Preseason Game #1: Blackhawks vs. Blue Jackets

by SCH on Sep 23, 2008 10:00 AM CDT in Game Threads

Columbus Blue Jackets at Chicago Blackhawks, Sep 23, 2008 7:30 PM CDT

Hockey is back. Rejoice, hockey fans everywhere.

OK, so it's only the first pre-season game, and it won't be on TV, and chances are you won't recognize a lot of the players that will be getting a bulk of the ice time. Still, it's hockey at the United Center and the real games aren't far off at all, and we get to see how some of this team's prospects have progressed at this point.

Comcast Sportsnet reported on Monday night that this game is nearly sold out, just 200 seats available in fact. Yes, you read that correctly, this pre-season game will likely be sold out by game time. I think last year most of the games saw 7 or 8,000 fans at the most. My, how things have changed for the better.

The Hawks lineup has been posted, and you can see that there will be no Jonathan Toews or Martin Havlat playing in this one. Patrick Kane is on the top line with Patrick Sharp and Petri Kontiola, who is at center. Look for Kontiola to try to prove something tonight. He's trying to earn a spot on this team and convince the Hawks that they made the right move by trading Robert Lang. Playing with Kane and Sharp is an opportunity he needs to use to his advantage. Corey Crawford will be in goal with Joseph Fallon backing him up.

Denis Savard mentioned in an interview that he has "changed some things" from last year. Hopefully we will notice some of those changes tonight, even if it's to a small extent.

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About time

Glad to see hockey back in action though as I’ve mentioned before I feel bad for anyone that actually paid full price for any of these tickets. Too bad its not on tv. We get the spring training games from Arizona and Bulls preseason but no hawks. Guess I can’t complain too much though since all 82 regular games will be on tv.

Going to see Edzo tomorrow night at BWW on Rt 59, anyone else?

Can’t wait for the real season!

by delorean80 on Sep 23, 2008 11:33 AM CDT reply actions

This will hopefully

Get the bad taste of the Bears game out of my mouth. It feels weird to be enthused for hockey season again :)

Insert clever and witty remark slash pun here!

UMD 8/04 - 5/08: Go Terps!

by ES46NE10 on Sep 23, 2008 7:38 PM CDT reply actions

Can I assume that the Hawks

will not be on WGN America???

Are the WGN-TV games are for the Chicago market only? Will they be aired on the Center Ice package?

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Sep 23, 2008 8:15 PM CDT reply actions

I think you're in good shape...

I’m a Hawks fan living in Cincinnati, OH. I have NHL Centerice. I get to see just about ALL the Blackhawks games. The only team I don’t get on NHL Centerice is the Blue Jackets. (since they are considered to be in my “local” market) But I already get almost all of the Blue Jacket games on Fox Sports Net Ohio. (which is part of my local cable package)

Therefore…..the bottom line is…..if you have NHL Centerice, you should be able to see EACH game of your favorite team as long as you don’t live in that team’s “local market”

13 years since the playoffs...

by Burnin' with pride on Sep 25, 2008 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions

Right

From what I’ve heard the games will NOT be on WGN America however I haven’t heard anything regarding the Center Ice package. I would assume that you would be able to get it, even if you’d have to watch it from the other teams perspective, but again thats just my assumption.

by delorean80 on Sep 24, 2008 8:46 AM CDT reply actions