Corey Crawford has seen the grainy footage of old hockey games from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. And when he sees the goaltenders out there, looking sort of like Gumby with their short, narrow pads and floppy leather mitts, he has only one thought. “Practice must have been hell for them,” Crawford said. “Games, not so bad. But practice must have been just murder.” If the NHL has its way, Crawford and his fellow goalies will look a little bit more like their predecessors in the near future. Among the possible rule changes discussed at Wednesday’s general managers meeting in … ]]> http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/19023071-419/michal-rozsivals-role-with-blackhawks-gets-high-ratings.html 2013-03-23T06:25:34+00:00

There was a time in Michal Rozsival’s career when he wouldn’t have been OK with this — a time when he’d look at his solid numbers on the stat sheet and review his solid play on film and be both bothered and bewildered by a platoon situation, alternating between a sweater and a suit. But at age 34, in his 12th NHL season, Rozsival has gained plenty of perspective to go along with all the mileage. So right now he’s just enjoying the ride and whatever part he can play in it. ‘‘At this stage of my career, I just … ]]> http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/19016780-419/blackhawks-patrick-kane-has-become-the-total-package.html 2013-03-23T00:04:50+00:00

After just about every practice, every morning skate, every game, Patrick Kane is there in his stall, ready — sometimes even eager — to talk. To talk about his latest jaw-dropping on-ice exploits, about his teammates, about the latest controversy in the league, even about his past indiscretions and his future goals. The Blackhawks winger is an open book. He doesn’t hide — physically in the closed-off locker room, or emotionally in a cloud of no-comments and cliches. He doesn’t hesitate to talk about the embarrassment of his very public party weekend in Madison, Wis., last spring, or any other … ]]>

After just about every practice, every morning skate, every game, Patrick Kane is there in his stall, ready — sometimes even eager — to talk. To talk about his latest jaw-dropping on-ice exploits, about his teammates, about the latest controversy in the league, even about his past indiscretions and his future goals. The Blackhawks winger is an open book. He doesn’t hide — physically in the closed-off locker room, or emotionally in a cloud of no-comments and cliches. He doesn’t hesitate to talk about the embarrassment of his very public party weekend in Madison, Wis., last spring, or any other … ]]> http://ChicagoTribune.feedsportal.com/c/34253/f/622874/s/29e3aa43/l/0L0Schicagotribune0N0Csports0Chockey0Cblackhawks0Cct0Espt0E0A3230Ebits0Eblackhawks0Echicago0E20A130A3230H0A0H389960A50Bstory0Dtrack0Frss/story01.htm 2013-03-22T23:47:00+00:00

Patrick Kane's days of double-shifting might not be over.

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Patrick Kane's days of double-shifting might not be over.

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Hossa didn’t practice Friday because of what is believed to be an injured shoulder suffered in Monday’s win at Colorado.

“Hopefully, he’ll get on the ice on Sunday,” Quenneville said. “He’s progressing.”

Quenneville has no worries that the injury is a long-term thing.

Meanwhile, Patrick Sharp skated on his own before Friday’s practice.

“He’s progressing, but it’s still not close,” Quenneville said.

When asked if Sharp were a week to two weeks away from playing, Quenneville said: “I guess we’re probably somewhere in that (time) frame.”

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"He's doing all right," Quenneville said. "Hopefully he'll get on the ice on Sunday. He's progressing."

Hossa suffered an apparent shoulder injury when he was sandwiched along the boards by Ryan O'Byrne during last Monday's victory at Colorado. In his absence, Patrick Kane double-shifted for the rest of the Colorado game and then virtually the entire game in Anaheim on Wednesday, which the Hawks lost 3-2.

Quenneville said that remains an option moving forward.

"At least you can probably go through that in games, see how the game's going," Quenneville said. "It's a great option to have. But I think maybe we'll put somebody up there to start."

Daniel Carcillo started in that spot alongside Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad in Anaheim, but skated only three shifts all game -- two in the first period, and one to open the second period. Kane took over from there. Carcillo was a healthy scratch for the first three games of the road trip.

Quenneville said Carcillo still has work to do to regain his form after suffering an ACL injury last January, then missing 15 of the first 16 games this season with a different leg injury.

"He hasn't played much hockey in the last little while," Quenneville said. "Getting him up to speed and quickness, playing the team game, to make sure he's contributing -- that's what we're going to work [toward]."

WBBM Newsradio’s Nancy Harty reports Emma Gomez doesn’t follow normal medical expectations. Her mother said, after essentially falling into a coma for five weeks, the 14-year-old leukemia patient just started talking one day.

Now Lifesource is teaming up with the Blackhawks for a blood drive and bone marrow donor registry in Emma’s honor.

“I am the biggest fan of the Hawks,” Emma said.

Her mother, Crystal Gomez, wore a pink T-shirt that says “Team Emma” as she talked about her daughter’s treatments. She said Emma has undergone five rounds of chemotherapy and one failed bone marrow transplant.

“We only found one match, and we’re talking about the whole world. We’ve searched the whole world,” she said.

Crystal said she can’t cure her daughter’s leukemia, but she can host as many blood drives and bone marrow registry events as possible.

Lifesource spokeswoman Tammy Basile said Blackhawks fans already have saved approximately 5,000 lives with blood donations in the last year alone.

“Plus, Blackhawk fans have entered the marrow registry, and we’ve already had three matches just from the Blackhawks fans,” she said.

Blackhawks players will appear at the events on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at North Central College in Naperville, and the InterContinental O’Hare hotel in Rosemont. The events will also feature Blackhawks ticket giveaways and autographed team memorabilia.

Blood donors must be at least 17 years old – or 16 with parental consent – and must weigh at least 100 pounds and be in general good health. Donations take about an hour.

Signing up for the bone marrow registry requires only a simple moth swab and completion of a questionnaire. Donors must be 18 to 44 years old, and sign a consent form to have their tissue type listed on the registry until they turn 61.

When that opportunity arrived late in the third period Wednesday night, Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne absolutely nailed it.

Getzlaf set up Bobby Ryan’s tying goal and Selanne’s tiebreaker 1:04 apart in the waning minutes, and the Ducks rallied for a 4-2 victory over Chicago in a meeting of the NHL’s top two teams.

Jonas Hiller stopped 22 shots, and Peter Holland and Sheldon Souray scored as the Ducks extended their franchise-record home winning streak to 13 games in dramatic fashion. Anaheim (22-3-4) pulled within three points of Chicago atop the overall NHL standings by dealing the Blackhawks just their third regulation loss of the season.

“It means a lot,” said Ryan, who scored his ninth goal of the season. “They’ve made a statement to run away with it so far, and we’ve quietly just gone about our business. To be three points back with a game in hand is huge. … It’s been a fun ride to be a part of, and I hope it continues.”

Getzlaf could barely get out of bed with a case of the flu, lasting just five minutes at the morning skate and taking only one faceoff during the game. The Anaheim captain still delivered two remarkable assists in pressure-packed moments to hand Chicago its third regulation loss in six games after its 21-0-3 start to the season.

“He’s playing an MVP season right now, and it’s fun to watch,” Selanne said.

Getzlaf first fed Ryan on a rush for the tying goal with 5:27 to play before setting up the 42-year-old Selanne for his 670th career goal with 4:23 left, ending the Finnish Flash’s nine-game goal drought. Souray added an empty-net goal in the final minute for Anaheim, which has earned points in 12 straight games (9-0-3).

“We don’t expect to come back, but we always think we can,” Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. “We’ve got great leadership. Everybody knows their role, and everybody played it.”

Nick Leddy scored a power-play goal and captain Jonathan Toews scored an early short-handed goal for the Blackhawks (24-3-3), who have lost after entering the third period with a lead just twice in 19 games this season – both times to the Ducks.

The largest crowd in Honda Center history was packed with boisterous fans of both teams for a prominent game in this lockout-shortened year. Two clubs with a points percentage above .800 had never met this late in an NHL season, and they lived up to their pedigrees in a fast-paced game showcasing their skill and tenacity.

“They obviously have the advantage right now because they’ve got four points (in their two meetings) and we’ve got one, so I’m sure they’re feeling pretty good,” Chicago’s Patrick Kane said. “But hopefully we can learn from these games and move forward and become a better team because of it. We’ve made a couple of mental mistakes lately that have cost us.”

Corey Crawford made 22 saves for the Blackhawks, who appeared to be headed for a 2-1 road victory until Anaheim scored three times in stunning style.

Chicago has earned 51 of a possible 60 points in its first 30 games this season, but Anaheim is responsible for a third of those missed points after this win and a 3-2 shootout victory at the United Center last month. The Ducks and Blackhawks finish their regular-season series March 29 in Chicago.

“They’ve been having a great season, but they’ve just been under the radar because of our streak and the way we’ve been playing,” Kane said. “But they’re a great team, and we’re going to be ready for them next time.”

Both teams played this showdown without key offensive components. Ducks right wing Corey Perry finished his four-game suspension for an illegal hit, while Chicago’s Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp sat out with injuries.

After Leddy put the Blackhawks ahead on his 22nd birthday during a power play midway through the second period, Chicago appeared to extend its lead when Brandon Bollig scored in front of Hiller with 14:03 to play. Instead, video review confirmed Bollig kicked the puck into the net with his right skate.

“It’s frustrating, considering we thought we were looking at a 3-1 lead at one point,” Toews said. “We have to keep working and doing the right things. We played good enough to win, but made a few mistakes in the last five minutes, and they made us pay for it.”

Anaheim finally broke through when Getzlaf brought the puck down the wing and fed it in front to Ryan, who banged it through Kyle Palmieri’s screen for his ninth goal. Moments later, Selanne scored on a slick shot in close.

NOTES: Anaheim’s Andrew Cogliano skated off with a bloody mouth after the faceoff following Selanne’s goal when Bollig clipped him with a high stick. Bollig wasn’t called for a penalty on the play. Cogliano sustained significant damage to his teeth – but didn’t miss a shift. … The goal was Leddy’s fourth of the season after getting just three in 82 games last year. … Longtime Blackhawks fan Vince Vaughn and Orange County native Matt Barkley attended the game, both wearing jerseys.

(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

DENVER — With Marian Hossa knocked out of the game by new Blackhawks nemesis Ryan O’Byrne, Joel Quenneville turned time and time again to Patrick Kane on Monday night. And time and time again, Kane happily hopped over the boards. Kane never turns down ice time. Not even at 5,280 feet. “A couple times, he even laughed at me for asking the question,” Quenneville said. Kane double-shifted his way to a goal and two assists — his third three-point game in the last four outings — as the Hawks knocked off the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 for their third straight win. … ]]> http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=661240 2013-03-20T22:33:00+00:00

Hossa was hurt on a hard check from Avs defenseman Ryan O'Byrne in the first period.

Daniel Carcillo will return to the Hawks lineup after being a healthy scratch for the last three games.

Corey Crawford starts in goal for the Hawks.

"Well, we learned they're beatable," Souray said. "They're not invincible."

No, neither the Hawks nor the Ducks are unbeatable. But they're about as close as they can be. And heading into Wednesday night's showdown of the Western Conference's top two teams, there's nothing but respect on both sides.

"We also learned we probably got a little lucky to beat them," Souray added. "They're a great hockey team. They're the best team we faced so far."

Both teams are looking at the game as a measuring stick for the home stretch, as the two teams -- separated by five points, though the Ducks have a game in hand -- jockey for the top seed in the West, with no other team within sniffing distance.

"It is kind of a measuring stick to see how close these teams are together, and where we compare to them," Hawks winger Patrick Kane said. "They've had a great season. They'd probably have a lot more attention if we haven't had the season w'eve had. It's a good measuring stick, but at the same time, we want to prove ourselves and show we're the best team in the West."

Both teams will have to do it without some star power. Anaheim's Corey Perry, its second-leading scorer, is out, serving the final game of his four-game suspension for a late hit to the head of MInnesota's Jason Zucker. And the Hawks will be without Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa. Hossa suffered an upper-body injury in the first period of Monday's game at Denver. Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said Hossa's injury was not serious, and that he's day-to-day. He said the fact that the Hawks have four days off following the Ducks game did not factor into his decision to keep him out.

"I don't think it has anything to do with the time away," Quenneville said. "Last game, someone asked me the same question, if the score wasn't like that, would Hossa have been out there. He wasn't ready to come back and he's not ready tonight."

With Hossa out, Daniel Carcillo returns to the lineup after being a healthy scratch the last three games. Quenneville also said that Kane could double-shift again -- as he did at Colorado -- to help offset Hossa's absence.

Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said each team is deep enough and confident enough to handle their stars' absence.

"Both teams have won without their best players playing," he said. "I don't think it bothers either team that that's going to be happening."

LOS ANGELES — About 10 minutes after the game clock hit zero on Monday night in Denver, Joel Quenneville already knew the Anaheim Ducks were beating the San Jose Sharks through two periods. He also knew that star forward Corey Perry had signed an eight-year contract extension — one that was announced while the Blackhawks were still playing the Colorado Avalanche. So, yes, the Hawks have been paying attention to what’s been going on in Anaheim, even if the rest of the hockey world has been fixated on Chicago instead. “As well as we’ve been playing this year, they’ve been … ]]> 393371 at http://www.csnchicago.com 2013-03-20T03:25:41+00:00

DENVER — Brandon Saad still is playing the same high-paced, aggressive, two-way style that entrenched him on the Blackhawks’ top line early in the season. The only thing that’s different lately is he’s finally getting rewarded for his effort. The 20-year-old rookie has a goal and seven assists in his last six games and is tied for sixth in the NHL in rookie scoring with 13 points (four goals, nine assists). “I think I’ve been playing the same way, it’s just that the points are coming,” Saad said. “With [Patrick Sharp] out, I’ve been getting some power-play time, too, things … ]]> http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/18952793-419/are-the-blackhawks-complacent-not-this-team.html 2013-03-19T04:32:49+00:00

DENVER — Joel Quenneville took a peek at the standings shortly after Sunday afternoon’s practice at the University of Denver and barely could believe there were only 20 games left in this sprint season. And he was excited and intrigued about what those 20 games would bring. All 15 teams in the Western Conference have legitimate playoff aspirations at this point — last-place Colorado entered Monday’s game against the Blackhawks just six points out of the eighth and final spot — and the parity is sure to lead to an intense postseason push. “It’s going to be an amazing finish,” … ]]> http://chicago.cbslocal.com/?p=435315 2013-03-19T03:55:10+00:00

Ray Emery stopped 17 shots to remain unbeaten this season, Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists, and Chicago held off Colorado 5-2 on Monday night in the first meeting since the Avalanche halted the Blackhawks' record points streak.]]>

DENVER (AP) — Ray Emery stopped 17 shots to remain unbeaten this season, Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists, and Chicago held off Colorado 5-2 on Monday night in the first meeting since the Avalanche halted the Blackhawks’ record points streak.

Jimmy Hayes and Andrew Shaw scored 57 seconds apart in the first period, Brent Seabrook contributed another and Jonathan Toews added a late insurance goal for the surging Blackhawks, who have won three straight to move to 3-2-0 after their NHL-record 21-0-3 start to the season was ended in the Mile High City on March 8.

Emery, the backup to Corey Crawford, extended his league record with his 11th consecutive victory to start the season.

Gabriel Landeskog and Milan Hejduk scored for slumping Colorado, which has lost a season-high four in a row.

