the Hawks commit an error these days it winds up in the back of their net. On Tuesday night an experienced player, Jonathan Toews, and a rookie, Dylan Olsen had puck management issues which led to Nashville scores.

To add insult to injury the Predators scored twice on deflections with the winning goal coming off of Duncan Keith’s stick. It appeared an extra sharp Ray Emery would have come up with that save but it wasn’t to be. As has been the case, the Hawks haven’t gotten many breaks but their effort was solid on both sides of the puck for most of the game.

Even though the Hawks lost, Joel Quenneville seemed more at ease after the game than he recently has been. Maybe it was because the Hawks finally played effective hockey in all three zones. Although they weren’t rewarded a better effort was in place.

It is also possible Coach Q. was a little more at ease because he got a vote of confidence from General Manager Stan Bowman on Monday.

As was written here recently, Quenneville is a veteran head coach with a fine overall record and a recent Stanley Cup win. Almost always that type of resume buys a coach time to work out of a prolonged losing spell.

Not only did Bowman come to Quenneville’s defense but some Hawks players spoke on his behalf too. If things end in a bad way this season, Quenneville’s future as head coach will come under greater scrutiny this summer. For now this appears to be Quenneville’s club for the rest of the season.

Tuesday night, the Blackhawks controlled the game for the most part and had many scoring chances. The Hawks had 13 more shots on goal but couldn’t connect enough to gain at least one point. The star for Nashville was goal tender Pekka Rinne, who on many nights is the main reason they win.

The Hawks model doesn’t allow for a $7 million goal keeper. The Chicago front office spends big money on other positions and more or less follows the Detroit Red Wing example. The Wings have a fine goalie in Jimmy Howard, but they have been successful over a long time without breaking the bank on goal tenders.

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Next article out on Friday morning unless trade new breaks first.

In the middle period, the Hawks controlled the puck and outshot the Sharks by a 17-3 margin. They were able to battle back by playing fundamental hockey. It appeared once Marcus Kruger evened the score at two at 9:55 of the second period, the shorthanded Blackhawks could upset the Sharks. That wasn’t the case as San Jose regained the lead late in the second frame and eventually put the Hawks away.

It isn’t easy to search for positives but the Hawks could have folded their tent after the first period. The same could be said after outplaying the Sharks only to fall behind at the end of 40 minutes but that wasn’t the case either. Bryan Bickell was able to tie the score in the opening minutes of the final period but the Hawks were shutout the rest of the way.

Unfortunately there were many negatives to take from the most recent loss.

The Hawks still are getting outmuscled in front of their own net. All season long, Chicago has been short a penalty killing defensive specialist. One who can stand his ground while blocking shots that could play with Niklas Hjalmarsson. Last night, Nick Leddy was used on the penalty kill and was on the ice for all three San Jose power play goals.

Being without the injured Steve Montador and Hjalmarsson made things tougher but the Hawks have played like they are a penalty killing defenseman short all season. Leddy wasn’t up to the challenge and the Hawks penalty killing unit in total was as bad as it has been.

Recently the Hawks have allowed approximately one of three power play chances to succeed. On Friday night, the Sharks were successful at a 50 percent rate. Most times allowing three power play goals signals a loss and that was the case versus San Jose. It’s a trite saying but many believe the best penalty killer has to be a club’s goalie.

Corey Crawford made some big saves, but he is still struggling. Crawford spent about five years in the minors before emerging as the Hawks number one goal keeper last season. He was rewarded with a three year contract and has had an erratic season. Since December, Crawford has given up quite a few soft goals and appears frantic at times.

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Next article will be out Monday morning.

For the most part, teams that are in a losing streak also don’t score enough. In the last five games, the Blackhawks have only recorded a total of 10 goals. That’s another reason the loss in Edmonton hurts a lot because the Hawks scored four times which should be enough to secure a victory.

Brent Seabrook had the Hawks lone tally which came at even strength. Usually another sign of a skidding club is they don’t put themselves in a position to win. Losing teams either make mistakes and are often shorthanded or don’t capitalize on power play opportunities.

On many nights, the club which reaches three goals first often ends up the winner. Through a combination of some Blackhawk mistakes and due to their fatigue, the Flames came away with a well-earned victory. It isn’t as if the Hawks aren’t trying but every game is a big challenge and there is little margin for error.

With the loss, Chicago has now dropped to fourth place in the Central Division. The Hawks have captured 65 points which ranks them sixth in the Western Conference, eight points ahead of Minnesota who is in eighth place.

The Western Conference is tight with only two points separating second place Vancouver and sixth place Chicago. A big concern is Detroit now has 71 points, as they sit atop the Central Division as well as the Western Conference.

The primary goal for the Blackhawks this season was to win the Central Division which then would have secured a top three finish in the conference. If the rest of the road trip goes like it has started, the aim for the Hawks will shift. With a few more losses, the Blackhawks will be more concerned with securing a playoff spot rather than catching Detroit to win the Central Division.

To no surprise, the best period for the Blackhawks was the first when they had enough energy to control much of the play. Ray Emery started in goal and did a decent job and gave his team an opportunity to win.

Emery wasn’t perfect, but when a club struggles and isn’t scoring there is no room for error by a goal keeper. Make no mistake, this wasn’t a goalie loss but rather a victory by the Flames who made fewer mistakes and had more gas in the tank in the third period.

The Hawks could never regain the lead after Michael Frolik took a four minute high sticking penalty, which resulted in Calgary’s second goal. The Flames won battles in front of the net and converted on a power play opportunity by defender Jay Bouwmeester coming off a rebound.

