Game 14: Bruins @ Blackhawks

Blackhawks (7-3-3)
Overall T-6th Western Conference
(6-0-2) Home Record

Bruins (8-3-3)
Overall T-4th Eastern Conference
(4-2-2) Away Record

The most important event tonight at the United Center takes place before the puck is even dropped. The Hawks will retire the number 3 tonight in honor of Pierre Pilote and Keith Magnuson.

Pilote, a defensemen, played on the '61 Stanley Cup team (last to win it.) Won the Norris trophy (top defender) 3 straight years 63-65. Scored 80 goals and 418 assists in 13 years.

Magnusson, also a defensemen, played his whole career with the Hawks. He is not remembered for scoring 14 goals and 125 assists for 139 points, but for his 1,442 penalty minutes. He also served as Hawks captain.Played in 2 Stanley Cups '71 and '73 losing both to the Habs. Also, my dad caddied for him and got stiffed (prolly my old man's fault.) Magnusson was killed in 2003 in a car accident. His son was at the UC last year when they honored the greats and I'm sure it will be emotional.

As for tonight's game.....

Original 6 matchup. Both the Hawks and Bruins are off to good starts. The Bruins pushed the Canadiens to 7 games last year in the 1st round and look impressive so far. Led by massive Zdeno Chara, Marc Savard and enigma Phil Kessel. Tim Thomas figures to get the start in goal. Manny Fernandez is the backup.

Khabby will get the start tonight according to the Hawks site. Hawks are (0-2-0) against the East this year. The homestand has eased a lot of early fears about the team. Sharp, Kane, and Havlat have had fantastic starts and Toews finally got on the board against Calgary. Last season, the Blackhawks converted on 15.9 percent of their power plays and successfully killed 81.1 percent while they were a man down. This season, those numbers are up to 22 percent and 90.6 percent, respectively.

Betting Info
Hawks -140
O/U 5.5