The Blackhawks had another big offensive night highlighted by Kane, the team’s leading scorer. He nearly had another goal on a breakaway early in the third period, only to be turned away by the left pad of Semyon Varlamov.

With a game-sealing goal late, Toews finished with a score and two assists.

This offensive output comes two days after Chicago scored a season-best eight goals in a win at Dallas. The victory may have been costly, though, as Marian Hossa left the game after the first period with what the team called an upper-body injury.

Kane and Seabrook scored goals in the second period to stake the Blackhawks to a 4-1 lead.

Just before the period ended, Hejduk found the back of the net on a play that was started by a pass from Varlamov, who picked up his first assist of the season.

Chicago began with a flurry of goals, starting with Hayes backhanding a shot past Varlamov for his first of the season. Hayes was just recently called up from Rockford of the AHL.

Moments later, Shaw beat Varlamov with a wrist shot.

Emery came up big in the opening period, with a little help from Niklas Hjalmarsson. On a play where Emery was sprawled out on the ice, the defenseman slid over and prevented a potential goal by blocking a wrist shot with his left leg.

The Avalanche got on the board with 33.4 seconds remaining in the first period when Landeskog scored a short-handed goal. The young captain took a pass from Matt Duchene and simply flew by Seabrook on his way to the goal.

Seabrook took a seat on the bench for a good portion of the second period, only to return and score his fifth goal of the season on a slap shot.

At the morning practice, the Blackhawks insisted they weren’t motivated by avenging the streak-snapping loss to the Avalanche. Plus, with the steak over, they can focus on what they do best — play up-tempo hockey.

As to why the Avalanche have given Chicago so much trouble of late, Kane had a simple explanation: Colorado is one of the few teams that can actually match the Blackhawks’ swift speed.

Said Kane: “It’s like when we came into the league — we were young and youthful and trying to prove something. I’m sure that’s the same way with the Avalanche.”

Notes: Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said after the morning skate there was still no timetable for the return of Patrick Sharp, who appeared to hurt his shoulder after being checked along the boards by Colorado’s Ryan O’Byrne on March 6. … Kane has a healthy respect for the Avs since he was a kid. “The Avalanche were probably a lot of our favorite team growing up, with guys like Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg on their team,” Kane said. “It’s always cool to play a team like that.” … Colorado D Ryan Wilson sat out with an ankle injury. … Duchene has 11 points in his last six games. … Avs F Cody McLeod took a puck to the face in the third period and was helped off the ice.

(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

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DALLAS — In the NHL, there are things you can do when you have a six-goal lead — like try a spin-o-rama. But there also are things you can never do — like watching your own highlights when your teammates are around.So Patrick Kane resigned himself to the fact that he’d have to wait until he was safely tucked away in his hotel room in Denver late Saturday night to watch the clip of him spinning around Dallas defenseman Brenden Dillon and flipping a backhander into the net, a spectacular score that capped the Blackhawks’ 8-1 obliteration of the Stars … ]]> 392791 at http://www.csnchicago.com 2013-03-19T03:30:26+00:00

The 20-year-old rookie has a goal and seven assists in his last six games, and is tied for sixth in the NHL in rookie scoring with 13 points (four goals, nine assists).

"I think I've been playing the same way, it's just that the points are coming," Saad said. "With [Patrick Sharp] out, I've been getting some power play time, things like that, getting different looks. It's just been clicking a little bit. I don't think I've changed anything in my game, it's just coming along."

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville has been pleased with Saad's play fro his debut in the second game of the season -- even though he was pointless in his first eight games, and had just three goals and zero assists through his first 18 games -- and is glad to see him finally show up on the stat sheet on a regular basis.

"Early on in the season, he didn't have any production at all to show for what he was doing, [but] I thought that line was dangerous every night," Quenneville said. "Eventually, they start going in for you. ... He sees plays and protects well. He can do it himself, but he's got a couple of guys he can give it to that can finish, so it's been a real good line for us."

Those guys, of course, are Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa. Saad models his game after the two-way standouts, and playing alongside them has only hastened his development.

"I think I've always been a two-way player, but playing with those guys and seeing the type of player they are, it makes me work even harder," Saad said.

The trio has been red-hot lately, combining for nine goals in the last six games.

"You gain that chemistry as you go along," Toews said. "We want to keep building off that. We know we can be even better than we have been."

DENVER — The last time the Blackhawks came to the Mile High City — barely more than a week ago — their record season-opening 24-game point streak came to a crashing halt, as the Colorado Avalanche outskated and outplayed them in a 6-2 trouncing. Two nights later, the Hawks again gave up six goals in a home loss to Edmonton. In those two games, the Hawks looked nothing like the team that steamrolled its way through the first half of the season. They looked ordinary, they looked human, they looked beatable. But mostly, in the final two games of the … ]]> http://ChicagoTribune.feedsportal.com/c/34253/f/622874/s/29acd034/l/0L0Schicagotribune0N0Csports0Chockey0Cblackhawks0Cct0Espt0E0A3180Ecap0Eblackhawks0Echicago0E20A130A3180H0A0H380A99370Bstory0Dtrack0Frss/story01.htm 2013-03-18T02:00:00+00:00

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DALLAS — The parity in the NHL this season — particularly in the Western Conference — should make for an exciting, down-to-the-wire stretch run. It also should make for a nail-biting, down-to-the-wire trading season. The NHL trade deadline is April 3, and while Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said he’s looking to make his league-leading roster even better, it’s been tough to find eager trading partners. “It doesn’t seem like anybody’s ready to make any trades, certainly not in the West,” Bowman said. “All 15 teams probably are still in the race. In the East, there’s a little bit more … ]]> http://chicago.cbslocal.com/?p=434335 2013-03-17T03:10:42+00:00

Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa each scored twice in leading the Chicago Blackhawks to an 8-1 rout of the Dallas Stars on Saturday night.]]>

DALLAS (AP) — Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa each scored twice in leading the Chicago Blackhawks to an 8-1 rout of the Dallas Stars on Saturday night.

Nick Leddy and Patrick Kane each had a goal and two assists as eight Blackhawks scored two or more points and Chicago boosted its road record to 12-1-2 with a dominant win on the second stop of a four-game road trip.

Corey Crawford made 18 saves for his 13th victory. Johnny Oduya and Duncan Keith had the Blackhawks’ other goals.

Defenseman Trevor Daley scored for the Stars, who have been outscored 16-3 in losing four straight (0-3-1). The Stars will play nine of their next 11 at home, where they have lost three in a row and are 2-5-1 in their last nine.

The return of offensive catalyst Jamie Benn, who missed two games with a wrist injury, wasn’t enough to help the Stars, although he assisted on Dallas only goal, feeding Daley for a one-timer on a power play at 6:30 of the third period to spoil Crawford’s shutout bid.

Kari Lehtonen took the loss in goal for Dallas, surrendering four goals on 17 shots before he was pulled midway through the second period. Richard Bachman made 13 saves in relief.

Toews struck twice within 1:35 to propel Chicago to a 2-0 lead in the first period and the Blackhawks never looked back.

At 9:05, Toews cruised through the top of the crease and his nifty deflection of Leddy’s slap shot from the left point beat Lehtonen.

His second goal came seconds after he won an offensive zone face-off, and set up in front of the net, where Duncan Keith’s point shot ricocheted off Daley right to him for an easy tap-in into the open side of the net at 10:40.

The Blackhawks extended their lead to 3-0 on Leddy’s third goal of the season at 17:54. Lehtonen stopped Viktor Stalberg’s point-blank shot, but Leddy managed to jam home the rebound.

Chicago continued to control the action in the second, nearly going up by four at 7:30 when a turnover by Dallas rookie defender Brenden Dillon gave Jimmy Hayes an uncontested wrist shot from the slot, but he fired it over the crossbar.

Oduya made it 4-0 at 8:01 when his slap shot from the blue line sailed past a screened Lehtonen, pinged off the left post and dropped in for his second goal in as many games.

That goal prompted Stars coach Glen Gulutzan to pull Lehtonen in favor of Bachman.

The Blackhawks scored on their first shot against Bachman, taking a 5-0 lead at 12:18 while the clubs were skating four aside, on Hossa’s one-timer from in front off a nifty backhand pass from Kane.

Skating with a 5-on-3 advantage, Chicago struck again with 50.8 seconds left in the period when Hossa launched a blistering snap shot from the right circle that beat Bachman over his glove.

Keith’s second goal of the year, off a wrist shot that glanced off Benn’s stick in front, beat Bachman at 2:06 of the final period.

Two minutes after Daley snapped the shutout in the third period, another Dallas goal was wiped out when Eric Nystrom’s wrist shot found its way over Crawford’s shoulder, but the officials ruled that Vernon Fiddler interfered with Crawford on the play.

Kane made it 8-1 on the ensuing power play with a spin move in the right circle for a backhander that beat Bachman past the glove at 9:59.

NOTES: Daley’s goal snapped an 0-for-10 power play drought for the Stars over the past three games. … After a 2-for-6 showing with the man-advantage, Chicago is now 5 for 21 over its last nine contests on the power play. … The Stars honored their general manager, former C Joe Nieuwendyk, as part of their all-time team. Nieuwendyk played in Dallas from 1995-2002, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1999 while helping the Stars earn the franchise’s only Stanley Cup.

(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

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The NHL trade deadline is April 3, and while Blackhawks general manager said he's looking to make his league-leading roster even better, it's been tough to find eager trading partners.

"It doesn't seem like anybody's ready to make any trades, certainly not in the West," Bowman said. "All 15 teams probably are still in the race. In the East, there's a little bit more separation. Still, only maybe a couple of teams looking to trade players and look to the future. Everyone else is still trying to decide, 'Do I trade or do I try to acquire?' It's probably going to come right down to the end, like it always does, before teams decide they're looking to the future. So I've had tons of conversations but nothing's even close."

Bowman said he'd be interested in adding some depth at center, though he was quick to point out he's been pleased with the play of Andrew Shaw and Marcus Kruger on the third and fourth lines, respectively. Given the talent on his roster, and the depth he has in Rockford -- he singled out forwards Brandon Pirri and Jeremy Morin as NHL-ready players who can follow Brandon Saad and Jimmy Hayes to Chicago -- he won't make any moves unless the price is low enough.

Veteran Calgary center Jarome Iginla, who'll be an unrestricted free agent after this season, has been linked to the Hawks -- as well as the Penguins and Bruins, among others -- in trade rumors. But the Flames surely would like to get a lot in return.

"To get a top guy, you have to wonder what the price would be," he said. "We're not looking to change the mix we have. We're looking to add to it. We don't want to change the chemistry we've developed.

"If we don't end up making a trade, I would be comfortable with the group we have here."

On other topics:
-- Bowman said defenseman Steve Montador -- who debuted for Rockford on Friday night -- still has a place with the team, despite his hefty contract and concussion history, and the Hawks' depth on the blue line. "Things change quickly in terms of the health of our players," he said. "Steve's an NHL player, he's played a lot of years in the league, so we just need to get him back to game-readiness."

-- Bowman declined to talk about contract negotiations, but said Bryan Bickell -- an impending free agent -- is "coming into his own."

-- Bowman said he's glad to see Patrick Kane fulfilling his potential, and that drive comes "from within." When asked about Kane's maturation off the ice, Bowman said: "He's really the same kid. He hasn't changed an awful lot, truthfully. He's gone through some thing, he's lived his life."

Patrick Kane’s assist on Johnny Oduya’s second-period goal in the Blackhawks’ 2-1 shootout victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday was his 400th career NHL point. At 24 years, three months and 23 days, Kane is the third-youngest Hawks player to reach that milestone, behind Denis Savard (23 years, one month) and Jeremy Roenick (23 years, nine months). ‘‘It’s nice to reach those milestones,’’ said Kane, who has 31 points (14 goals, 17 assists) in 27 games. ‘‘You don’t really think about those things when you’re playing. But after the game ... it’s a cool feeling. Hopefully there are … ]]> http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/18855646-419/blackhawks-back-to-winning-ways-with-2-1-shootout-win-in-columbus.html 2013-03-15T05:13:35+00:00

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Blackhawks haven’t lost their touch. Stymied by a hot goaltender and frustrated by missed opportunities and ill-timed penalties, the Hawks survived at the end of regulation, broke even in an entertaining overtime that looked like a video game, then did what they do best — found a way to win. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane solved the mystery of Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky in the shootout and Corey Crawford was at his best when it counted most as the Blackhawks beat the Blue Jackets 2-1 on Thursday night at Nationwide Arena. Defenseman Johnny Oduya … ]]> http://chicago.cbslocal.com/?p=433731 2013-03-15T02:15:37+00:00

Patrick Kane set up Johnny Oduya's goal late in the second period and then got the decisive score in the shootout, leading the Chicago Blackhawks to a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night. ]]>

 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) –

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Patrick Kane set up Johnny Oduya’s goal late in the second period and then got the decisive score in the shootout, leading the Chicago Blackhawks to a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.

Corey Crawford stopped 29 shots to help the Blackhawks end a two-game losing streak after they set an NHL record by getting at least a point in each of their first 24 games.

Jack Johnson scored the tying goal for Columbus 52 seconds after Oduya put Chicago ahead, and Sergei Bobrovsky finished with 39 saves for the Blue Jackets, who set a franchise record by picking up a point in their ninth game in a row.

Columbus, 5-0-4 in its point streak, has reached overtime in eight of the last nine games.

Crawford and Bobrovsky traded sterling saves in a wild, end-to-end game.

A crowd of 15,009, including a large percentage of Chicago fans, gave both teams a lengthy standing ovation after they swapped scoring chances in a blizzard of offensive moves — followed by outstanding work by the goalies.

Columbus’ Artem Anisimov and Chicago’s Jonathan Toews each scored to open the shootout. After Crawford stopped Ryan Johansen, Kane moved in slowly on Bobrovsky and then lifted a backhander into the net. Crawford then stopped Derick Brassard’s attempt before he could even threaten.

With the score tied at 1 in the third, the Blackhawks turned up the heat and dominated play in the opening minutes of the period.

Bobrovsky made yet another big save when a ricochet ended up on the stick of Brandon Bollig just right of the cage. Bobrovsky gloved the shot from 12 feet away.

Crawford then fought off a rising wrister by Anisimov to keep the score tied.

The Blackhawks, 11-1-0 coming in when scoring first, took the lead at 16:45 of the second, thanks to a spectacular set-up pass from Kane. From near the end of the right blue line, he saucered a pass through two defenders all the way across the ice to the left circle to Oduya who was racing to the net. The defenseman settled the puck and then beat Bobrovsky high on the stick side.

The goal broke a 39-game drought for Oduya. It was also Kane’s 400th career point (140 goals, 260 assists in 426 games).

Not long after Sheldon Brookbank headed for the penalty box for holding, the Blue Jackets evened it with a power-play goal.

Derick Brassard won a faceoff in the circle to Crawford’s right, with the puck sliding to the high slot. Johnson stepped into it for a hard one-timer for his fourth of the year.

The Blue Jackets came in ranked 29th in the NHL with a man advantage.

Bobrovsky had a goal-saving stop just 2 minutes in when he smothered a point-blank one-timer from Andrew Shaw.

Crawford also made a glittering save in the scoreless first period when he gloved Fedor Tyutin’s blast from the left point despite congestion in front of the net.