In the final period, the Flames iced the game as a long pass got through Duncan Keith and allowed Jarome Iginla to skate in alone and easily beat Emery. Calgary’s fist strike came off a big shot from Ollie Jokinen. It would have been a difficult save but did go through Emery. Jokinen was in prime scoring position and made the most of the opportunity.

A tired team usually commits more errors, both physical and mental. The Hawks took two high sticking penalties which normally fall into the careless category. There was a hooking penalty which often happens because a player stops moving his feet and reaches with his stick. That can be an indication of fatigue.

Steve Montador, who skated with Nick Leddy Friday night, was guilty of a delay of game penalty. That can fall into the category of another mental miscue and came at a time when the Hawks were down two goals. Sean O’Donnell made a rare start and was partnered with Niklas Hjalmarsson.

Normally, Leddy plays the right side but Friday night was on the left side with new partner Montador. Joel Quenneville is trying different options to get his club back on track. The ice time for Leddy was cut down also as he played slightly less than 14 minutes.

This change for Leddy could indicate what the next move for General Manager Stan Bowman will be.

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Morrison, 36, has often been injured in recent years and his play has fallen off. Maybe Morrison could be considered no more than a spare part or depth player. That said, he may provide some veteran knowhow and improve the Hawks’ lineup.

Striking a deal for Morrison was worthwhile because the cost was low.

The Hawks dealt Rockford Ice Hog defenseman Bryan Connelly, who was recently selected to play in the AHL All-Star game. For whatever reason, Connelly was not in the Hawks plans and he wasn’t going to play on the big club.

Connelly, 25, is a smaller defenseman with offensive ability. Blackhawks management prefers others in their system with the same skillset. Connelly will have a better chance of becoming a NHL player with the trade to the Flames organization.

My guess is Morrison will get an opportunity as the second line pivot. If he does well playing alongside Marian Hossa, Morrison could be a great pick-up. If not, Morrison could find his way onto the third or fourth line and could pitch in on special teams. If Morrison can stay healthy, he will give Joel Quenneville more options.

Morrison returned this season after ACL surgery on his left knee, which he injured in a game against the Blackhawks last March. Morrison was hurt on a clean check by Niklas Hjalmarsson, but according to Morrison, some Hawks players were chiding him while he was helped off the ice.

Morrison mentioned on Friday night the incident is a “dead issue.” Morrison also commented he was ecstatic about coming to Chicago and will fill any role that is asked. Maybe Bowman has added a valuable component to a long playoff run, if he can stay healthy.

The Blackhawks are about to kick off their longest road trip since 1997. The nine-game journey will start in Vancouver on Tuesday night. The trip will not end until February 18 in Columbus. The Hawks will face some difficult opponents but their task might not be as bad as it appears.

The Hawks will return to Chicago after each three-game stretch to break up the trip. The first leg of their journey will be against three Western Canadian teams.

The Hawks will fly back to Chicago after Friday night’s contest in Calgary. They will recharge over the weekend and head to Colorado on Monday. No doubt it will be a challenging stretch, but at least the schedule allows for time to get back home.

On the injury front, word going around is Jonathan Toews will be ready to face the Canucks. That isn’t etched in stone, but official word on Toews could come down later Monday.

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Next article will beout on Wednesday.

Nashville could have been leading by four goals after the opening 20 minutes instead of only two. The Predators missed the net on prime scoring chances, and Corey Crawford made some nice saves, otherwise Nashville could have put the game away early.

The Hawks didn’t dent the net until 7:20 of the final period on a Dave Bolland power play strike. Nashville net minder Pekka Rinne was the difference, as the Hawks had their chances. The third period charge was too little too late, and the Predators defeated the Blackhawks for the second time in four days. The Nashville defense was solid and blocked 24 Chicago shots.

The Predators were the more cohesive group. They kept the Blackhawks out on the perimeter, and Rinne did the rest. Playing without the injured Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp made a difference, but the outcome may have been the same even with them in the lineup. As has been the case too often this season, the Blackhawks didn’t look ready to start a game. There were too many turnovers in the Hawks’ zone, especially in the opening frame.

Nashville was the more efficient team, except in the faceoff circle. Dave Bolland won 17 out of 20 draws, for a win rate of 85 percent. On the night, the Hawks won 63 percent of all their faceoffs. That was quite an accomplishment considering Toews was out of the lineup. Bolland was taking over for the injured Toews and had a good game centering for Patrick Kane and Viktor Stalberg.

Crawford didn’t appear confident in the early going and he showed his frustration after Nashville took a 2-0 lead. Crawford was vulnerable after a miscue and was beaten from close in. Crawford disgustedly broke his stick over the crossbar after the goal as his emotions got the best of him. To Crawford’s credit, he kept his composure and helped give his club a chance to win.

Crawford and many of his teammates need to rest and recharge during the All Star break.

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Next article will be out on Friday morning.

The Hawks reclaimed the top spot in the Western Conference as a sense of determination appears to have set in. The Sabres aren’t firing on all cylinders, and if the Blackhawks took them lightly, the results might have been different on Wednesday night. That wasn’t the case, as the Hawks grinded their way to victory and took care of a team they should defeat. Wednesday night belonged to the Blackhawks, and when they turned it on, the Sabres couldn’t keep up.

Once again Hayes and Shaw made their presence felt and contributed to the cause. Each player was credited with a goal and assist, and Shaw recorded four shots on goal along with four hits.

