That's More Like It: Blackhawks Beat Panthers 4-0

It’s gotta be BOOM. Much better than tough actin’ Tinactin. Kane looks like he’s hell-bent on a 100 point season. And he’s a +3 in two games too.

For the entire line? I like Ladden-Brou…like an angry German beer.

The Wings just dropped their 2nd game in a row to the Blues on, basically, their home rink in Stockholm, Sweden. Now the Hawks sit 3 points ahead of the Wings and can really put some space and doubt by defeating the Wings at the Joe on Thursday. 5 points ahead at this time of year could go along way in the Hawks efforts in dethroning the Wings as Central Division Champions.

Great effort in a back-to-back situation and the Hawks are going to have to be for they have 19 back-to-back games this season. Niemi was solid, but not heroic, in goal this afternoon in putting a nice touch in recording his first NHL ShutOut in front of his hometown folks in Helsinki, Finland. What impressed me most was that Niemi had very good control of his rebounds and didn’t go down on every shot and made himself big by challenging the Panthers shooters (who are a very talented group). Also, his focus should be commended for he was sharp in the first which had to be hard given that the Cats didn’t even record a shot in the first 10 minutes of the first period but came up big when he had to. Whether or not he can succeed Huet as the #1 let’s put that on hold for now, for what makes a true #1 netminder is ability to be consistant but for 1 game at least if Niemi continues to play like he did today there lies that possibility.

Byfuglien continues to impress to go along with Troy Brouwer, for both have improved incredibly over last season. Byfuglien continues to emerge as a Holmstrom like player that becomes a lunar-eclipse when screening the goaltender on the PP like he did on Campbell’s opening tally. Hopefully he can continue his progression. Brouwer’s play has ultimately shocked me, yet has made me extremely happy for he was my lightning rod of criticism last season. He has the ability to become an extremely important part of this team for he does posses the size and skill to become a power forward in this league and it looks at the outset that he is emerging as just that.

99 shots in two games is a phenominal number given the opposition was a 93-point team last season, but the Panthers look lost defensively after losing Boumeester in the off-season. All lines played great in all 3 zones and were great on the face-offs which allowed the Hawks to play their puck-possesion game, which is key. 3 out of 4 points to start the year, now let’s put the Wings to the test and give them a good ol’ fashioned whipping at the Joe and go 5 points ahead of them.

I’m going to try out “Telestrator” for a couple weeks on everyone, because he’s going to show these young kids how it’s done.

…Khabibulin has just warmed himself up to the Edmonton faithful by deciding to become a clown of Patrick Stefan proportions and cost the Oilers the game with less than a minute left. I’m sure it will be on Youtube a little later this morning and TSN.ca and on any highlight reel, even ESPN.
After his 4 GA on 21 shots highlighted (or lowlighted) by his rendition of the Keystone Cops Huet doesn’t look so bad after all, for if the Hawks would have lost like that to Florida the other day I could only imagine what if would’ve been like here in SCH.

i just want to say this is a badass site. i follow bleedcubbieblue and its just lame. i love how you guys are like me and drink and swear and dont give a shit. go hawks

Cause of work, but it was awesome to sign on and see not only unlimited mullet potential, but the Luna Schnozz as well. That was priceless. Calling Madden “BOOM” seems to easy but it’s my pick. It was stunning to see a Hawk player breaking up rushes with what looked like a simple backcheck. If that is the play the younger Hawks emulate we have got some very good potential.

Keep up the stellar positioning and it is good to see Soupy get off the schneid with a goal early. Hopefully Buff can keep busting his ass and not revert back to his pre-pahlsson lazy days.

As for Niemi, I am not sold. Not even close. But good shutout.

Bring on scum.

I wouldn’t annoint Neimi a Hall Of Famer yet, but he stepped up big. I’m reallly glad to see that. I still hate Huey and will til the day he’s out of chicago.

The Isles would never take on Huet’s contract, since they’ve got DiPietro signed until 2 weeks past Doomsday.

Huet is going to be a Blackhawk for the next 2 seasons, at least. As bad as he was in the shootout on Friday, the three goals the Panthers scored were all the result of lapses by defensemen. The D tightened up on Saturday, so we’ll see how they protect Huet on Thursday.