Columbus’ previous mark of eight games in a row with points (4-0-2-2) came from Jan. 15 to Feb. 6, 2009.

NOTES: Just before the start, the Blue Jackets reassigned C Nick Drazenovic to their AHL affiliate in Springfield, Mass. … Chicago won the teams’ first three meetings, winning all three by a goal. … During the first break early in the game, the Blue Jackets’ move to the Eastern Conference (along with Detroit) was heralded on the center-ice monitors. … The Blackhawks began a four-game road trip that will also take them to Dallas, Colorado and Anaheim.

(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

]]>

After losing back-to-back games following a record-setting streak of 24 games without a regulation loss to start the 2012-13 season, the Blackhawks got what they neede most — some rest. ]]> http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/18861557-419/video-blackhawks-coach-joel-quenneville-talks-nhl-realignment.html 2013-03-15T01:19:36+00:00

The Blackhawks know they can't take the Columbus Blue Jackets lightly.

Even when the Hawks were hotter than hot and the Blue Jackets were floundering earlier this season, the Hawks struggled to keep their historic streak alive against Columbus. they won 3-2 in Columbus on Jan. 26, 1-0 at the United Center on Feb. 24 and 4-3 in overtime at the United Center on March 1.

Now, it's the Hawks who are struggling -- a relative term for a team that is 24-2-3 -- while the Blue Jackets (10-12-5) are heating up. They are 5-0-3 in their last eight games. They have not lost in regulation since Corey Crawford made Andrew Shaw's second-period goal stand up in a 1-0 Blackhawks victory on Feb. 24.

Last season, the Blackhawks were 6-0-0 against the Blue Jackets, winning all six games by three goals or more and outscoring Columbus 31-10.

''They're a better team [this season],'' Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane said. ''They're playing really well lately.it's a dangerous team this year. It's not like in year's past, where you think it would be like -- I don't want to say automatic win -- but you'd have a good feeling going in that you were going to come out on top.

''Now it's a little tougher test. Every game's been a one-goal game. With the last one going into overtime. And they've had injuries in that span. It seems like they're getting better as time goes on. We just have to take it like any other team, try to play our game and dictate and get back to the way we were playing earlier in the year.''

The Blackhawks likely will face a new challenge in Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who has wrested the No. 1 job from Steve Mason. The Blackhawks beat Mason in each of their victories over the Blue Jackets. Bobrovsky, though, is 6-1-2 with a 1.55 goals-against-average and .946 save percentage in his last nine games. In the Blue Jackets' current point streak, Bobrovsky has stopped 161 of 166 shots, a sparkling .970 percentage.

''They're playing well and we saw every time we played them how tough the games were and how close they were,'' Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. ''They've improved their team game this year. They work hard. It'll be a real challenging game for us. We should be excited about having a few days off here and looking forward to the game.''

NEW YORK — NHL owners have made it official: The Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets are heading east. The league announced Thursday that its board of governors approved a realignment plan that will go into effect next season. The new format will feature two eight-team divisions in the Eastern Conference, and two seven-team divisions in the West. That means Detroit and Columbus will switch conferences by moving into the East, while the Winnipeg Jets will move into the Western Conference. Realignment will also create changes in determining the 16-team playoff field. The top three teams in each division … ]]> http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=660179 2013-03-14T17:11:00+00:00

The 27-year-old hasn’t appeared in a game this season, but played in six games for the Blackhawks last season.

He’s recorded 132 points in 355 NHL games in his career with the Panthers and Blackhawks.

So he's not terribly concerned about it, either.

"It's not too often a hockey team makes it on there, so it can't be that bad, right?" he said.

The Blackhawks are on the national cover of this week's SI, their first national cover in more than four decades, and the first hockey national cover since 2010. Even when they won the Stanley Cup in 2010, all the Hawks got was a regional cover.

The cover anoints the Hawks as "The franchise that brought hockey back," crediting their 24-game point streak with giving the NHL a desperately needed boost in the wake of its third lockout in 18 years.

"It's pretty cool," Toews said. "It's definitely high praise for our team, and [after] what was tough times for our sport a few months ago, it's cool to see where it is right now, and at least how our team is going here in Chicago. The fans have come back full force and we've put everything on the line so far to try and play some exciting hockey for our fans, and it's great that it's being noticed. We want to keep that going. Our fans deserve to show up to the United Center every night and see an exciting brand of hockey. We've got a good team here and a lot of potential. Who knows where it's going to go?"

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville was glad for the recognition, too, but wants to move on from the streak -- particularly after two straight losses. The Hawks begin a four-game road trip Thursday against red-hot Columbus, a team that's given the Hawks fits this season.

"It's been a wonderful start, we've had a lot of fun with it," Quenneville said. "Now that the streak is over, I think we're kind of fine-tuning where we're at. We all had a lot of fun, game in, game out, and gathered a lot of attention as we went along, I think the guys handled it very well through that process. But now we have to get back to taking care of business."

As for the jinx?

"I think that's why we got beat," Quenneville said with a laugh.

"Just watching them today in practice, it's nice to see them back together," Quenneville said. "When you look at it, it's like which line is going to be our best line, and they're capable on a given night being as good as anybody. Seems like they had a lot of jump in practice, as well. [With] the lines being more familiar than the last couple games, hopefully we can recapture that enthusiasm we had when we started."

As for Hayes, the 6-6, 221-pounder has been red hot in Rockford, and just posted his first career hat trick. He had 22 goals and 17 assists with Rockford. He's walking into a golden opportunity, playing alongside Kane.

"He's a really good player, so I've just got to stick to my game," Hayes said. "Just be big, physical, use my speed. He does all the puck work, he's a magician with it, so I just have to read off of him."

CSN reporter showing Toews' @suntimes Splash cover to his teammates. Toews jokes he was hoping none of them would see it. #Blackhawks

In case you Missed Blackhawks Captain Jonathan Toews on the cover of the Sun-Times Splash magazine this past Sunday, here he is - and the cover story:

(CBS) Now that the streak is over, it’s time for the Chicago Blackhawks to get on with the business of winning another Stanley Cup.

Their 24-game record streak was a sensational achievement that helped undo much of the damage done by the four-month lockout the NHL endured under the leadership of Gary Bettman.

Bettman should send a couple of bottles of his favorite champagne to Stan Bowman and Joel Quenneville for doing the league such an enormous favor. Regular-season NHL games usually don’t garner national publicity. When the Blackhawks played over the last two-plus weeks of the strike, every game was national news.

But now the team’s business becomes finding a way to win the Stanley Cup. It’s not enough for Bowman to look at his team and determine what it will take for the Blackhawks to bring home their second Stanley Cup in four seasons.

We’re not talking about long-term commitments. We’re talking about rental players who can help take a very good team like the Blackhawks and put them over the top.

In each of the last two years, the Stanley Cup champion was active prior to the trade deadline. In 2011, the Boston Bruins added three players – Rich Peverley, Chris Kelly and Tomas Kaberle – to help them with their stretch run. While Kaberle was a slug, Peverley and Kelly were vital contributors during the team’s Stanley Cup run.

The Los Angeles Kings traded a solid defenseman in Jack Johnson for a scorer in Jeff Carter. That turned out to be the key move for a team that suddenly found its offense and dominated in the playoffs.

The immediate need for the Blackhawks may be a forward who can put the puck in the net following the separated shoulder suffered by Patrick Sharp. The Blackhawks added defenseman Johnny Oduya prior to last year’s deadline and bringing in another d-man may also be the direction that Bowman wants to go.

Goaltending may have been an issue last year, but the combination of Corey Crawford and Ray Emery may be the best in the league. No need in that area.

Here’s a look at five key players who are likely to be available prior to the April 3 trade deadline that the Blackhawks may have an interest in. All will be free agents in the offseseason.

Remember, the sharply reduced $64.3 million salary cap doesn’t come into play until 2013-14.

Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks – Perry will be a free agent at the end of the season and while the Ducks are the second-best team in the Western Conference this season and they have a big, powerful team, the Ducks don’t want to watch Perry walk away in the summer and get nothing for him. Anaheim just signed Ryan Getzlaf to an eight-year, $66 million deal and they may not have the cash to do anything with Perry. GM Bob Murray would probably rather send him to an Eastern Conference team, but it’s worth pursuing. Perry has 9 goals, 24 points and is an eye-opening plus-24.

Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames – Iginla has long been the face of his franchise, but the Flames are going nowhere once again and the 35-year-old Iginla will be free to leave at the end of the season. Iginla is a future Hall of Famer who has scored 523 goals in his career and has scored 30 or more goals in his last 11 seasons. While he may have slowed down a tad this year, Iginla is impossible to move when he anchors himself in the slot and he can score important goals.

David Clarkson, New Jersey Devils –The Devils have been slumping following a hot start and if Lou Lamoriello believes his team is going to fall short, he’d much rather get something in return than lose Clarkson – he has 10 goals and 18 points – than watch him walk away for nothing. Clarkson was a key cog in New Jersey’s run to the Stanley Cup Finals last year.

Mark Streit, New York Islanders – The Islanders have shown some life this season, but a playoff spot is still a longshot. Streit is a solid, puck-moving defenseman who does not make many mistakes. Can a team ever have enough dependable defensemen? Make the Islanders an offer and they won’t refuse because Streit will walk away during free agency in the offseason.

Ryane Clowe, San Jose Sharks – The Sharks started the season as if they would compete with the Blackhawks this year since they won their first seven games. Since then, they have been awful. It may be time to break up the Sharks and Clowe may be the first to go since he will be available to the highest bidder during the summer. Clowe has size, strength and can be a factor down low as he screens opposing goalies. Blackhawks fans know it as the Dustin Byfuglien role.

Steve Silverman

Steve Silverman is an award-winning writer, covering sports since 1980. Silverman was with Pro Football Weekly for 10 years and his byline has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Playboy, NFL.com and The Sporting News. He is the author of four books, including Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Football — The Top 60 Players of All-Time. Follow him on Twitter (@profootballboy) and read more of his CBS Chicago columns here.

Hayes has 22 goals and 17 assists for Rockford this season. In 31 games with the Blackhawks last season, Hayes had five goals and four assists. He also made two appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Hawks last season.

Montador has not appeared in a game for the Hawks this season. The 33 year-old had five goals and nine assists in 52 games for the Hawks last season.

Starting the season on a 24-game point streak, going 21-0-3 to open up the 48-game season, has its perks. And one of those perks is some national publicity.

Check out the photo below of the Blackhawks on the cover of SI with the story titled, The Franchise That Brought Hockey Back.

Credit SI

The move could be to simply get Montador a conditioning stint with the team's AHL affiliate in Rockford. But the Hawks didn't need to put him on waivers to do that -- a 14-day loan to an AHL team for a conditioning assignment is allowed under the collective bargaining agreement. So the Hawks could be hoping to keep Montador in the minors beyond two weeks. If Montador is claimed, the Hawks are off the hook for his contract. He's currently in the second year of a four-year deal worth $2.75 million a year.

Montador said on Friday that he was open to the idea of a stint in Rockford, but that he was ready and willing to play for the Hawks when called upon.

"The competitor in me would say for sure," Montador said. "The toughest thing is we've all heard everyone say, you can't get into game shape until you play in games. And you know our practice schedule this season, it's tough really to do that. While I would say yes, I doubt he'd want to put me in there, anyway. But if he came in right now I'd say [hell] yeah."

On Sunday, Joel Quenneville said "we'll see" when asked if Montador could be sent down. Offseason additions Michal Rozsival and Sheldon Brookbank have fared well in the sixth defenseman spot in Montador's absence.

"We've got eight defensemen here and everybody's played pretty well," he said. "Right now he's waiting his turn to get into the lineup."

(CBS) Bet the streak.

I’ll never forget it. Those three words were hurled at me by the infamous Jimmy “The Greek” in 1975.

For those of you too young to have heard of Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder, he was a gregarious if not outrageous and controversial oddsmaker who brought gambling to the forefront of television. He gained prominence and notoriety while a member of “The NFL Today” on CBS with Brent Musberger. I met him as a cub reporter in 1975 while covering the Hambletonian, the most prestigious harness race in North America which then was run at the Du Quoin State Fair. I had the responsibility of chauffeuring Snyder that day, which included making a $500 dollar wager for him on a daily double. It returned $36,000 and he never tipped me. Cheapskate! But I digress. We talked about the Detroit Tigers losing streak which was then in the high teens and he remarked, “Bet the streak”.

It’s with that in mind that I bring up some remarkable streaks including that of the Blackhawks. Will a team come along and break the Hawks record of 24 games to start a season with at least a point? I’d like to think it will be a long time before a team matches it. It’s possible no team will ever do it. There are other streaks that clearly will never be touched, and the first that comes to mind is the one on the North Side.

Yes, Cubs fans, I think it’s safe to say no franchise will ever go at least 104 years, and probably more than that, without winning a championship. There’s Joe Dimaggio’s 56-game hitting streak and UCLA’s 88-game winning streak along with 8 straight NCAA titles.

And let’s not forget the Lady huskies of U-Conn who won 90 games in a row. And how about Edwin Moses winning 122 straight high hurdle races or Wilt Chamberlain scoring 20 or more points in 126 straight games?

But I want to concentrate more on some NHL marks that seem very unlikely – if impossible – to break. The Hawks fell five games short of the Flyers mark of 35 games with at least a point. It was set during the 79-80 season. It sure looks like this one could stand forever. And how about the Winnipeg Jets losing 30 straight games or the Ottawa Senators dropping 38 consecutive road matches? Not sure any team will ever do that again. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 17 straight games while the Detroit Red Wings won 23 in a rwo at home. Doug Jarvis once played in 964 consecutive games. Good luck finding a player who challenges that Iron Man mark.

The Boston Bruins once made 29 consecutive postseason appearances. The Blackhawks just missed that record going 28. Think anyone will win eight straight Norris Trophies as the league’s best defenseman? Bobby Orr did that. And no goalie will come close to breaking Glen Hall’s mark of 502 straight regular season games between the pipes. And you can add another 49 to that during the playoffs. Plus legend had it he vomited before every game. That’s a record no human being would ever want to touch.

One of my favorites belongs to Wayne Gretzky who has many records, including once getting a point in 51 straight games. I was there the night his streak was about to end at 44. It was at the Chicago Stadium on Jan. 11, 1984. Gretzky had been held pointless until two seconds remained. Troy Murray, now the very capable analyst on the Blackhawks radio broadcasts, coughed up the puck as the Hawks had pulled the goalie trying to tie the score. Gretzky scooped it up and scored from center ice into an empty net. Unbelievable. But then again, it was “The Great One.”

The old saying is “records are meant to be broken.”

Some simply aren’t.

George Ofman is a sports anchor and reporter for WBBM Newsradio 780 & 105.9FM.

Ryan Whitney and Taylor Hall each had a goal and an assist for Edmonton, which snapped a five-game losing streak. Captain Shawn Horcoff also scored as the Oilers went 3 for 4 on the power play.

Chicago set an NHL record by recording at least one point in the first 24 games of the season. The streak ended with a 6-2 loss at Colorado on Friday night, and coach Joel Quenneville said he was looking forward to seeing how his team responded.

The Blackhawks then got off to their worst start of the season before putting together a spirited rally.

Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Sheldon Brookbank and Brent Seabrook scored during a wild second period, and Kane added his team-best 14th of the season to get Chicago within one with 13 minutes left.