Shaw should have had another assist on an athletic play which led to a Marcus Kruger tap in. The Hawks were denied that score as the referee thought there was a hand pass made by Shaw and waved off the goal. It was the incorrect call, but a hand pass is not something that can be reviewed by the War Room in Toronto. Nonetheless, the Hawks and Shaw stayed determined and prevailed.

Jonathan Toews scored two times on the power play and led all skaters with six shots on goal. As usual, Toews was dominant in the faceoff circle, winning at a 65 percent clip. Following the game, Toews commented on what a difference Hayes and Shaw have made. The Captain remarked that it is a huge difference to have all four lines working and making things happen.

For the first time in a long time, the Hawks have more than Toews standing in front of the net on a power play. The additions of Hayes and Shaw have established more net presence with the man advantage and throughout a game. Both young players have a high enough hockey IQ to find the open ice and get into goal scoring position.

Wednesday night, Shaw stood his ground and scored the first Blackhawk goal. Hayes’ strike came on a beautiful cross-ice pass from Andrew Brunette. Hayes went flying down his wing straight for the net and buried his scoring chance. That was the fourth goal in ten games for Hayes, and afterwards the Hawks never looked back.

Shaw scored his fifth goal in eight games and it appears he isn’t a fluke. Surprisingly, there was another Blackhawk rookie who had an even faster start than Shaw. In 2003 Igor Radulov scored five goals in his first seven games.

Radulov became the definition of a “flash in the pan,” as he scored only eleven points on four goals the following season. He never made it with the Hawks and left to play in Russia during the 2003-2004 campaign. It’s too early to proclaim Shaw will have a long and productive NHL career, but he doesn’t look like Igor Radulov to me.

To continue reading click here.

Today’s Fox Chicago  article contains an audio link for a SiriusXm interview with Jamie Shalley. We touched upon some trade speculation.

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Comments can be posted below article On My Fox Chicago.

The 4-3 score was flattering to the San Jose Sharks. If not for some spectacular saves by Antti Niemi and a soft goal allowed by Corey Crawford the outcome would not have been close. In the end the Blackhawks displayed strong character. They didn’t falter although San Jose was able to tie the score with two quick goals early in the second period.

Give the Hawks high marks for playing well in all three zones. The Sharks are a fine hockey club but they don’t match up well with the Blackhawks. The Hawks can usually dictate the pace of play when facing San Jose. Last night the Sharks couldn’t play as quickly, lost individual battles and tuned the puck over.

The Blackhawks controlled play for most of the game and had the better scoring chances. The Hawks were successful because they kept things simple. They advanced the puck into the Sharks’ zone and were able to work their defense down low. The Hawks cycled the puck but didn’t look for pretty plays. It was more of a north and south game which enabled the Blackhawks to cause problems for Niemi.

A player who once again excelled at keeping it simple was Andrew Shaw. In the salary cap era the best teams can use a pleasant surprise from players with modest contracts. There doesn’t appear to be a reason to wait any longer, Shaw can be proclaimed an unexpected difference maker.

Shaw can skate well and isn’t afraid to get his nose dirty. So far he has been defensively responsible and has avoided taking dumb penalties.

Shaw had his best outing as a Blackhawk and was credited with his first game winning goal. It came about because of his hard charging style. He plays a smart physical game and recorded three hits versus San Jose. Shaw can also play center and was a perfect 6-0 in the faceoff circle. To go along with his other accomplishments Shaw recorded five shots on goal in 16:51 of playing time.

The Hawks’ forecheck has improved since Shaw has arrived. His aggressive play appears to be contagious as Shaw looks like a keeper. Another Blackhawks who has been a pleasant surprise and is solidifying his place as a top six forward is Viktor Stalberg. He notched his fourteenth goal last night, which is third best on the Blackhawks.

It’s true Stalberg is playing with skilful players who provide him with scoring chances. What shouldn’t be overlooked is Stalberg is winning puck battles and working hard along the boards. He also finds the soft spots in coverage and puts himself in scoring position. Stalberg is converting chances and looks like true a NHL goal scorer.

Blackhawks fans have witnessed the evolution of a young player who needed time to develop. Stalberg was like another youngster with skill who also had lessons to learn.

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That sentiment, along with a few others, can only begin to capture what happened in the Bridgestone Arena as the Nashville Predators faced the Columbus Blue Jackets in a Central Division tilt. The Predators won the game 6-5 in spite of making it extremely difficult on themselves.

Heck, they didn’t make it difficult on themselves. They nearly gave away the game.

Don’t believe me?

The Predators gave up 4 power play goals, three in the first period on a 5 minute penalty kill after absorbing a major penalty to fall into a 4-1 hole after twenty minutes.

I will get to that in just a moment.

Pekka Rinne got the start for the Predators, while Curtis Sanford was in net for the Blue Jackets.

These two teams typically play a tight checking game, with most contests decided by a goal. This game started no differently, with each team probing the others defense and looking for an opportunity to score.

That first opportunity would belong to the Predators, as Mike Fisher was left alone at the side of the net and had an easy tap in of a rebound of a Sergei Kostitsyn shot at 12:29 of the period. This goal was a result of the Predators playing their type of hockey- shooting the puck and crashing the net. Simple hockey, effective hockey.

Predator fans had hardly settled back into their seats when the BJ’s tied the game on a shot from Jeff Carter. Carter beat David Legwand on a drive to the net and launched a wrist shot from just inside the face off circle that beat Rinne over his shoulder at 12:56 of the first period.

The first “Wow” moment came at 14:26 of the first period as Brian McGratten boarded Derick Brassard as Brassard was going off on a line change. McGratten was given a 5 minute major for interference and a game misconduct. While the penalty can be debated as to the severity, the fact is that this was a boneheaded and selfish play by McGratten, who skated across the rink to deliver the hit. It is the type of hit that the League looks at closely and one which the officials have been quick to call. It was a totally unnecessary hit.

And it would cost the Predators.

Columbus would tally 3 times during the major to take a 4-1 lead. Jeff Carter got 2 goals to give him a first period hat trick, with his goals coming at 14:35 and 16:14. Sandwiched between those two goals was a gaol by Ryan Johansen at 15:30.

Yes, it was a major penalty, but the Predators penalty killers were manhandled by the Jackets forwards. Columbus peppered the Predators net and crashed hard to gather in rebounds and tally goals. Pucks were bouncing off legs of the defenders and the Predators could not clear the front of the net, and they were burned by the Jackets because of their ineffectiveness.

Down 4-1 at the end of the first period, the Predators were going to have to play Predator hockey and chip away at the Jackets lead in the second period.

Patrick Hornqvist would make it 4-2 with a tap in of a rebound of a shot from Shea Weber at 5:28. Once again, the Predators benefited from shooting the puck and going to the net.

The Jackets would again extend their lead to 3 goals on the power play. Ryan Johansen took a shot that hit Ryan Suter’s leg and skidded by Rinne for the Jackets 4th power play goal to make it 5-2 at 7:52 of the second period.

The Predators did not deviate from their style of play, as they kept shooting the puck and going hard to the net. Nick Spaling was the next Predator to score at 8:53 of the second period. Spaling was working hard in the low slot and gathered in a rebound of a Colin Wilson shot and shoveled the puck past Sanford to make it 5-3 Columbus.

The Predators made it 5-4 at 13:41 of the second as Roman Josi took a pass from Francis Buillon and wired a shot over the shoulder of Sanford with Mike Fisher screening in front. Josi is rounding into a very solid defenseman who handles the puck well and has a good shot. Each game, he appears to be playing with more confidence.

The Predators caught a break in the second as Mark Letestu got free in the low slot and beat Rinne with a shot that hit the post and bounced out.

Going into the third period and trailing by one, I felt that if the Predators could tie the game, they would win it.

The Predators did just that at 16:14 of the period as David Legwand corralled a rebound of a Colin Wilson shot and banged home the tying goal. With that score, one could sense the fragile Jackets were on the verge of breaking, and with the partisan crowd roaring, the Predators were looking for one more improbable win over the BJ’s.

Wow!

Improbable? How about absolutely amazing?

The Predators were not done with their “wow” moments just yet.

Ryan Suter found Marty Erat streaking through the middle of the ice and hit him with a pass on his tape. Erat split the defense of the Jackets and fought off a hook to break in on Sanford. Erat made a nice forehand backhand move to open Sanford up and slid the puck five hole with 8.4 seconds to go to give the Predators a 6-5 lead.

WOW!!

As the horn sounded, a Blue Jacket player summed up their night by shattering his stick at the bench, just like their hopes for a victory were shattered by a gritty and never say die group of Predators.

Make no mistake, this win feels good. But as good as it feels, the Predators should have never been in that position. Frankly, the Predators kept Columbus in the game with the stupid major penalty and the resulting ineffectiveness of their penalty kill. Against a team that is not as fragile as the Jackets, the result would probably not have turned out as good as it did for the Predators.

Strong play tonight from Mike Fisher and Colin Wilson. Both of these players are skating hard and doing the little things that lead to big plays. this type of effort was instrumental in turning around this contest.

What this contest should point out to this team is that you are never out of it. Play your game- shoot the puck and go hard to the net- and good things happen. When this team was down early, rather than quit, they fought back and fought back hard.

That is character.

That is Predator hockey.

My three stars:

1. Marty Erat

2. David Legwand

3. Jeff Carter

Much of the uncertainty has to do with the way the Blackhawks win as well as lose. Sometimes the Hawks play as if destined to go to the Stanley Cup Finals. In other games they appear no better than a playoff bubble team.

To take the next step toward a long playoff run a few things must happen.

Stan Bowman must recognize the current roster has holes which need to be filled. Included in his epiphany, Bowman must admit some of his recent signings were mistakes. Then the GM and Joel Quenneville need to get on the same page and fine-tune a style of play to fit their players.

What adds to the confusion for Hawk nation is they were led to believe the new additions of this summer would make the club grittier. In reality, that has only been somewhat the case. This group hasn’t been able to adopt a fierce checking style.

My advice to Blackhawk diehards is to embrace the way this team is now or hope for a couple of significant additions. As Don Cherry says, “You can’t turn a greyhound into a pit bull.” As of today the vast majority of Blackhawks won’t be considered pit bulls.

The realization has to hit home the Blackhawks can’t play the same style as the Boston Bruins. They aren’t as physical and the Hawks don’t have as much team speed as when they won the Stanley Cup. So the Blackhawks need a couple of new faces as well as a style modification.

Pick a style of play, any style.

Maybe the tougher to play against mantra which was pushed this summer will go by the wayside. Possibly the Hawks can play more often as they did in the second and third periods against Phoenix on Monday. I don’t think they will be able to play at that pace on a consistent basis. Although it still could be more realistic to stick with a less physical, run and gun style.

The biggest deficiency of the Blackhawks is there are too many wasted roster spots on defense. This is the biggest reason the Hawks are battling with the Blue Jackets for the most goals allowed in the Western Conference. What also contributes to more goals against is one of the poorest penalty killing units in the league.