The Blackhawks kept up the pressure for the last part of the game, but couldn’t get the tying goal. Yann Davis, who came in after Devan Dubnyk was hurt in the second period, finished with 21 saves.

Dubnyk made a nice pad save on Hossa before the posts were dislodged when the right winger and Edmonton center Teemu Hartikainen converged on the goal. Hartikainen practically skated over the prone Dubnyk, who was down for several minutes before he was escorted from the ice.

A trainer appeared to be examining Dubnyk’s head and neck.

The Blackhawks looked slow and listless on defense as Edmonton skated free all over the ice. Ray Emery was pulled midway through the first, marking the second straight time that Quenneville yanked his starting goaltender from the game.

The onslaught started with a pair of ugly goals just 36 seconds apart.

First, Mike Brown’s turnaround wrister went in off the right post after the Blackhawks were unable to clear the puck out of their zone. Then a wide-open Gagner slammed in Magnus Paajarvi’s pass to make it 2-0 just three minutes into the game.

It was only the beginning for the Oilers.

Whitney got open along the left side of the goal and converted a cross-ice pass from Hall to make it 3-0 at 9:19, chasing Emery from the game. Corey Crawford came in and shut out the Oilers for three minutes before a streaking Gagner went to his backhand for a power-play goal with 7:38 left in the period.

The sellout crowd at the United Center was mostly silent as the final seconds of the first ticked off. The four goals set a season high for a period for the Oilers, who have scored four or more goals in just four games this season. It also was a season worst for a period for Chicago.

NOTES: It was Brown’s first goal since Feb. 29, 2012, for Toronto at Chicago … Blackhawks D Steve Montador hasn’t played since missing the final part of last season due to a concussion. He is on the active roster, but Chicago’s defensemen have played so well he hasn’t been able to crack the lineup. Asked if Montador might have to go to the minors, Quenneville said: “We’ll see.”

(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

With Blackhawks winger Patrick Sharp on the shelf for a few weeks after injuring his shoulder March 6 against the Avalanche at the United Center, the Hawks have a big absence in the lineup.

Blackhawks beat writer Mark Lazerus asked during the first intermission what his Twitter followers would do to make up for a missing Sharp. Here are their thoughts:

Who should fill the Patrick Sharp void for the Blackhawks

Chicago Sun-Times Blackhawks beat writer Mark Lazerus asked his Twitter folks how the Hawks should plug the gap while injured Patrick Sharp is out. Here's their thoughts.

Storified by Craig Newman· Sun, Mar 10 2013 17:12:20

"It's over," he said. "Just move on to the next game."

Well, Crawford will have to wait a little longer than his teammates to do so. Hawks coach Joel Quenneville started Ray Emery in net Sunday against the Edmonton Oilers.

Emery made 17 saves on 19 shots against the Oilers on Feb. 25.

"Both goalies have been very good, so I think there's a good argument for either guy," Quenneville said before Sunday's game. "Ray played well against these guys the other day. The consistency of our goaltending has been very important to where we're at today. [Crawford] is going to get back in there soon. We won't see him sitting too long."

The Hawks' next game isn't until Thursday in Columbus, meaning Crawford will have nearly a full week to stew on the Avalanche loss. It was hardly all Crawford''s fault -- from defense to face-offs to goaltending, everyone can shoulder some of the blame for that one -- but Crawford, who has been so good all season, briefly leading the league in goals-against average, pointed the finger at himself after the game.

"Giving up five goals, six goals, it's definitely hard to win when you give up that much," he said. "I just didn't have it. I didn't give our guys a chance. I've got to be better than that."

Crawford is 11-1-3 with a 1.81 GAA and a .930 save percentage. Emery entered the Oilers game an NHL-record 10-0-0 (not counting his two-period "save" in a combined shutout with Crawford in St. Louis) with a 2.05 GAA and .924 save percentage.

"Both guys got good consideration to play tonight," Quenneville said. "That's all part of it. I thought Ray came in and did a nice job later in that [Colorado] game. I'm very comfortable no matter who's in the net."

The Blackhawks were stunned 6-2 by the struggling Colorado Avalanche on Friday night. It was their first loss in regulation and ended a remarkable run in which they earned at least one point in their first 24 games, an NHL record.

Matt Duchene scored four points and Ryan O’Reilly got his first goal since his contract dispute was resolved more than a week ago. O’Reilly assisted on another goal in a four-goal onslaught in the second period that turned a 1-1 tie into a laugher.

The Blackhawks (21-1-3) hadn’t lost in regulation since a 6-1 rout by Nashville on March 25, 2012, and their last loss in regulation on the road came more than a year ago, with a 5-1 defeat at St. Louis on March 6, 2012.

Dating back to last year’s regular season, the streak was 30 games.

Chicago’s overall points streak was the second longest in NHL history. The 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers set the league record with a staggering 35-game unbeaten streak that included 25 wins and 10 ties — all in the same season.

Duchene, John Mitchell and Jamie McGinn also put pucks past Corey Crawford in the second period for the Avalanche, who had lost six of their previous seven, including a 3-2 heartbreaker at Chicago 48 hours earlier.

Crawford (11-1-3) allowed five goals on 19 shots before being replaced in net by Ray Emery to start the third period.

Semyon Varlamov had 30 saves for Colorado.

(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

Lots of people not so happy over the loss of Detroit rivalry games - not to mention the pasting the Avs handed out - in the new mix. Here are their thoughts via Twitter:

What do you think of the NHL realignment plan?

Chicago Sun-Times Blackhawks beat writer asks fans what they think of the NHL realignment.

Storified by Craig Newman· Fri, Mar 08 2013 19:49:10

Patrick Sharp will miss three to four weeks with the upper-body injury he suffered Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville confirmed Friday. Sharp, who was sandwiched along the boards by Ryan O'Byrne and left the ice clutching his left shoulder, will not need surgery, Quenneville said.

The rest of the injury news was good for the Hawks: Marian Hossa, Andrew Shaw and Michael Frolik all will play tonight in the rematch against Colorado at the Pepsi Center.

Hossa was a last-minute scratch Wednesday night. He said Friday that he was neither sick nor dealing with any after-effects from last April's concussion or last month's hit to the head from Vancouver's Jannik Hansen.

"This is something different," he said. "Nothing at all with what happened last time."

Shaw took an elbow to the jaw from Colorado's Paul Stastny on Wednesday. He said he was held out of the third period as a "precautionary" measure, and that he's "perfectly fine." He wasn't bothered that the NHL decided not to punish Stastny for the hit.

"It's the league's decision," he said. "They've been doing a pretty good job with it. They have their protocol and they look at video pretty in-depth. I think they made the right decision."

Frolik missed the last two games with the flu, and even flew to Denver commercial to keep him away from the rest of the team as much as possible. But he skated Friday morning and said he's good to go. He said he'll try to keep his shifts short since he hasn't been on the ice for a few days.

"I think I feel good now," he said. "I hope the flu is away. I wasn't feeling great, but right now it's good and I'm glad I can be back."

In Sharp's absence, Bryan Bickell will be moved up from the third line to the second line alongside Dave Bolland and Patrick Kane. Quenneville was pleased with how Bickell played in that spot after Sharp was hurt in the third period. And while the third line of Bickell, Shaw and Viktor Stalberg has been very effective lately, Quenneville said, "Somebody's got to move there."

Kane said he liked the idea of having Bickell bring a "physical element" alongside himself and Dave Bolland, but there's no denying losing Sharp -- and the chemistry they had together -- was a big blow.

"For sure," Kane said. "You've played with the same linemates for 24 games now, half the season, and you really get used to playing with someone. I think it'll be a little bit of an adjustment, we'll see what happens. Sometimes it's good to play with new players, but obviously we're going to miss Sharpie -- he's been a big part of our lineup for a long time here, and he plays a lot of minutes. Someone's going to have to step up and fill that void, which won't be that easy, I guess."

Daniel Carcillo likely will move from the fourth line up to Bickell's spot on the third line.

"We adapt," Shaw said. "We're a great team. Everyone can play with everyone. Guys are going to try to fill that role. Obviously, Sharpie's a great player and it's going to be tough to fill that role, but everyone's going to do their best and work a little extra harder."

Corey Crawford will get the start in goal for the Hawks.

LeBron James is impressed by the Blackhawks' NHL-record, season-opening 24-game point streak. He tweeted as much.

Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla, on the other hand... well, read for yourself.

In his column, Kiszla calls the Hawks' run "the most bogus 'winning' streak in the history of American sports."

"[L]et's keep it real: The Miami Heat winning 16 straight NBA games is without doubt a greater achievement than the Blackhawks' bogus streak," Kiszla writes. "Why? Well, for starters, the Heat's streak isn't the result of creative accounting. Miami plays, gets a W, moves on."

Nobody loves a good meaningless debate more than ESPN, and the folks in Bristol, Conn., have been fueling the debate between the concurrent streaks by having the likes of Stephen A. Smith -- who appeared proud of the fact that he didn't know Columbus had a hockey team, and who thinks the NHL still has ties -- bloviate on television about it.

Some say the Hawks' run -- which does include a current 11-game outright win streak -- is more impressive because there are so few bottom-feeding teams in the NHL, compared with the NBA. Some say the Heat's run wins because the Hawks did actually lose three games in the run, albeit all in gimmicky shootouts.

Patrick Kane's just happy people -- James, included -- are talking about the Hawks.

"I think it's great for the sport," he said Friday in Denver. "You turn on ESPN and it's one of the first stories. You don't really see that too much with hockey. So you know you're doing something good and making some noise. It's cool, he's probably the most coveted athlete in the world in terms of popularity, and he's talking about us. Gotta like that."

As for which streak is more impressive? Kane took a diplomatic approach.

"What do they have 16? And we're at 24 unbeaten [in regulation]," said Kane, a basketball fan himself. "I don't know. It's up in the air, I guess. I think when you look at theirs, they're not even the longest in the NBA this year -- I think the Clippers have 19 [it was 17, but close]. It's cool to be compared. I think both streaks are unbelievable in their own right. Obviously they haven't lost in that amount of time. We have a pretty good streak going there, too, I think it's 11 games without a loss so hopefully we can keep that going."

ALSO: The 10 best moments of the Blackhawks record streak

Sharp was hurt in the third period of Wednesday's win over Colorado when he was checked hard into the glass by Avs defenseman Ryan O'Byrne.

Meanwhile, Marian Hossa, Andrew Shaw and Michael Frolik all will play in Friday's rematch with the Avs at the Pepsi Center.

Frolik missed the last two games with the flu while Hossa was a late scratch Wednesday with an upper body injury.

Shaw left Wednesday's game in the second period after taking a Paul Stastny elbow in the head.

(CBS) Look at this guy. Look at him. I’m used to hearing Cubs fans annually “quit” their fanship like it was smoking or coordinating fights between homeless people for the purposes of gambling, but there’s never any serious meat to it because Cubs fans are the Stockholm syndrome of sports. But a Blackhawks fan?

I’m split on this dude. Half of me is soaking in schadenfreude because a) hahahahahah sucks to be him, and b) no true fan does this. As a fan, you have to realize you’re at the mercy of a business, no matter how much that reality sucks. You don’t quit or take a sabbatical, though.

The other half of me admires this guy’s tenacity. Sometimes you have to respect a person’s commitment to a bad choice. It’s like when that fan went after Randy Myers on the mound after declaring he would if Myers gave up a home run. Beyond dumb and wrong, but it still gives you pause and makes you think, “Damn, he walked the walk.”

On to your correspondence. All emails and tweets are unedited:

Is booing a player that used to play for your rooting interest on the Mt Rushmore of dumb sports things? #TFMB—@DerekSelf1

Booing a guy who used to be on your favorite team and now is on another team is beyond stupid. “How dare you take a contract that you feel is better for you than what the team I like was willing to give you, jerk!” How about people at a job you used to work at but moved on from boo you for bettering your situation, idiot fan?  My favorite is the colossal bag of dumb that is when fans boo a guy that their team traded and didn’t even leave via free agency.

I don’t boo at live sporting events anyway. This is mostly due to the uncreativity of it. Is that really the best negative reaction you can do? Really? Say an extended “boooooo” out loud right now. Do it. I don’t care if there are people around you—actually, it’s better if there are people around you. “Boooooooooo.” Notice the looks you’re getting. It’s as though people think you’re a massive moron. Now you have to come up with some excuse to make those coworkers or people in line at the deli counter or your parole officer think you’re booing ironically. Well, doing the same thing in an arena with thousands of other equally moronic people essentially sounding like pissed off cattle doesn’t justify it.

Be creative, damn it. There is an art to proper heckling. It doesn’t involve droning the same thing with others. It doesn’t involve curse words or projectiles. It involves being genuinely funny. It’s a unique sign, not one that’s been done before (looking at you, dorks that keep bringing giant cardboard heads to games). It’s the guys at HockeeNight.com giving Dan Carcillo his new nickname. Step it up, people.

Does #twitter give everyone a pass for having bad grammar or just professional athletes? #grammarnaziquestion—@bryan_bradshaw

Twitter has morphed into an advertisement for one’s self, one’s brand. What pictures you post, what famous hollow sayings you copy and paste and pretend are profound, what complaints about your day you make that are obviously way worse than cancer—all are what you’re branding yourself as.

Proper grammar, as many other forms of expression of intelligence, is resisted and mocked by greater social media society because greater society is stupid. The “Dude, relax, it’s just Twitter” excuse says a lot about what we’ve devolved into. Stupid people dislike smart people because they see smart people as a representation of their own shortcomings, and people are not allowed to do self-reflection and try to better ourselves anymore. Much easier and preferred to take a dump on smart people for being different and respecting themselves. That’s why people get labeled as “nerds” and the smart kids get picked on by dumb bullies who hate themselves and quietly wish they were as smart as the kid they’re wedgying (unless the smart kid is like me and is smooth enough to finagle is way into the cool crowd early on).

Using proper grammar, then, goes toward the brand you are building on Twitter. As most pro athletes are very large brands that extend to multiple outlets, typing intelligently is a “could hurt, can’t help” approach. Nine out of ten athletes don’t profit from their brains, and to appear un-nerdy goes toward either establishing credibility with the stupid either as one of them, too, or too cool to waste time thinking. Most could care less if a pro jock speaks in complete sentences, let alone type in them. Spelling? Grammar? Ha. Factor in, too, the amount of athletes who are products of schools that let them coast through with actually learning anything.

But just let someone who isn’t a fan of me catch me using “accept” instead of “except,” and it’s like flies to a turd, and then I’m an idiot and how in the world can I be a teacher and strangers get to feel better about themselves because of a mistake I made typing on a cell phone. It’s a lovely world, that Internet.

My young son has decided to like hockey. I need help on how to teach him how to watch. Hints?—@DanKrueger

It sounds as though you aren’t well-versed in the game yourself, so it likely would be a Carcillo-leading-the-Bollig situation if you tried to “teach” the youngster (that’s a bad thing, by the way). How about something a bit different, such as you and your son learning the game together?

In my younger years I always enjoyed watching hockey, especially live because it wasn’t on TV too often in Chicago, but then some lean years for the Blackhawks led me to abandon the sport somewhat for a while. When I chose to start caring more about the Blackhawks years ago, I didn’t have any sort of mentor and had to learn through sheer absorption. You and your son can do the same. Listen to Foley and Olczyk carefully (but don’t point out to the kid the intentional or unintentional innuendos they use). Read up on the team via the talented and really informative and funny Hawks bloggers in this town like The Red Light District, The Committed Indian, Second City Hockey, and Hockee Night (beware of some particularly spicy language those places tend to use, though).