A less than stellar Corey Crawford matters some, but not as much as the hapless crew of defenders which skate in front of him. The Hawks haven’t had many games which all six defensemen have sparkled. It isn’t a recipe for lasting success to put too much strain on the same handful of players, game in and game out. The Hawks will need more than four responsible defensemen. They also will need more responsible play from their forwards.

Steve Montador should be considered a third pairing defensemen which can bring some offense at times and throw a few good checks. He needs a solid partner otherwise fans will be longing for Chris Campoli, or maybe even Jordan Hendry. It’s a stretch to call Montador a physical defenseman. It is unlikely Montador can improve enough to make a difference without a better partner.

Crawford isn’t going to save the day over the next 54 games. My take is Ray Emery could be a nice back-up, but it is risky to expect much more.

Considering there aren’t many teams ready to throw in the towel, Bowman will have to get creative. Waiting may lead to a few more defensemen becoming available, but by then, valuable points might be squandered.

Bowman will have to make the correct choices and avoid more mistakes.

To continue reading click here.  

To listen to Wednesday’s interview with Jamie Salley click here …11-12-07 Al Cimaglia

We covered a lot of topics pertaining to the Hawks eratic play and some roster decisions.

Follow me on Twitter…@AlCimaglia

Next article will be out Friday morning.

The Blackhawks returned home from the circus trip to disappoint a crowd of 21,183 by dropping a 4-1 decision. The Coyotes showed it takes more than big contracts and star players to win in the NHL.

The Coyotes were all on the same page. They prove no matter the talent level, a defined system of play is needed. To those on the Hawks bandwagon, don’t give up your seats yet, but it might be a good idea to be aware of the warning signs.

The Hawks have given up 78 goals, more than any other team in the Western Conference except for Columbus. The Blackhawk goal differential now stands at a meager plus two. To make matters worse, the Hawks have a bad habit of falling behind quickly, which makes things more difficult.

The hard-working Coyotes made fewer errors and stayed on plan. Dave Tippett’s crew isn’t star-studded. The Coyotes don’t have a $5 million player on the roster. In fact, Phoenix has one of the lower payrolls, ranking in the bottom 10 of all franchises.

What the Coyotes do have is a very good head coach and players who buy into his message. That translates into a team that plays a solid structure. Phoenix wins close games because they don’t break away from their system and they capitalize on mistakes.

On Tuesday night, the Coyotes dictated the style of play and waited patiently for a mistake. They got their wish in the first period and took a 1-0 lead. The Hawks didn’t send the puck deep into the Phoenix zone and were caught in a bad line change. Corey Crawford didn’t bail out his mates and the Hawks fell behind in the opening period once again.

Often the Phoenix tight-checking style dictates the pace of a game and can cause mistakes to happen. The Hawks were sloppy and not as hungry as the Coyotes. They fell behind 2-0 midway through the second frame.

The Blackhawks were caught deep in the offensive zone and the solid Phoenix transition game led to their second tally. Shane Doan beat Crawford, and at that point, the Coyotes had the Hawks by the throat.

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Next article will be Sunday.

One thing that puts the Hawks a cut above is the will to win of their top players.

The victory in L.A. was impressive, as the Blackhawks played solid defense. In fact, the defensive effort from the Chicago forwards was probably the finest of the season. The deciding factor was that the best players on the Blackhawks were better than their counterparts on the Kings.

Corey Crawford let in a soft goal, but he was very good otherwise. Crawford did have more support around his net than in previous games. The Hawks made fewer mistakes than the Kings and were the better club. They fought through fatigue and outworked L.A. to close out the road trip on a high note.

The Hawks return to the United Center to square off against the Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday night.

The first game back from a long road trip is usually a difficult challenge, but with a victory, the Blackhawks will capture 17 out of a possible 28 points in November. Not too shabby taking into account the injuries to Duncan Keith and Seabrook. To be successful, the Blackhawks must continue to work hard in their own end and crash the net in the offensive zone.

While Keith and Seabrook were out of the lineup, the Hawks struggled. How they deal with future injuries will determine if they will be an upper-echelon team come April. As it stands now, the Hawks are in a good position to capture points over the next month.

The schedule maker was kind, because in December the Hawks play nine of 13 games at the United Center.

If the Blackhawks don’t take lesser opponents lightly, they can have a strong month. Struggling clubs that will pay a visit to the UC are the Islanders, Ducks, Flames, Canadiens and Blue Jackets.

The Coyotes will make a quick return visit, and the Sharks and the Kings will be in town as well. The last home game of the month will be against the Red Wings, who the Hawks haven’t faced this season, so there will be difficult games as well.

The four road games in December will feature the Blues, Islanders, Wild and Penguins. The Hawks seem to struggle on the road when facing the Islanders. Minnesota has been the surprise team of the NHL, and the Penguins might be the best club in the league. It will be important to take advantage of home games and to stay focused for every opponent.

Speaking of focus, it will be tested Tuesday against the well-coached Coyotes. Phoenix head coach Dave Tippett is one of the best in the game. I don’t know if there is another head coach that does as much with so little.

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With games this weekend at Carolina and back in Chicago versus Columbus, the Hawks could keep rolling. They close out the month at the United Center on Monday against Nashville. It won’t be easy but the Hawks, could end up capturing 18 of 22 possible points to begin the season. If that were to be the case, all Blackhawk fans should be extremely satisfied.

If the Hawks fail to capture four of the next six points, the all-important opening month isn’t as sparkling., but unless the Hawks come up empty in the next three matches they should be in good shape.

Blackhawks fans should probably be most happy because this club can still get better. Currently there isn’t much to complain about as the Hawks haven’t lost in regulation since opening night. Those who don’t want to get too giddy can find reasons to be more reserved.

So far, the schedule makers have been kind. The Hawks have faced many opponents they should handle and have gotten enough time off between games to practice at home. Quenneville has had time to work on the weak points, like the shootout, without taxing his squad.

It sounds trite to say, but there is a fine line between winning and losing, so let’s take a closer look.

The Hawks have won a game and lost a game in regulation by the slimmest of margins: one goal. Out of eight contests, three have gone to overtime and ended in a shootout. The Hawks are 1-2 in those affairs. Five out of eight games were decided by one goal or by a shootout, and that is a fine line.

The best teams consistently win close games and find a way to survive even when not at their best. So far, that statement can best describe the Blackhawks.

To continue reading click here.

Last week we looked at the Isles offense and asked if the makeup of the lines would lead to enough scoring to make playoffs hopes a reality. This week we look deep at the bigger and more porous issue of the last few years…The defense.

Late last season, I was told that the Islanders would be far more focused on defense than offense in the offseason. This came true as offensively, they only added to the 4th line with two upgrades. It was the defense that would become their focal point, feeling that bandaids added two summers back was just too little.

We saw this in the Isles move for the rights to Christian Ehrhoff. The Islanders had high hopes to make them their #2 guy, allowing those like Hamonic, de Haan, Ness and even MacDonald to gain their way developing at their pace to fill out an eventual to be their defense. Leaving room at the bottom, and sealing up the top with more than Streit is why they let Hillen and Martinek walk. They had bigger longterm plans and it was finally time to start making room.

Alas, in free agency, they were unable to seal up that spot. Frustrated, yet gung ho, Garth Snow, who never divulges plans, let Katie Strang know that he was planning to make a trade to to get that #2-3 guy that they needed.

As late July came around, the Isles moved Hunter for Rolston. It was then that rumors flew that another deal was about to happen, likely with the unsigned Blake Comeau. But when August 1st shattered Charles Wang’s feeling of Nassau County support, they changed tactics and whatever and whoever that would have attached extra cap was scrapped.

Since then, defense has held, even though they still feel that they’d like to improve that area, specially as de Haan develops in the minors. Thus, as Blake Comeau, signed at a very reasonable rate compared to his and his agents asking price this summer, is once again in a new Isles coaches doghouse, the rumors and feeling is that Comeau might again be shopped for some reasonable improvement in an area the Isles brass feel is paramount for any kind of playoff hope.

It remains to be seen if the Isles can even get anything more than picks and prospects, despite Comeau’s 20 goal consistency. I think that #2 dman is far fetched via trade when we know that the Isles are reticent to deal any rebuild pieces thus far. Nobody deals something for little unless trying to make cap room in a rush…and we are past that point, ladies and gents.

So we are stuck with the Usual Suspects, with Jurcina as the 7th man, replacing Bruno Gervais who had hit a ceiling almost 4 seasons ago. He comes with wingspan and size, even if the play is sometimes inconsistent. I dare think that nobody would disagree that this is a clear upgrade.

Eaton remains a smart mid-defender to have, but one has to think if ever Comeau is dealt to upgrade the D, Eaton might have to go along to be a stopgap IF the other team doesn’t have a crowded backline.

It is more Mottau that would be the expendable one here.

So, chances are this D is what we are left with unless Garth can pry an upgrade, which would allow them the room to keep Matt Martin up front if they did deal Comeau.

So don’t hold your breath for any changes unless Isles get desperate. And at only 6 games, the Isles are far from anything near that.

READ ANYTHING GOOD, OR PERHAPS YOU WROTE ONE YOURSELF? Let us know in the comments or email me at bd@hockeyindependent.com

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HOCKEY LEGENDS PAT LAFONTAINE AND STEVE WEBB TO RIDE 550 MILES FOR W20
FOUNDATION AND COMPANIONS IN COURAGE FOUNDATION

NEW YORK (September 19, 2011) –NHL alumnus Steve Webb and Hockey Hall
of Fame inductee Pat LaFontaine began a 550-mile bike ride this morning
from the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto in route to the NHL Powered by
Reebok Store in New York City in support of their respective charitable
efforts, the W20 Foundation and the Companions in Courage Foundation. Both
are expected to complete their historic ride on Wednesday, September 21 at
12:00 p.m. ET with a special celebration at the NHL Powered by Reebok Store
in midtown Manhattan.

“The NHL is proud to support these two hockey legends as they embark
on this epic charitable ride. On behalf of the NHL family we proudly salute
Pat and Steve, and wish them the best of luck” said Ken Martin, Jr., NHL
Vice President of Community Affairs.

LaFontaine’s Companions in Courage Foundation is an official
philanthropic partner of the National Hockey League (NHL) and helps to
create “Lion’s Den/NHL Legacy Classrooms” featuring Cisco System’s online
conferencing system, WebEx, which allows young patients to connect to
family, friends, schools and teachers anywhere in the world during a
hospital stay.

The Foundation has now opened 12 Lion’s Den rooms throughout North
America, including two with the NHL in Boston, Calgary and Montreal. The
NHL unveiled the first fully functional “NHL Legacy Classroom” at North
Carolina Children’s Hospital to commemorate the 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend.
Plans for an “NHL Legacy Classroom” in Pittsburgh were unveiled during the
2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic to commemorate the outdoor game.

Webb’s W20 Foundation provides young student ice hockey players with
partial academic scholarships to continue the pursuit of their hockey
dreams. Now the organization also highlights athletes as influential agents
of change and creates opportunities for athletes to give back in their
communities. Webb will also commit a portion of the ride’s proceeds to fund
Alzheimer and dementia research in Ontario.