And if possible, go to games together. Live hockey is not only a great time, but it’s a very educational experience. Blackhawks fans are extremely knowledgeable as a whole and very willing to talk about the game, whether you ask them to or not (meaning you walked across a row of seats while skating was going on instead of after a whistle). They’re friendly overall, and if you’re not annoying or cause a distraction with questions, they’ll help you out. Just listening to much of the chatter can be a learning experience in itself.

Thanks for emailing, tweeting, and reading. If your question did not get answered this time, that does not necessarily mean I am ignoring it. It may be saved for the next mailbag. Hopefully you’re a slightly better person now than you were ten minutes ago. If not, your loss.

Want your questions answered in a future Mailbag? Email them to tenfootmailbag@gmail.com or tweet them with the hashtag #TFMB. No question, sports or otherwise, is off limits (with certain logistical exceptions, e.g. lots of naughty words or you type in Portuguese or you solicit my death). If you email, please include a signature.

Tim Baffoe

Tim Baffoe attended the University of Iowa and Governors State University and began blogging at The Score after winning the 2011 Pepsi Max Score Search. He enjoys writing things about stuff, but not so much stuff about things. When not writing for 670TheScore.com, Tim corrupts America’s youth as a high school English teacher and provides a great service to his South Side community delivering pizzas (please tip him and his colleagues well). You can follow Tim’s inappropriate brain droppings on Twitter @Ten_Foot_Midget, but please don’t follow him in real life. E-mail him at tenfootmailbag@gmail.com. To read more of Tim’s blogs click here.

Head coach Joel Quenneville confirmed Friday that Sharp will miss three to four weeks of action, but added that the winger did not need surgery. TSN in Canada specified the injury as a severe AC joint shoulder separation.

Sharp was hurt in the third period of Wednesday night’s win over the Avalanche when Sharp was hit against the boards by Colorado defenseman Ryan O’Byrne.

Meanwhile, the Blackhawks received good news elsewhere on the roster as forwards Marian Hossa (upper body), Andrew Shaw (upper body) and Michael Frolik (illness) are all good to go tonight when the Hawks take on the Avalanche in Colorado..

Brandon Bollig was recalled from Rockford for the game, although he’ll likely be a scratch now. A corresponding move has yet to be announced.

Corey Crawford will start in net.

Patrick Sharp did not travel with the team to Denver Thursday after suffering an apparent shoulder injury Wednesday night against the Avalanche. Marian Hossa and Andrew Shaw are also nursing injuries, but they did make the trip to Colorado and head coach Joel Quenneville expressed optimism after Wednesday’s win that they would be available Friday.

Meanwhile, Michael Frolik, who has been sick this week, will travel separately to Denver Friday.

With Sharp out and the status of three other forwards in doubt, the recall of Bollig was necessary. The Blackhawks were actually caught shorthanded Wednesday after assigning him to Rockford. When Hossa was a late scratch, the Hawks had to play defenseman Sheldon Brookbank on the wing with the fourth line.

Michael Frolik, who has missed the last two games with the flu, wasn’t on the charter but will meet the team in Colorado.

Hossa was a late scratch on Wednesday with an upper body injury. He took the pregame warmup but decided he couldn’t go.

Shaw was hurt in the second period when he took an elbow from Paul Stastny in the head.

Sharp was injured in the third period when he was checked hard into the glass by Avs defenseman Ryan O’Byrne and left the ice holding his left shoulder. Hawks coach Joel

read more

(CBS) For my entire adult life, I believed God was too busy to be concerned with sports.

If He wasn’t allowing a natural disaster or helping avert some global catastrophe then he was performing some other Godly Task and certainly not watching the NHL or MLB.

I was wrong – and wrong in a major way.

Daniel Carcillo scored the game-winning goal for the Blackhawks last night with just 49 seconds left in regulation. The win gave the Hawks an orga-ny-zation record 11th consecutive victory. They have now gone halfway through the shortened season without a regulation loss. Ray Emery became the first goalie ever to win his first 10 games.

And did I mention that Daniel Carcillo scored the game winner?

A few days ago, I said Carcillo was, “a complete waste of space” and “a liability on the ice.”

This isn’t just a matter of luck or getting a break like championship teams have in the past – this is certainly Divine Intervention.

God is watching, and so is most of Chicago.

The problem now: the Blackhawks MUST win the Stanley Cup.

If they don’t, it will be the worst collapse – the most epic failure – the greatest disappointment in all of Chicago sports history.

Forget about any other team – the ’84 or ’86 Bears or the ‘82 DePaul Blue Demons. On a side note, when it comes to epic failures – please stop mentioning the ’69 Cubs. They went 8 and 17 in the month of September (including an eight-game losing streak) and lost the East Division by eight games. They’re not in the team photo for this discussion. Thanks.

The Hawks must be the last team standing in 2013 or these records and these streaks will mean absolutely nothing. Talking the talk goes a long way on the North Side, but it won’t, it can’t in the Madhouse on Madison. Fortunately, John McDonough knows this all too well.

All right, Carcillo,  you’re not a complete waste of space. Is that a halo on your Indian head sweater?

Matt Abbatacola is the executive producer of The Boers and Bernstein Show. You can follow him on Twitter @MattAbbatacola.

But even King James and the Heat have taken notice of the Blackhawks unprecedented streak of earning a point in the first 24 games of the season, en route to a 21-0-3 record.

After the Blackhawks last-minute win over the Avalanche on Wednesday night, James gave the Blackhawks a little shout out on Twitter.

Hey Chicago Blackhawks, u guys are AWESOME!! #streaking—
LeBron James (@KingJames) March 07, 2013

After seeing the tweet, Blackhawks winger Bryan Bickell showed his appreciation.

UNITED CENTER (CBS) Joel Quenneville didn’t exactly sound like a guy who had just completed half a season without a loss in regulation following the Blackhawks’ thrilling 3-2 come-from-behind win over the Avalanche Wednesday night.

That’s because he had just gotten done checking on the status of several players, including Patrick Sharp, who may have suffered a somewhat severe injury during the game.

“He might miss some time,” Quenneville conceded. “We’ll know more tomorrow.”

More Coverage
Hoge: Crazy Night A Reminder Of What’s Important For Blackhawks

Sharp skated off the ice in the third period holding his shoulder, but there is some room for optimism as Quenneville said he doesn’t think it’s a season-ending injury.

Meanwhile, Marian Hossa was a late scratch with an upper-body injury after warming up before the game, but Quenneville said he was close to playing.

“Hopefully he’ll be ready for the next game,” Quenneville said, as the Blackhawks turn around and play the Avalanche again Friday night, but in Colorado.

Andrew Shaw also suffered an undisclosed injury during the game and missed the entire third period. He took an awkward hit late in the second period and was visibly shaken up on the bench.

After the game, Quenneville described Shaw’s injury as “not too bad”.

The Blackhawks could be shorthanded Friday night if either Hossa or Shaw can’t go. Forward Michael Frolik has missed the last two games with an illness and Quenneville said before Wednesday’s game that it’s “questionable” if he’ll even travel to Colorado with the team. The Blackhawks also sent forward Brandon Bollig down to Rockford earlier Wednesday.

Adam Hoge covers the Blackhawks for 670 The Score and 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AdamHogeCBS.

UNITED CENTER (CBS) Bonkers.

That was the scene at the United Center Wednesday night when Daniel Carcillo — yes, that Daniel Carcillo — scored the game-winner with 50 seconds left in regulation to beat the Avalanche 3-2 and extend the Blackhawks’ season-long point-streak to 24 games.

Half the season. The team that refuses to lose has gone half the season without a loss in regulation.

“It’s not normal,” Carcillo said.

No, no it’s not.

So is it time to start preparing for the playoffs?

Actually, yes, it might be.

That’s the luxury a team has when it goes half a season without losing a game in regulation.

45 points. 19 more than Detroit in the Central. 12 more than Anaheim in the West. 13 more than Montreal in the East.

So when will head coach Joel Quenneville start seriously thinking about resting his guys to make sure they’re ready for a long playoff run?

“We’ll see. With the shortened season I think we want to make sure everybody is a part of it, but at the same time we’ll recognize when it’s too taxing for them,” he said before the game. “I think we’ve been gauging their rest by staying away from the rink on non-game days.”

Truth be told, the Blackhawks may have already started the process. With Steve Montador healthy enough to be activated for the first time this season, the Hawks elected to send Brandon Bollig to Rockford earlier Wednesday and carry eight defensemen. Much has been made about Duncan Keith’s taxing minutes in recent seasons, but with seven defensemen playing well, the move to carry eight is a clear indication that they want to keep the entire unit as fresh as possible during a packed in season.

As it turned out, Wednesday’s game was a reminder of how important it is to keep the team healthy — and how hard it is. Because saving some players may tax some others.

Despite warming up before the game, Marian Hossa was a late scratch, and with Michael Frolik already ruled out with an illness, the demotion of Bollig left the Blackhawks a forward short. As a result, defenseman Sheldon Brookbank found himself on the wing on the fourth line, although he was limited to 2:31 of ice time. That of course increased the minutes of the rest of the forwards, however, as the Blackhawks played out their fifth game in seven days.

Not exactly ideal.

And the situation became even more complicated when Patrick Sharp left in the third period with a possibly severe undisclosed injury and Andrew Shaw missed the entire period after taking an awkward shot late in the second.

But do you think playing an entire line of forwards short was going to keep the Blackhawks from erasing a 2-1 deficit?

Not for the team that refuses to lose.

Despite being shorthanded, Jonathan Toews weaved his way around two victims and tucked the puck inside the skate of goaltender Semyon Varlamov to tie the game at two with 17:41 left. And while the exhausted Hawks gave up some decent opportunities in their own end, forcing Ray Emery to make some big saves, they continued to be relentless in the offensive zone until Carcillo flipped in his first goal of the season to send the United Center into a frenzy.

“I couldn’t even skate. I had to drop to my knees,” Carcillo said about his reaction to his game-winner.

It was just another night for the Blackhawks, who continue to hurdle every obstacle thrown their way.

“What we’ve been through lately really helps give us that confidence that we can go into the third period down a goal and somehow, someway we’re going to find a way (to win),” captain Jonathan Toews said.

That resolve will continue be tested, however, as the team awaits word on how serious Sharp’s injury is. Quenneville said after the game that Sharp “could miss some time” but didn’t think it was season-ending.

“I won’t go there. No, I don’t think so,” were his exact words.

He also said that Shaw should be fine and is hopeful Hossa will play Friday in Colorado.

But if the Blackhawks can come back on the Avalanche while down an entire line of forwards, then surely they can continue to win if Sharp misses some time.

“I believe we have four lines on this team that can play,” Carcillo, who was bumped up to the top line at the last minute when Hossa was scratched, said. “Any night, no matter what situation you put them in, that’s what it takes to win during the year and that’s especially what it takes to win during the playoffs.

“You need to roll four lines and I believe we have that in this room.”

Now the challenge is to keep it that way.

Adam Hoge

Adam is the Sports Editor for CBSChicago.com and specializes in coverage of the Bears, Blackhawks, White Sox and college sports. He was born and raised in Lincoln Park and attended St. Ignatius College Prep before going off to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he earned a Journalism degree. Follow him on Twitter @AdamHogeCBS and read more of his columns here.

But despite skating without three key forwards, playing their second game in two nights and falling behind after two periods, they pulled out yet another win.

Daniel Carcillo scored the tiebreaking goal with 49.3 seconds left and the Blackhawks won their 11th consecutive game, beating the Avalanche 3-2 on Wednesday night to extend the best start in NHL history.

“Being down, resiliency, perseverance, whatever you want to call it, there’s a belief in this locker room that whatever position we’re in, we can come back,” Carcillo said. “That’s one of our biggest assets.”

Jonathan Toews and Andrew Shaw also scored for Chicago (21-0-3), which reached the halfway point of a lockout-shortened season without losing in regulation. The remarkable Blackhawks have earned at least one point in their first 24 games, an NHL record.

Dating back to last year’s regular season, the streak is 30 games.

The Blackhawks broke the previous team record for consecutive wins with their 10th in a row Tuesday night, 5-3 over Minnesota.

Chicago’s overall points streak is the second-longest in NHL history. The 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers set the league record at 35 games with a 25-0-10 run.

Carcillo knocked in a rebound with a backhand shot, his first goal of the season, after Semyon Varlamov made two in-close stops on Viktor Stalberg during a scrum in the crease.

Carcillo is better known as an agitator than a scorer, but he punched in a puck when it counted.

“I want to be more than an enforcer on this team,” Carcillo said. “Just to be able to step in with some key guys going down and helping wherever I can, in this particular situation scoring a game-winner, that’s what we play for.”

Toews scored a highlight-reel, short-handed goal early in the third period, beating two Avalanche players to tie the score at 2. Chicago trailed after two periods for only the fourth time this season.

John Mitchell and Matt Duchene scored for Colorado, which has lost six of seven.

“It’s just frustrating right now,” Avalanche coach Joe Sacco said. “We had some things go well, and to come up again without any points, it’s disappointing.”

Ray Emery made 20 saves for the Blackhawks to improve to 10-0. Varlamov finished with 29 stops.

Chicago forward Marian Hossa sat out with an upper-body injury. Shaw left the game late in the second period and teammate Patrick Sharp left midway through the third.

“It says a lot in this situation,” Toews said. “That team, they were hungry to be the spoiler, and with a couple of guys going down, it’s not easy to keep going.

“But we had a lot of positive talk going into the third period. With what we’ve been through lately, it really helps give us that confidence we somehow, some way, are going to find a way.”

Shaw’s power-play goal on a deflection opened the scoring midway through the first. Shaw was parked in front of the crease, and Brent Seabrook’s drive from the right point ticked in off the shaft of Shaw’s stick.

Mitchell tied it with 1:40 left in the first, exploiting a rare Chicago coverage mix-up. Mitchell skated alone to the right side of the net, took a quick pass across the crease from Chuck Kobasew and lifted a backhand past Emery.

Varlamov stopped Patrick Kane on a 2-on-1 break and Carcillo on a point-blank chance early in the second.

Kobasew missed on a breakaway at 6:11 of the second moments after he jumped back on the ice from the penalty box.

Duchene put Colorado ahead 2-1 with 6:43 left in the second, moments after Varlamov made a point-blank pad save on Sharp.

Duchene streaked down the left side, slipped past Seabrook and took a pass from P.A. Parenteau. Duchene fired from a sharp angle near the goal line, but the puck struck Emery and slipped in under his right arm.

Toews scored at 2:19 of the third to tie it 2-all. He moved down the right wing, then cut to the net around Ryan O’Reilly. Toews skated across the crease — behind both O’Reilly and Jamie McGinn — and banked in a shot off the left post.

O’Reilly and McGinn are forwards who got caught as the two men back during the Colorado power play.

“You have a power play and you give up a chance,” Sacco said. “It’s a good play by a real good player on the other team, but I want to watch the tape again.

“I’m pretty sure O’Reilly got his stick slashed out of his hands (by Chicago’s Dave Bolland). It led to a 1-on-1 situation. If it did, it’s a bad non-call, but there’s nothing I can do about it now.”

Carcillo’s game-winner was his first goal since returning from a knee injury on Feb. 22.

“We had a big breakdown at the end of the game,” Sacco said.

NOTES: Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville offered a postgame injury update. He said Hossa “is close to playing” and might be ready Friday at Colorado. Quenneville said the team would know more about Shaw on Thursday, but Sharp could be out longer and “may get some time.” … The Blackhawks finished the 2011-12 regular season with a 3-0-3 spurt before losing to Phoenix in the first playoff round. … The Blackhawks assigned LW Brandon Bollig to the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. Bollig had played in only two of seven games since Carcillo returned from his knee injury. … Chicago RW Michael Frolik missed his second game with an illness. … Colorado played its second game without injured RW Milan Hejduk (torso). D Erik Johnson (head) missed his 11th game and D Ryan Wilson (ankle) his 14th.

(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

UNITED CENTER (CBS) Steve Montador has been activated for the first time this season, but will not play tonight against the Colorado Avalanche.

The Blackhawks will also be without Michael Frolik for the second straight game as he continues to be hampered by an illness. Head coach Joel Quenneville was unsure if Frolik would make the trip to Colorado for Friday’s game against the Avalanche as there’s some concern about putting him on the team plane if he’s contagious.

Meanwhile, Montador, who has been skating with the team for the last couple of weeks, returns to the active roster for the first time since battling a bad concussion last season. The defenseman suffered the concussion last February, returned for one game in March and then was shutdown for the rest of the season.

But while Montador has been activated, it’s unclear when he’ll see his first game action. Quenneville wouldn’t commit to Montador playing against the Avalanche Friday, as the team will now carry eight defensemen with forward Brandon Bollig being assigned to Rockford earlier in the day to make room for Montador.

“I think the first seven (defensemen) we’ve been playing to date have been playing extremely well and I have to sit one out right now,” Quenneville said before the Blackhawks faced the Avalanche Wednesday night. “It’s always a tough decision and they’re all deserving of playing. We’ll see with Monty working his way back in, it’s something we’ll measure, but certainly the group that’s playing right now we’ve been very happy with and we’ll see how it progresses here.”

On the flip side, the Blackhawks are now down a forward and with Bollig getting sent to Rockford, questions about having enough toughness on the team will naturally rise again.

“I think we have some toughness around our lineup, whether it’s Danny Carcillo, you got Jamal Mayers, Sheldon Brookbank, we’ve got some toughness,” Quenneville said. “I think we have some internal toughness as well. We’ve got a competitive group.”

Adam Hoge covers the Blackhawks for 670 The Score and 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AdamHogeCBS.

The 26-year-old Bollig has recorded 40 penalty minutes in 11 games this season.

In 29 career regular-season games, Bollig has earned 98 penalty minutes.

The Blackhawks will face the Avalanche at the United Center at 7:00pm CT tonight.

Quite a bit has changed in this world since the Blackhawks last lost in regulation, 318 days ago.

The good folks over at Sports Illustrated’s Extra Mustard compiled a list of 14 things that were true the last time this team lost in regulation.

1) No one knew what “Gangnam Style” was. The YouTube sensation, which has received over one billion hits, was still three months away from being released.

For the full list, please click here.

(CBS) “Steven A. Smith is Walt Disney’s Uncle Remus of the 21st Century. He’s the most racist stereotype on television- an ignorant, loud, obnoxious black man all dressed up so he [can] shuck and jive. They might as well put him in a clown suit and black face. ‘I yell everything I say, load it with street slang, cry racism at every opportunity, and most of my opinions are either absurdly simplistic or make no [expletive-ing] sense!’”

That is a description of Smith by Charlie DeMarco from one of my favorite things ever written, “ESPN: A Requiem in Five Parts” for the now-defunct ThePhatPhree.com. Unfortunately the whole composition seems to be impossible to find online anymore in its entirety (I cannot find any current contact info for DeMarco, who gave me my first ever writing gig, but a message board at least reproduced four-fifths of his brilliant work). It was written in 2006, a ways before ESPN figured out they could get people to watch a program that took the conflict sometimes found on Pardon the Interruption and scripted it and made it the entire show and before Smith was given the larger platform he has today. Has much changed about the Stephen A. Smith approach between then and now?

With the positivity and excitement that comes with such an amazing start such as the Chicago Blackhawks have made for themselves comes an opposite reaction of sorts. Not just the pragmatism from me that people will confuse with trying to pee in the punchbowl, but also actual attempts at discreditation.

Enter Smith (likely in a loud, uninvited fashion).

I rarely watch non-game programming on ESPN anymore if I can help it, but there was a buzz going around about things that came out of Smith’s mouth Monday after somebody pulled the string in his back on the Sportscenter set. And, yes, I am aware of the buried lead that ESPN actually had hockey talk.

There are various ways to respond to such massive idiocy, all of which are valid. Puck Daddy did the logical breakdown and takedown of how wrong Smith is in his hockey thoughts/diarrhea. That somebody who collects a paycheck to talk about something he seems to have very little knowledge about says a lot about what that network thinks of its viewers’ intelligence, by the way.

Awful Announcing chided the network for its lack of preparedness to even cover such a topic. Ditto making it an apples-to-what-the-hell-are-you-doing comparison to the Miami Heat.

That all leads into Deadspin’s take in which the question of a consumer’s choice is begged—why did any viewer think Smith was going to give a cogent hockey opinion in the first place? If you’re angry over what Smith said, don’t point fingers at ESPN or even Smith. Point them at yourself for choosing to walk into that environment of dumb in the first place.

There is also the school of thought that deciding not to completely ignore what Smith said is exactly what ESPN wants. They don’t care that Smith got it all wrong as much as they care about the bitching and moaning it has created—the “no such thing as bad publicity” theory. All of this will only create more viewership if for only people who want to “hate watch” Smith, akin to what made Jay Mariotti such a successful writer in this town for so long. I’ve never understand purposely consuming a product you vehemently dislike, but many softheaded people do it, and a new giant wing of the World Wide Leader’s empire has been built on people not understanding they are the butt of the joke when they scream at Skip Bayless on their TVs.

While I know very well that at least half of the dozen or so people reading this will say “Then why are you even mentioning this? You’re part of the problem!” I believe that complete willful ignorance to this stuff doesn’t help either. “Don’t pay attention to it, and it will go away” doesn’t apply to such a monolithic entity. While none of this will stop the bad analysis from happening, at least a public shaming can make those writing and cashing the checks feel just a bit dirtier about doing so.

Which leads to what actually bothered me most when I finally listened to Smith’s dumbassery. If you take a caricature like Smith and allow him to talk negatively about the most popular story in a sport that has a predominantly white fanbase, it’s not difficult to see how or why this tire fire gets ignited. And what all that then does is both drag out incredibly stupid racist people that now have a comfortable excuse to be angry at a black guy as well as, and this is more important, inflate a stereotype of the disconnect between hockey and the African American fan. “Famous black sports man doesn’t understand hockey” is a bad look, and it does a disservice to black hockey fans who have been so before the 2013 Blackhawks as well as any potential newcomers that will be a part of the windfall of new fans that the success of a team on a record-setting start will bring.

That is terribly unfair, and both Smith and ESPN despite all their faults should be better than that. I assume Smith doesn’t show up five minutes before airing without knowing what topics will be broached. A person conscious of his/her limitations would, when presented with a topic he/she can’t give a halfway educated opinion on, maybe say to a writer or producer “Hey, I’m going to look like a jackass if I try to talk about this, so can we either omit it completely or at least get somebody else to talk about it for a segment?” Or a staff member could be aware of this beforehand. Or the show’s anchor could stop Smith spectacularly failing to talk about something in an intelligent manner and correct him. While ESPN deservedly takes heat for often choosing to not cover hockey, covering it by taking a giant dump on it after having its way with its grandmother, i.e. blatantly insulting the intelligence of fans, works far worse that completely ignoring it.

Couple that with juxtaposing a hockey story with one of an NBA team in the way Smith was allowed to, and it becomes a black vs. white thing, whether intentional or not. (But I’m done giving ESPN the benefit of the doubt when it comes to this stuff. Too much money rides on not being accidental, so they likely knew the hornets’ nest they were poking.) The two streaks aren’t worthy of comparison in the first place, and attempting to squish them together accomplishes nothing intelligent. But it does stir up the base.

And for someone who in the past hasn’t been hesitant to discuss sports and race, it should dawn on Smith the counter-productivity of what he did Monday. That is unless Smith is just the sellout columnist Jason Whitlock has inferred he is. After Smith’s use of the n-word on air in 2012, Whitlock called what Smith did, his response, and his existence on First Take as a whole “a horrendous look for black journalists.” What occurred on Monday may not have included specific racially-charged language, but it wasn’t a much better look.

Tim Baffoe

Tim Baffoe attended the University of Iowa and Governors State University and began blogging at The Score after winning the 2011 Pepsi Max Score Search. He enjoys writing things about stuff, but not so much stuff about things. When not writing for 670TheScore.com, Tim corrupts America’s youth as a high school English teacher and provides a great service to his South Side community delivering pizzas (please tip him and his colleagues well). You can follow Tim’s inappropriate brain droppings on Twitter @Ten_Foot_Midget , but please don’t follow him in real life. He grew up in Chicago’s Beverly To read more of Tim’s blogs click here.

(CBS) Blackhawks President John McDonough understands the difference between history and trivia.

It was a subtle undercurrent last night amid the manufactured gravitas of the Marian Hossa 1000-game ceremony, but the team’s top executive used the opportunity to continue to do what he has done since getting the job: keep everything focused on winning championships.

I’m not sure how many fans appreciated his casual reference to Hossa still having more important aspirations this year, but the painting of him hoisting the Stanley Cup – given to him, per McDonough, to commemorate the greatest moment of his career — was a stark reminder of what all this is ultimately about.

The trumped-up pregame party was signature McDonough on display. Even while maximizing a relatively mundane statistical accomplishment (280 players have done it) for the purposes of mawkish stagecraft, he was still able to use it to keep the NHL title top of mind for anyone caring to pay attention.

Some fans are uncomfortable trying to reconcile this reality with their currently giddy euphoria over the record-setting start. Anybody daring to point out that larger accomplishments loom is derided for trying to spoil the fun, quickly getting the “No Pare La Fiesta” message. It’s a peculiar thing, this apparent emotional fragility, especially considering that the franchise is not far removed from its own parade, and that “One Goal” has been a marketing mantra, with its message obvious.

The last Chicago team with an unprecedented start to the season went out of their way to embrace the higher expectations brought on by their success, not worried for a second that any fleeting happiness could be undermined by confronting the truth.

The 1996 Bulls began the season 41-3, en route to 72 wins. Along the way, and amid the Beatles-in-America kind of attention they attracted, both Scottie Pippen and Ron Harper were fond of saying “It don’t mean a thing without the ring.” They were smart enough to copyright the slogan, even, monetizing it on hats and t-shirts as the playoffs were set to begin. No fear, their excitement over less meaningful games tempered by context, and full awareness of how disappointing anything less than ultimate victory would be after setting a record. Their own version of “One Goal.”

Blackhawks fans should revel similarly in the higher stakes created by their team’s explosion out of the lockout. There is no reason for any current thrills to be lessened one iota by the focus on the championship, when that singularity of purpose is what validates and galvanizes everything else. It is the principle of existence for professional sports teams at the highest levels, and particularly in the largest markets.

The players know this. The coach knows it. The subtext of last night’s brief speech by McDonough was that he knows it, too.

Just as he knew it in 2009, when the two of us talked during a game at the United Center. The arena thrummed with energy that night, and it was something palpable well beyond just that of long-starved fans relishing the ‘Hawks’ restoration. In voices raised to be audible above the din, we discussed how far the franchise had come so fast. I marveled, while he demurred.

“Look at all this,” I told him, making a sweeping gesture to indicate the whole tableau of filled seats, intensely-shared emotion and riveting on-ice action that had been dormant for so long. “You should be very proud of yourself.”

The always-affable McDonough turned serious, his eyes narrowing as he responded.

“We haven’t done anything yet.”

Dan Bernstein

UNITED CENTER (CBS) Good luck convincing this team they’ll lose.

Sure, the Blackhawks will eventually fall in regulation, but until it happens, they’re just going to play like they’re invincible.

It happened again Tuesday night at the United Center, where the Blackhawks brushed off an early goal from the opponent and fired off four of their own in the first period en route to a 5-3 win over the Minnesota Wild.

The win extended their season-starting point-streak to 23 games and marked the first 10-game winning streak in franchise history. The team also extended its regular season point-streak to 29 games, dating back to last season, the second-longest such streak all-time.

“It’s exciting when you go through times like this,” captain Jonathan Toews said after a two-assist effort. “The fans are excited, there’s a lot of talk, they have high expectations for us now after the start we’ve had. I don’t know if they expect us to keep going like this for 48 games, but when you have success, it’s great.”

Earlier Tuesday, following the Hawks’ morning skate, an out-of-town reporter asked Joel Quenneville about how the core of his team has contributed to the record start to the season. But the reality is, the youngsters and newcomers are just as responsible for the Blackhawks’ success this year as the veterans who were around to win the Stanley Cup in 2010.

That was evident against the Wild, as rookie Brandon Saad — who has been dubbed “The Man-Child” by his teammates — sparked the Blackhawks with three points in the first period, including his fourth goal of the season, firmly validating his spot on the top line next to Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa. Bryan Bickell scored two of the Hawks’ four first period goals, with Hossa also contributing a goal after the team honored him with a pregame ceremony for playing in 1000 NHL games.

And it’s exactly that formula — consistent play from the veterans, surprising play from the youngsters — that has the Blackhawks catching the attention of a country that doesn’t exactly have hockey top of mind.

“You can probably talk about each and every player on our team and spend a couple minutes in saying how good they’ve been this year,” Quenneville said. “Game-in-and-game out, our top players have been our best players and the contributions we’ve been getting from everyone else is the same so it’s a healthy situation to be in.”

What also makes the streak so impressive is that you know the Blackhawks are getting the best efforts from their opponents every night. If you’re playing the Blackhawks right now, it’s a game you’ve circled on the calendar. You want to be the team that ends the streak. And that’s a big reason why seven of the contests during the current 10-game win-streak have been one-goal games. But whether opponents are carrying leads late into the third period — like the Red Wings Sunday — or jumping out to them in the first few minutes of the game — like the Wild Tuesday — the Blackhawks simply don’t care.

Last year, the resiliency to respond to adversity often wasn’t there. This year, it’s so prevalent you wonder if the Hawks even realize when they’re losing.

“There’s all sorts of adversity and challenges that come up whether you’re up a goal, down a goal, teams coming at you that really want to beat you in your own building and spoil this whole thing that’s going on. And none of it seems to faze us,” Toews said.

Essentially what the Blackhawks have told the NHL is: Want to beat us? Too bad. Your game-plan isn’t elaborate enough, your effort isn’t good enough and your speed isn’t fast enough. We’re better than you.

Tuesday night, it looked like Minnesota had a plan to beat the Blackhawks — at least for 10 minutes. The Wild had a lot going for them, playing some of their best hockey of the season coming in, with a goaltender that handed the Hawks one of their three shootout losses this season.