The riders will be joined by a support team that includes Graham
Fraser, founder of Centurion Cycling, host of North America’s premier
series of distance bicycling events.

For more information on how you can support this please visit
www.CiC16.org
or www.w20Foundation.org.  To follow the progress of the ride, fans are
encouraged to visit www.W20Foundation.blogspot.com. ]]> http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/bdgallof/38698/feed/ 0 http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/bdgallof/38114/ http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/bdgallof/38114/#comments Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:58:29 +0000 BDGallof http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/?p=38114

We are in the dog days of summer. There is nothing worse for an Isles fan than an August where so much is left up in the air. Its been a long long month. The venue effort failed. Free agency was with minor solid piece on the bottom 6, which I warned long ago. The second move to bolster the bottom 6 came via trade.

So there you go. Weight retired and now works in-house. The Isles re-signed others, and basically most is all to be seen and assessed at training camp. So many questions remain in the air, it is almost thick and noxious.

For those still trying to play armchair GM, IF and when the Isles sign Bailey they will be at the cap floor with his contract plus players bonuses/incentives. Add in Nino likely making team and should eradicate cap floor wonder. So might want to retire the calculator and pen.

Samsonov rumors hit the feeder the other day, and it is likely a strong warning shot at Bailey and his agent who seems to be making a habit of contract standoffs. It is fair warning that time is running out and Bailey is in danger of missing the season due to Charles Wang’s directive of all being signed before training camp. Bailey might want to talk to Bergenheim to see how that went. After August 1st, Charles is even more set, so it’s not good scenario for Bailey, nor will help his development.

Isles want to roll three lines of scoring. Rolston or even Reasoner can sub, but Isles have a spot for either another kid or a vet to take if Bailey and his agent fail in this game of chicken. As a penciled 3rd line center, not much leverage for Bailey, though he’s still a part of the rebuild plan.

Speaking of Question Marks….

DP is still the starter till camp begins. Montoya, for all the lauds, there are just way too many fans thinking that Al is guaranteed to be the saving grace. Many a goalie have had hot hands, consistency is about doing it a full season or at least taking it into the new one. Too many are anointing him savior without a shred of indication that he is besides just hope. Let’s see how it continues, shall we?

In all honestly, even the Isles are unsure on how things will transpire. DPs knees and quality of play have caused more fan alarm than Hurricane Irene. Poulin, Koskinen, Nilsson all are in system. Nabokov is a wild card. An elder who has been a starter, who didn’t want to report, yet is here all the same. His future is in his hands… Whether it be for the Isles or dealt elsewhere later on.

Despite the Isles desire to upgrade the defense, something they attempted with the Ehrhoff attempt, and something they still desire. This all falls back to my statement back  in late April. The Isles wanted to place more than just bandaids on D like the year before. Sadly, it did not happen as they intended and things are still just not where they want it to be. But now that August 1st has passed, there has been a change in that rush to deal. Though the rebuild and vision for Garth remains, the ability to spend or try to has diminished.

There is no trade on the fire. No sudden next move everyone is waiting on with bated breath. All gone, kind of like Mangano’s venue referendum. The Isles no longer are in the mood to spend, and will measure what they have in-house unless something low cost falls into their lap.

What nobody is simply willing to say is that for the first time since Charles Wang took ownership of the team there is a change from ownership on spending. More indicators of this will peer out as the season begins, unless there is a change of mind from the top. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

They made minor yet solid improvements on the offense. But it is in so many places that improvements need to be made to reach the playoffs. It remains to be seen if someone can make a jump or growth to offset the deficiencies that remain on the Islanders. And if those things happen, can a Nabokov or Comeau be dealt to get what is needed down line? Who knows for sure anymore. Certainly not the Isles who will need camp to see what they are dealt, and then the season for development.

You can have all the experts in the world predict, but in the end, it’s hard to gauge how so many elements will come together. It will take continued hot play from Montoya, the development of Nino and the not mentioned de Haan who the Isles feel is a projected top two dman… To really make things solid. All this and the continued development of the kids, plus some steady leadership and some depth by those like Reasoner and Rolston will be key.

A lot has to happen and come together to make playoffs a reality, but Chef Garth has a lot of smart ingredients in this pot that can make it happen. Hope you brought your appetite. Might want to pack some TUMS just in case, as well.

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Written under duress (and disappointment) by B.D. Gallof

I’ve been following things in regard to the arena for a long time now. I never asked for it, nor do I derive any satisfaction from the writing of it. I’ve just striven for truth within a giant murk of all sorts of intentions, public relations, politics, subterfuge and beliefs. I don’t take a whole lot of pride on being right on certain elements that I called out early on. I, like you, want this solved and done with. I, like you, want to concentrate on the hockey on the ice. Unfortunately this has not been the case for us both.

This has been a long winding road filled with all sorts of blockades, people and issues. It is not worth even delving into the particulars. I think all our psyches are scarred with all that has gone on. But it might be the toughest one to swallow for fans and the owner when the Coliseum Referendum failed in Nassau County.

Evidently expectation was that the Islanders fans would carry this through, along with the Republican machine and unions behind it. It did not. Not even close.

For one thing, the Republican machine is splintered, the Conservative base has lost faith in Mangano. The other is that union vote was very static. Not enough came out to make a difference. Above all, and not lost on Charles Wang, is that there just wasn’t enough committed fans to come out and vote to make it happen within the County that they are depending on and wanting to stay in. That, my friends, like it or not, spoke volumes.