So what did the Blackhawks do when Matt Cullen picked Andrew Shaw’s pocket and Devin Setoguchi scored to give the Wild an early 1-0 lead? They sent Niklas Backstrom to the bench by ripping off four goals before the first period ended, of course.

And what did the Blackhawks do when the play got sleepy in the third and the Wild closed the deficit to 4-3 with 9:28 left? Patrick Kane responded with a goal just over a minute later, of course.

Maybe last year’s Blackhawks would have worried about Minnesota’s momentum coming in or the way the Wild battled back later in the game. Not this year. Not this team.

On to the next one.

Adam Hoge

Adam is the Sports Editor for CBSChicago.com and specializes in coverage of the Bears, Blackhawks, White Sox and college sports. He was born and raised in Lincoln Park and attended St. Ignatius College Prep before going off to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he earned a Journalism degree. Follow him on Twitter @AdamHogeCBS and read more of his columns here.

Bryan Bickell scored twice in the first period and Patrick Kane added a big goal in the third as Chicago (20-0-3) remained the only team in the NHL without a regulation loss. It also snapped a tie with the 1977-78 Montreal Canadiens for the second-longest points streak in league history.

Ryan Suter scored his first goal with Minnesota, sending a power-play slap shot past a screened Corey Crawford in the third period. Kyle Brodziak then poked his own rebound to get the Wild within one at 10:32. But Kane beat Darcy Kuemper just 61 seconds later.

Brandon Saad had a goal and two assists for the Blackhawks, who host the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night.

(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

(CBS) And I thought God was a Cubs fan.

I think Harry Caray tried to make us believe that. Little did I realize he wears extra large pads, has shiny silver skates and coaches a team called “Angels on Ice.” Something has to explain these Blackhawks. Can’t be as easy as “We have four lines working: there’s a commitment to both ends of the ice and our goaltending has been outstanding.”

Come on.

You don’t do 22 straight games to start a season with at least a point in each without some kind of cosmic occurrence. Did a meteor heading for Chicago spot the Indian head and make an abrupt turn toward Russia? Was that a UFO whizzing over Schaumburg, or just a slap shot by Seabrook?

Or do we dare invoke divine intervention?

I’m starting to believe there are forces other that Patrick Kane, who is playing out of this world, that are helping to contribute to the Hawks’ phenomenal streak. I mean, how do you explain them being 2 1/2 minutes from having this seemingly endless run end and a Red Wing’s player suddenly and inexplicably shoots the puck out of the rink and gets a delay of game penalty? And then Kane scores 30 seconds later. And then Kane gets the only goal in a shootout.

I’m trying to phone heaven but the line is busy. Must be Blackhawks fans trying to get through. There’s has to be something in the air. Maybe Kane was whisked away after some tumultuous behavior issues and transported to the planet “You Gotta Be Kidding Me.” Maybe he’s spreading that something special in the Hawks locker room. Could he have returned to earth an Angel? Kaner? Has anyone detected wings underneath his sweater?

Whatever it is, the Hawks are playing as if they decide to lend the Stanley cup to the Bruins and Kings. There is perceptible bounce to their step, as if someone added rocket fuel to their skate boot. They hit the ice flying: a group programmed to deliver a dizzying display of hockey brilliance. They aren’t punishing their opponents with their bodies, just dominating them with persistence. If Kane isn’t dazzling, Toews is instilling his will or Hossa is hogging the puck.

At times, it doesn’t seem fair. But it’s a joy to watch.

Patrick Sharp offers credit to the man behind the bench. “Joel Quennville knows how to push the right buttons” he says with some reverence. Quennville exclaims incredulously he has so many buttons to push.

This is another way of the head coach saying it’s a joy to coach this team.

Either that or those wings are hidden under Coach Q’s Suit: Or Corey Crawford’s blocker: Or Ray Emery is actually a Saint.

I Covered the Hawks of the 80′s, one lead by the diminutive lightning bolt named Denis Savard. The Chicago Stadium was then what the United center is today minus the electronic gadgetry. Those Hawks had pizzazz, Secord and Larmer. Doug Wilson could outshoot anyone and of course, they had Baaaaaanerman! But they never won a cup, even when a rugged riptide named Roenick joined them. There was this guy named Gretzy and a team called the Oilers and then a guy named Lemiux and a team called the Penguins. But the Hawks received high marks for fabulous entertainment.

And now, two seasons removed from lofting Lord Stanley’s elusive Urn, these Hawks are playing as if retuning it to the shores of Lake Michigan is a foregone conclusion.

It doesn’t quite work that way unless someone with the ultimate skybox seat happens to have a season ticket. And an endless loop of Chelsea Dagger.

George Ofman is a sports anchor and reporter for WBBM Newsradio 780 & 105.9FM.

UNITED CENTER (CBS) With a playoff-like media contingent looking on at the Blackhawks’ morning skate Tuesday morning, center Dave Bolland returned to the ice and vowed he’ll play tonight against the Minnesota Wild.

Bolland missed five games after suffering an upper-body injury Feb. 22 against the Sharks. Tuesday, he played coy about the specifics regarding the injury, but he did say it was not a concussion, an important admission for someone with a long history head injuries.

“I don’t think it was anything from my history,” Bolland said. “I think it was something else. This game is a hard hitting game. You never know what’s going to happen, but I don’t think it was anything coming back from my history.”

Bolland returned to his familiar spot as the second-line center in Tuesday’s morning skate, with Marcus Kruger moving back to the fourth line.

“It’s never fun when you’re sitting out games and winning and seeing all the fun that’s going on on the ice,” Bolland said. “It’s always disappointing seeing it on TV and seeing what’s going on. I’m just glad I’m back and ready.”

Frolik Sick, Doubtful

One man who was not on the ice at the morning skate was winger Michael Frolik, who is sick. Head coach Joel Quenneville classified him as “doubtful” for tonight’s game.

With Frolik out, Brandon Bollig was on the fourth line with Kruger at center and Daniel Carcillo on the opposite wing.

In The Spotlight

It may have taken a 22-game point streak, but the Blackhawks have captured the attention of the national media. The amount of reporters at Tuesday’s skate was similar to a playoff series.

For some teams, that may add some pressure, but inside the locker room, the players barely flinched.

“I’d say maybe multiplied by two,” Quenneville said in regards to the amount of media in the building. “It’s been a fun start to the season. I think the guys have been approaching each and every game as a new challenge and I think our opponents every game have been excited about playing us as well.”

That dynamic has resulted in a number of exciting games, with seven one-goal games during the Blackhawks’ current nine-game win-streak.

Tuesday night figures to be another exciting game as the Wild — 6-3-1 in their last 10 games — try to beat the Hawks for the second time this season. The Wild are one of the three teams able to hand the Blackhawks a shootout loss during the current 22-game point streak.

Bolland said the Hawks need to be ready for the Wild’s speed and be good on draws to avoid another loss to Minnesota. Back on Jan. 30, they let a 2-1 first period league slip away before losing in the shootout.

Adding to the challenge will be Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom, who was the NHL’s Third Star Of The Week last week after posting a 3-0-0 record and a 2.00 goals against average.

For more Blackhawks coverage throughout the season, follow Adam on Twitter at @AdamHogeCBS.

The Hawks and their NHL record 22-game point streak to start the season has become a national story.

“It’s gaining some momentum here,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “We don’t like to focus too much on that, but you’ve got to commend the guys and how diligent they’ve been in focusing on our next game and not getting distracted or getting excited about things they can’t control.

“Something like this can help you in the playoffs, knowing that the games and the attention picks up as you go along.”

Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews were surrounded by a media mob after they came off the ice.

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(CBS) Shortly after Patrick Kane did his two-step in the shootout to beat Jimmy Howard and give the Blackhawks another win and their 22nd straight game in the 2013 season without a regulation loss, the NHL nearly had a disaster on its hands in New York.

The Rangers were hosting the Buffalo Sabres and they were trying to string a couple of wins together following a disastrous run in the Eastern Conference.

Early in the third period, Rangers star Brad Richards was chasing down the puck near the boards while New York was on a power play. Buffalo goon Patrick Kaleta, somehow on the ice while the Sabres were trying to kill a penalty, slammed Richards from behind into the boards.

Richards was left writhing on the ice with his neck at an awkward angle.

Richards was in pain and looked like he was damaged severely, but he did not suffer a serious injury.

But that’s just happenstance. Kaleta’s hit on Richards was very similar to Raffi Torres’ hit on Marian Hossa last spring.

Torres’ hit was much more vicious and done at a higher rate of speed than Kaleta’s, but Kaleta’s was done much closer to the boards.

Torres earned a 25-game suspension that was reduced to 21 games, while Kaleta was suspended five games by NHL dean of discipline Brendan Shanahan.

Kaleta has been suspended three times in his career for dirty and vicious play on the ice.

Here’s the problem for the NHL:

Hossa suffered a major injury and was out the remainder of the playoffs following the Hossa hit. Richards did not suffer a serious injury, but that’s more the result of happenstance. By the look of the hit, he could have suffered a broken neck.

When that happens, the NHL will only have itself to blame. A 25-game suspension may have seemed like a lot, but if Hossa had lost his ability to walk or Richards suffered permanent damage, the NHL would have an even bigger problem than it has now.

When Paul Kariya was knocked unconscious by Scott Stevens in the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals, it was obvious that these vicious hits had to come out of the game. Kariya could have been killed by the blindside hit.

Ten years later, it seems the NHL is still playing chicken with this possibility.

Richards will play shortly. Hossa missed significant time. Sidney Crosby missed the better part of two seasons after he got hit with a blindside head shot. Marc Savard’s career is almost certainly over following the brutal shot he took at the hands of Pittsburgh’s Matt Cooke.

The penalties for blindside head shots have to be much stronger. Players are going to continue to try to injure each other until the cost is prohibitive.

How about a full-season suspension for Kaleta, and not a truncated 48-game season either? How about an 82-game suspension for Kaleta, Torres and others who plow full speed into other players when their backs are turned?

It’s not about turning the NHL into the ballet, as some critics may argue. A few decades ago, goalies played without masks and players did not wear helmets. Hockey has evolved and more changes need to be made.

It’s about allowing players to continue their careers without fear of permanent paralysis or death.

Throw the bums out and let the real players compete at the highest level.

Steve Silverman

Steve Silverman is an award-winning writer, covering sports since 1980. Silverman was with Pro Football Weekly for 10 years and his byline has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Playboy, NFL.com and The Sporting News. He is the author of four books, including Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Football — The Top 60 Players of All-Time. Follow him on Twitter (@profootballboy) and read more of his CBS Chicago columns here.

Patrick Kane scored the tying goal on a power play with 2:02 left in regulation and had the only goal in a shootout, lifting Chicago to a 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.

Corey Crawford was perfect in the shootout and finished with 32 saves.

The Blackhawks have earned at least a point in 28 straight games — dating to a March 25, 2012 loss in regulation to Nashville — to tie the second-longest streak in league history.

Detroit’s Tomas Tatar broke a scoreless tie early in the third period, but the Red Wings couldn’t hold on for a win in regulation that would’ve ended Chicago’s streak.

(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

Jonathan Toews carried the puck down left wing and dished a cross-ice pass to Seabrook, who fired in a shot from the right circle before goalie Steve Mason could slide across the crease.

Patrick Sharp and Bryan Bickell scored 59 seconds apart late in the second period, and Viktor Stalberg also connected in regulation for Chicago (18-0-3), which won its eighth straight overall and has earned 39 out of a possible 42 points this season.

Ray Emery made 19 saves for the win.

Ryan Johansen scored with 7:37 left in regulation to tie it at 3 for Columbus, snapping his 37-game goal drought.

(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

UNITED CENTER (CBS) Fear not, Blackhawks fans, goaltender Corey Crawford is ready to return to the ice after he exited Thursday’s game in St. Louis after one period.

“Corey is fine,” head coach Joel Quenneville said before Friday night’s game. “He was here this morning. Ray (Emery) is starting (Friday,) but Corey’s backing up.”

Quenneville wouldn’t say specifically what was ailing Crawford, only offering the goaltender “got through it.”

“He didn’t seem too bad after the game and he was fine this morning,” Quenneville said. “He’s good to go.”

Back up goaltender Ray Emery took over Thursday night after Crawford’s exit. Together, the duo combined to record the Blackhawks’ third shutout of the season as the club trounced the Blues, 3-0.

“I think with the goaltending situation, we’ve got some options,” Quenneville said. “They’re both playing well. You don’t have to keep going with the same guy. It’s nice to see Ray not getting the start and jumping right in there and really adding to our team game last night. It was a really solid goaltending contribution from both guys. I think they both could’ve gone today if they had to.”

For live updates from the United Center, follow Sam on Twitter @SamZuba.

While backing up Corey Crawford, Emery compiled a perfect record of 7-0-0 in February. In addition, he netted a goals-against average of 1.66 and .941 save percentage in eight games.

Emery recorded two scoreless periods in the Blackhawks’ 3-0 victory over the Blues on Thursday night while relieving an injured Crawford after the first period.

The 30-year-old Emery is expected to get the start against Blue Jackets on Friday night.

Tampa Bay forward Steven Stamkos and Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby were named the First and Second Stars, respectively.

(CBS) There, he said it.

“We’re shorthanded.”

Tom Thibodeau finally admitted what we’ve known since LeBron James made “The Decision”. When he chose South Beach, the Bulls fate was sealed. They weren’t going to win an NBA title even with a healthy Derrick Rose. We saw that during the Eastern Conference Finals two years ago. And that wasn’t just a sneak peak of the future — it was a full-length feature management surely knew, or you wish they knew. These Bulls would be bridesmaids at best. Hindsight is 20/20, not 62-20, the Bulls regular season record during the 2011-2012 season. Being No. 1 after 82 games was a feather in the Bulls’ cap. It did not produce $30,000 championship rings.

The Bulls have suffered myriad injuries during Thibodeau’s tenure, but whether Joakim Noah was dealing with plantar fasciitis or Carlos Boozer a broken hand tripping over a bag (or was that using his fist for another reason?), the Bulls managed to win games. Lots of games. Shorthanded? You never heard the head coach utter those words. It was always, “We have enough here to win.”

In the regular season, yes.

Then came “The Injury”. The one proceeded by several others. When Rose crumpled to the floor late on that fateful spring afternoon, the air left the United Center and the heir apparent to Michael Jordan’s throne. At least for the next several years. Any thoughts of winning a title with this aggregate disappeared.

But the Bulls never had a chance in the first place.

You can lead a horse to water; you just can’t make him win the Derby.

The Bulls were never going to be Affirmed, or even Alydar’s Affirmed. Maybe Oklahoma City will take that mantle. Being very good in the NBA isn’t good enough. You have to have all the pieces or in this case, the biggest piece. LeBron’s hook up with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh gave Miami the pieces. Meanwhile, Rose, Boozer and Luol Deng simply didn’t match up. Never will.

Now the Bulls have hit a speed bump this season — or is that a massive pot hole? They’ve lost nearly as many games at home as they’ve won. They’ve lost to Charlotte, Washington and Cleveland and blew a 27-point lead to Milwaukee. That’s like flossing with a drill bit. Meanwhile, if Noah isn’t resting his foot, Kirk Hinrich is probably scanning the black market for a new elbow. Then Taj Gibson wrenches his knee. And Rose’s brother Reggie rips management for not having a better team around his younger sibling. It was a somewhat ill timed rant, but not inaccurate.