This last one is key, and though I have heard much argument by many hopeful/idealistic fans that this is not the case, let me assure you… it is a problem.

There was nobody more angry, more upset, and by that, finally, more resolute from August 1^st than one Charles Wang. Referendum proponents waiting for the tally at the Coliseum that evening were stunned at the early numbers. The rest of the evening just had to be a pile-on of reality thereafter.

Despite a lot of fan, blogger, hockey peanut gallery conjecture, added on with some business proponents hype on their own area’s self-interest, I am here to tell you that neither Suffolk, Brooklyn or even Queens right now are tangible realities UNLESS something comes along with it…

…an ironclad guarantee and assurance by someone with power.

Charles Wang, as of August 1^st, is done chasing. He is done putting forth an effort. He has chosen to stand pat until 2015, time on his side.

For all the fans talk, Charles has really said absolutely nothing. His people have been absolutely silent. You can here a pin drop, if only everyone else would shut up about their own ideas on what is feasible.

The fact that everyone else is doing all the talking should provide some clarity. The nervous filling of the space because silence is terribly uncomfortable after August 1st should ring alarm bells. No fan seems to be able to handle any bit of silence, so everyone is chattering and providing their information on what is possible.

Perhaps one needs to sit in silence, and contemplate, like Charles did that August 1^st, where that anger was sharp and real. Where that reality hit with a lopsided vote where the over 55 ran the table on Nassau County’s future. Where he was taken in again pining hope on someone political who failed miserably even in getting his own party behind it.

No, sorry folks, not going to tell you a tall tale of how Queens is throwing out a red carpet (when has the Chamber of Commerce meant anything politically?), or how Brooklyn is possible even though the place is not setup for hockey, or how Suffolk has so many places, yet not enough interest nor the Isles time to get a thing done.

Charles does not care what others say anymore. This is what you don’t want to hear. Not what I wanted to hear. He is only interested in now a sure thing. It means the promise of not a Chamber of Commerce or some political flack but by the Borough President and Mayor now.

9/9/2011 is now your new date. This is the deadline for a RFP to Queens. When Charles does not supply one, this should silence the unyielding hopeful chatter and imagination of many. I hope to be wrong here. I hope that someone plies in with something strong. But the only way Charles Wang puts forth a RFP to Queens is if it is set-in-stone to happen. That he has the heavyweights, not the lightweights, behind it.

I get everyone wants them to stay. Hell, so do I. But wishing it doesn’t make it reality. And the stream of stuff that has hit the blogs, twitterverse, and boards is pure nonsense.

The more likely scenario is that Nassau County is now dead, barring a miracle served to Charles on a silver platter. Queens can only come through if some political heavyweight can smooth out the scene and provide guarantees. The reality is that when 9/9 comes, and there is the continued silence or empty words with an ad or repeating a wish, that is more likely that Charles Wang will stand pat to the final end game. 2015.

When that time comes, Phoenix will have already been relocated. Dust will have settled. He can then let all proponents and prospective owners fight it out with either a set place and development rights, or buy the team at the highest price possible.

A lot will have happened in 4 years. Quebec will have an arena. Paul Allen, in Seattle, might be looking for a team. There will be finally lots of options for a man who has been stuck between a rock and a hard place…sometimes placed there by his own business and whims, no argument here. But nevertheless, this is the reality that materialized fully the evening of August 1^st, I am sorry to say

A message has rung like a clarion bell thanks to the large number that voted no that said to the Isles owner, team and fans: “…We can do without your kind in Nassau County”.

Charles was listening.

Were you?

We discussed the strong possibility of Ice Hog head coach Bill Peters leaving to become an assistant coach with the Red Wings. The whispers have been made official today as Peters will be leaving to join Mike Babcock’s staff.

The Blackhawks may have more prospects in their pipeline which someday could play in the NHL than ever before. Selecting a new head coach in Rockford who can successfully teach young players is of utmost importance.

No rumors involved here, just my own speculation and preference.

Trent Yawney has a proven track record in helping young players learn lessons in the AHL.

If you doubt me …Ask Duncan Keith.

When Yawney worked as the bench boss for the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, the organization was much different. To the credit of Rocky Wirtz a great deal of money has been spent to fortify the Hawks’ infrastructure. That fact has resulted in better scouting, and player development.

When Yawney was in Norfolk, he was the only head coach in the AHL to work without an assistant. If memory serves me, every ECHL head coach had an assistant back then as well. Yawney worked alone for four of five years, his work ethic can’t be questioned.

There are other AHL head coaching positions still available so good candidates may find jobs elsewhere. Bowman knows the importance of his upcoming decision and should soon be working on a successor for Peters.

Al’s Shots

As prospect camp takes place this weekend allow me to make a couple of points.

It is fun to attend the camp but don’t get too excited about any prospect, especially the younger ones.

Remember there is an age span of the players attending camp. A couple of years can make a big difference.

Some of the most highly touted Hawk prospects from the last few years are no longer around.

Two players which were really pumped up to be special, Michael Blunden and Evan Brophey have gone on to other places. Both have struggled and may never have much of a future in the NHL.

Not too long ago, Blunden was at the head of the Killer B’s class and Brophey was touted as a future NHL star.

Another pumped up Hawk property, Igor Makarov, may not return to play in Rockford this season.

Everything has to fall into place for a prospect to make it to the big show.

That includes the correct guidance….

It isn’t impossible, but is highly unlikely anyone participating in prospect camp this weekend will be on the Hawks’ opening night roster.