This isn’t going to work. But you knew that.

As much fun as it’s been watching the Bulls, their latest travails have exposed them for what they are: mediocre without Rose. And that’s the issue. When Rose returns, and I truly believe it will be this season, he won’t be able to save his teammates. Can they salvage a first-round playoff victory? Maybe. But it’s not about this year or next. It’s about after Boozer and Hinrich, after Rip Hamilton and the entertaining though often aggravating Nate Robinson. And it could be after Deng, who becomes a free agent after next season. As valuable an asset as Deng has been, will the Bulls be willing to fork up another 80-plus million over five years to keep him?

It’s obvious the Bulls will have to rebuild around Rose, a difficult task in this salary capped NBA. Unless LeBron suffers some debilitating injury, (and you hope he doesn’t because he’s a joy to watch), those multiple championships he promised just may come to fruition. The Bulls can’t count on LeBron disappearing. What they have to count is dollars they’ll need to save in order to spend it on another group that will surround Rose.

Then everyone might be happy again. Even Reggie.

George Ofman is a sports anchor and reporter for WBBM Newsradio 780 & 105.9FM.

After the game, head coach Joel Quenneville said Crawford suffered an upper-body injury and it was not the same injury he had last week. The goaltender was listed as day-to-day and flew back to Chicago with the team.

Crawford made six saves to help the streaking Blackhawks take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission Thursday. Chicago now has at least one point in its first 20 games (17-0-3), an NHL record.

Crawford, who earned the win and is now 9-0-3, was making his second start since returning from an upper-body injury on Sunday. He made 28 saves in a 1-0 win over Columbus after missing the previous four games.

Ray Emery relieved Crawford for the final two periods and made 15 saves to complete the shutout.

It is not known who will start in net for the Blackhawks Friday night when they host the Blue Jackets at the United Center.

(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

Andrew Shaw also scored for Chicago, which was coming off a 6-0-1 homestand and improved to 9-0-2 on the road. The Blackhawks, who have won seven in a row overall, have earned 37 out of a possible 40 points this season with a 17-0-3 start.

Chicago has a point in its last 26 regular-season games since a loss on March 25, 2012, to Nashville.

Chicago, playing its first road game in 18 days, has won four in a row against St. Louis, which has lost three of four.

Crawford was pulled with an upper-body injury after making six saves in the first period. He missed four games earlier this month also with an upper-body injury and returned to the lineup Sunday, making 28 stops in a 1-0 win over Columbus. Coach Joel Quenneville said after the game that Crawford is day to day, and it wasn’t the same injury that previously sidelined the goalie.

Emery made 15 saves over the final two periods, as he and Crawford finished with 21. He stopped Chris Stewart from close range midway through the second period. Kevin Shattenkirk hit the post on a second-period power play.

Toews scored his eighth goal of the season just 12 seconds into the game off a cross-ice pass from Brandon Saad. Marian Hossa started the play after Toews won the game’s opening faceoff. The goal was the fastest at the beginning of a game by a Chicago player since Dave Bolland scored 10 seconds into a 4-1 win against Dallas on March 16, 2012.

Toews also scored on a scramble in the front of the net at 6:53 of the third period.

Shaw made it 2-0 early in the third period when he converted from the slot off a pass from behind the net by Bryan Bickell.

Jaroslav Halak made 20 saves for the Blues, who fell to 4-5-1 at home. St. Louis was 30-6-5 at home last season. Halak lost for the first time in regulation this season.

St. Louis is 0 for 13 on the power play over the past five games. The Blues’ last home shutout was a 6-0 loss to Calgary on March 1, 2011.

NOTES: Bolland is out with an upper-body injury. … St. Louis linemates Andy McDonald and Alex Steen both missed Thursday’s game with injuries suffered in practice Tuesday. McDonald is week-to-week with a left knee injury, while Steen is day to day with an upper-body ailment. … Chicago played its first road game since beating Nashville 3-0 on Feb. 10. … Halak is 16-2-1 in his last 19 starts at home.

(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

(CBS) Realignment is proving to be a sticky issue in the NHL.

The powers that be feel forced to shake things up and move teams around, primarily because the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg and became the Jets two years ago.

Winnipeg, in Canada’s vacation province of Alberta, is decidedly not in the East. So the league wants to ease the burden on the team and put them in the Western Conference.

But it also wants to make the Eastern time zone Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets happy by moving them to the Eastern Conference. It seems the Red Wings are not happy with their TV ratings when they have to play so many road games in Los Angeles, San Jose, Vancouver and Calgary.

So realignment has been one of the league’s primary issues since the lockout ended and it appears that the NHL is pushing a plan that includes two eight-team divisions in the Eastern Conference and two seven-team divisions in the Western Conference.

The Chicago Blackhawks would remain in the Western Conference, but they would be the only Original Six team in it since the Red Wings are moving to a division that includes the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Red Wings are arguably the Blackhawks’ biggest rival—although you can make a case for the St. Louis Blues or Vancouver Canucks. However, losing the Red Wings hurts Chicago quite a bit.

Much of realignment has been discussed with an eye towards saving teams money when it comes to travel. That’s understandable, but it’s not really forward thinking.

Remember, the NHL has a 10-year, $2 billion television contract with NBC at its disposal and it is not operating on the cheap. It also won a huge financial victory during the four-month lockout. Starting with the 2013-14 season, the owners will pay out 50 percent in revenues to the players. Prior to arriving at that figure, the NHL paid 57 percent of its revenues to players.

The NHL should have its eye on the fairest competition and creating the most exciting playoff situation. Here’s a radical suggestion on how you do that:

Scrap the whole conference/division system. You have 30 teams and all groupings and divisions need to be eliminated.

There are 29 opponents to play. During the regular season, you play 24 teams three times each. Twice at home and once on the road or vice-versa. Switching home-ice advantage every other year. You have five opponents that you play twice a year, home-and-home.

That adds up to 82 regular-season games.

At the end of the regular season, the top 16 teams make the playoffs. Once the playoffs begin, the No. 1 seed plays the No. 16 seed, the No. 2 seed plays the No. 15 seed and you proceed in that fashion.

The idea is to create the best, fairest and most interesting matchups.

In the previously proposed four-conference setup, the advancing team would have to go through its conference in the first two rounds before advancing to the semifinals.

As it is now, there is a sense of sameness to the playoffs. While there is nothing boring about the Blackhawks meeting the Canucks nearly every year in the playoffs, the matchup will eventually get old.

You can have too much of a good thing and fans will stop appreciating it if the same two teams meet in the playoffs every year.

If you think the playoff proposal outlined above seems wacky, the NHL actually used a similar system in the late 1970s. During the latter half of that decade, the Blackhawks actually played teams like the Bruins, Canadiens and New York Islanders in the first round of the playoffs.

That’s what fans want to see. They want variety in the early rounds of the playoffs and they want the best teams to meet in the semifinals and Stanley Cup Finals.

By playing similar schedules, the final regular-season standings will represent a more accurate distribution of teams. It will also assure that the teams that deserve to compete in the playoffs actually get there.

When the Blackhawks beat the Flyers in 2010 to win the Stanley Cup, they were facing an undeserving opponent. The Flyers had 88 points that year and finished seventh in the Eastern Conference. That season, four Western Conference teams (Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues) had 88 points or more and none of those teams even made the playoffs.

Give the fans the best product and quit whining about travel costs. You can do that with a (relatively) balanced schedule and a No. 1 through No. 16 playoff system.

It’s not what hockey fans are used to but it would be the best and most exciting thing for the game.

Steve Silverman

Steve Silverman is an award-winning writer, covering sports since 1980. Silverman was with Pro Football Weekly for 10 years and his byline has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Playboy, NFL.com and The Sporting News. He is the author of four books, including Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Football — The Top 60 Players of All-Time. Follow him on Twitter (@profootballboy) and read more of his CBS Chicago columns here.

CHICAGO (CBS) Any time a team or player is on a streak of some sort, it’s only natural to wonder when it will end.

With the Blackhawks having gained at least one point in all 19 games played this season, many are wondering which NHL team will be the first to beat the Hawks in regulation.

And you know every upcoming opponent wants to be the one to do it.

“Yeah, probably,” Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford said Wednesday when asked if it would be “a prestigious thing” around the league to knock off the Hawks. “Teams are probably geared up to play us, but that doesn’t change what we have to do. We’re still focused on our game.”

If the Blackhawks didn’t have the attention of the rest of the league when the season started, they sure have it now, as they’re rolling four lines deep and not slowing down, winning six straight games. At this point, it’s an accomplishment if you can take a lead on the Hawks at any point in a game.

“I feel like we have respect across the league,” Patrick Sharp said. “We respect our opponent every night and we feel like we give our best so I’m sure we’re getting the other teams’ best efforts as well.”

That’s a sentiment that head coach Joel Quenneville shares too and he’s turning it into motivation.

“I think there’s probably more awareness for our opponents right now in what they want to do,” Quenneville said. “So let’s expect it. Let’s expect that everyone is going to playing their best game. And let’s welcome the challenge.”

The next team that will have a chance to end the Blackhawks’ streak is the Blues, and after a loose, but spirited one-hour practice at Johnny’s Ice House West Wednesday, the Hawks boarded their charter to St. Louis where they’ll look to increase their point-streak to 20 games Thursday night. The Blues, who nearly erased a 3-0 third-period deficit to spoil the Blackhawks’ home opener back in January, will present a stiff challenge as Thursday will mark the Hawks’ first road game in 18 days.

“(The Scottrade Center) is a great building,” Quenneville, who coached in St. Louis for eight years, said. “They get riled up when Chicago comes to town. That rivalry is still in place. I’m sure they’re excited about playing us so we have a very dangerous opponent in that regard.”

The Blues have been very good at home in recent years, but are just 4-4-1 at the Scottrade Center this season.

Bolland Out, Montador Practicing

One player who did not board the plane to St. Louis is second-line center Dave Bolland who has been out with an undisclosed upper-body injury since last Friday.

“Bolly is progressing,” Quenneville said. “Hopefully he gets on the ice the next couple days. He’s improving every day.”

With that in mind, it appears unlikely Bolland would play Friday against the Blue Jackets either.

Meanwhile, defenseman Steve Montador continues to practice and was back out on the ice Wednesday. He has yet to play this season as he recovers from a concussion suffered last March.

Quenneville said Montador is “getting better”, but a lack of practice time and a lack of space on the roster also factor into his return.

“We like decisions like that,” Quenneville said. “We feel like we have some depth. He gives us another option on the back end, but we’ve been very pleased with how our defense has played to date. We’ll see.”

The shortened season has resulted in a lot less practices, which is not helping the situation. Montador has been skating on his own and will continue to do so while the Hawks are on the road, but the lack of work with his teammates is a factor.

Crow In Net

Corey Crawford will get the start in net Thursday when the Hawks face the Blues. After missing about a week and a half with an upper-body injury, Crawford pitched a shutout against the Blue Jackets Sunday before Ray Emery got the win against the Oilers Monday night.

“These guys are making it very easy on us to make a decision on who is playing in net,” Quenneville said. “When I say easy, I mean no matter who you’re going to put in there it’s the right decision.”

Indeed, both are playing very well, but with Crawford healthy again, it appears he’ll continue to get the majority of the starts. Quenneville said Wednesday the goaltender is having the “best stretch he’s had since he’s been here.”

“Corey, going into the season, we anticipated him getting a little bit more,” Quenneville said. “Now that he’s back playing, we’ll see how that plays out. But certainly, Ray, he’s earned the chance to get right back in there whenever we consider the next day. He’s done everything he can do to get more.”

The Blackhawks turn around and play Columbus at the United Center Friday night so it’s possible Emery starts the second game of the back-to-back.

Adam Hoge

Adam is the Sports Editor for CBSChicago.com and specializes in coverage of the Bears, Blackhawks, White Sox and college sports. He was born and raised in Lincoln Park and attended St. Ignatius College Prep before going off to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he earned a Journalism degree. Follow him on Twitter @AdamHogeCBS and read more of his columns here.

One of which that simply can’t be ignored is the play of goalies Corey Crawford and Ray Emery. Together, the duo has propelled the Blackhawks to a clip of 16-0-3, breaking the record for most games with a point to start a season.

“Our goaltending has been a real key for us,” head coach Joel Quenneville told The Mully and Hanley Show. “The consistency of the goaltending situations have been very good for us. I think that’s really where the guys have been feeding off, as well. It’s been a very healthy situation where we’re very pleased.”

Crawford has compiled a record of 8-0-3 with a .941 save percentage and two shutouts. Emery, on the other hand, is a perfect 8-0-0 with a .927 save percentage.

Still, this unprecedented streak can be attributed to more than just the goalies.

“You could talk about every single guy,” Quenneville said. “They’ve (all) had some real good stretches. It seems like they’re playing their best hockey. … Most nights were getting huge contributions across the board. Our top guys have been leading the way”

The Blackhawks winger also had a reply for Canucks coach Alain Vigneault, who defended Jannik Hansen and questioned the one-game suspension his player received from the NHL for elbowing Hossa in the back of the head last Tuesday.

“Of course, their coach is going to protect his player, that’s how it is,” Hossa said. “Their coach wouldn’t like it if it happened to their player. He would have reacted differently. I think the guys should learn banging other players in the head, the PA (players association) and the NHL have tried to make big statements on that. Hopefully he’ll learn from that.”

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Hossa said he did not suffer a concussion and would like to play Friday against San Jose at the United Center.

Hansen received a one-game suspension from the NHL for the reckless play.

“I felt pretty good this morning,” Hossa said following practice on Thursday. “Obviously he surprised me with the hit from behind. He hit me pretty hard in the back of the head. I was shaky right after, that’s why I didn’t return. But with the day off it kind of settled down and today I feel much better.”

Hossa wasn't satisfied with Hansen’s punishment.

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Henrik Karlsson was recalled from Rockford to be Ray Emery’s backup on Friday against San Jose. The 6-foot-6, 209-pound Karlsson was acquired from Calgary on Jan. 21 for a seventh-round draft pick in 2013.

Crawford is believed to have been hurt late in Tuesday’s shootout loss to Anaheim when he was run over by Bobby Ryan. It’s believed he suffered a concussion.

“He didn’t feel great after practice (on Thursday),” Quenneville said. “I don’t know if that was it or (if it happened in) practice. I don’t know if there was a defining blow.”

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Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said he wants to have Carcillo participate in a few more practices before he plays in a game.

“I thought he looked pretty good though,” Quenneville said. “I thought he skated well and talking to him he said he felt good as well. He’s further along than we anticipated so we’ll keep pushing him and get him in a couple more skates to get a better idea when (he plays).”

Carcillo hopes to be ready sooner than later.

“Rehab went well and I feel strong on the ice, so it’s just a matter of time until I get the call to go in,” Carcillo said. “It’s encouraging.”

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Carcillo skated with injured teammates Steve Montador and Rostislav Olesz on Tuesday at the United Center, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

Montador has missed all season with a concussion while Olesz has missed all year with a knee injury.

“We had three guys skate prior to practice, and they’re all progressing,” Quenneville said. “Danny still is not in our practices yet, but hopefully at some point this week he might get injected. He started skating last week, probably the middle of the week.”

Carcillo was skating on the first line with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa when he got hurt, but that role now belongs to rookie Brandon Saad.

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