The Blackhawks are on dominate-mode. This has lead to the breaking of the franchise record for a winning streak. We set the bar at 9 after Sunday’s win against the Wild.
It all began on December 7th with a 7-1 win against the Coyotes. Then Huet got his first shutout of the season with a 2-0 win over the Senators. A hard fought battle against the Avalanche followed. It was followed by a 3-1 win against the Blue Jackets. Then we commanded an absolutely dominating 9-2 slam of the Oilers. The Flames couldn’t win the next game in overtime. We finished off the three-game Canadian road trip with a win against the Canucks. The following game against the Flyers at the United Center really showed how much the Hawks have improved and the most recent game against the Wild was the kicker. When your team can hold the zone for a solid 20 seconds when shorthanded on a 6 against 5, you have to be pretty proud.
Patrick Kane has accumulated 12 points on the streak. Jonathan Toews has 8 points. Kris Versteeg has 7 points. Duncan Keith has a +12 on the streak alone (he’s +19 on the year).
Knock on wood; let’s keep this up!
Winter Classic in 2 days!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
That Was A-Ma-Zing
Jason Krog, 32, ended the season with 38 playoff points and 112 regular season points. He scored a hat trick in last night's game and assisted on the first goal (why is this man NOT in the NHL?). Nathan Oystrick tallied the first goal on the power play and Brett Sterling scored the last goal after being out for several games with a bruised bone in his foot. By the time Sterling scored with a little over two minutes left, Pavelec was jumping up and down with his arms up during game play; the entire bench was jumping up and down in unison; the entire crowd was standing and the noise was deafening. When the buzzer sounded, a flurry of helmets and sticks flew to the ice as the bench mobbed Pavelec – just ten feet in front of me, where I stood screaming.
Confetti littered the ice as Darren Haydar hoisted the Cup and pasted it over to Joel Kwiatkowski. The confetti posed a lot of problems for the players, but they didn't care. Gherson and Pavelec where amusing as they walked a little shakily through the mess with all of their goalie equipment on. Kulda kissed Kwiatkowski at one point. Martins spent time playing with his daughter. Valabik embraced Pavelec and they jumped up and down with million dollar smiles on their faces.
Their journey to this spot was tough. Ondrej Pavelec was hit in the throat with the puck three different times (he doesn't care very much for the plastic neck protectors) and was once caught completely opened up to stop a shot when the puck was suddenly redirected to nail him where the sun don't shine (that took him some moments to recover). Anderson was hit in the face with the puck. Joe Motzko experienced a nasty high stick and ultimately had to sit out for the rest of the playoffs. Brett Sterling suffered a bruised foot bone and numerous crosschecks and hard open ice hits (boy's only 5'7''). Boris Valabik was often targeted and received numerous hits and challenges. Andre Deveaux received a blatant butt-end to the face from Penguins' Nathan Smith – when Smith was sitting on the bench, I officially hate that man – and a hard check that knocked him out cold. Colin Stuart had to crawl, disorientated, off the ice on one occasion because of a hard hit. These boys wanted it.
Their journey here, though, wasn't without some amazing feats. Darren Haydar broke the all-time AHL playoff points (121) and goals (53) record. Jason Krog came out of the victory with the MVP award and with the most points this playoff series with 38. Ondrej Pavelec, 20, accomplished two shutouts (would have been three if he hadn't jumped and knocked a goal into his own net with 7 seconds to go in the third period during an Admirals game) and ended the playoff run with a 2.34 goals-against-average and a 0.921 save percentage. Boris Valabik had the most penalty minutes this postseason with 71 (Andre Deveaux was close to him with 67). The Coach, John Anderson, has lead us to our second Calder Cup in six years. Joel Kwiatkowski had the most goals from a defenseman this postseason with 10, and they were all slapshots from the point (man has wicked aim). Arturs Kulda, 19, had a breakout year as a defenseman and ended the playoff run as a +12 with 1 goal and 5 assists.
The Chicago Wolves: a true team and your Calder Cup Champions!
Cross Posted: My Tribe
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Calder Cup Time!
They played with sincere desperation last night despite leading the series 3-1 against the Toronto Marlies (can someone seriously explain to me what a 'marlie' is? Is it some sort of cracked up, misspelled version of 'marlin?'). Pavelec – AKA baby Jesus resurrection – made some absolutely ridiculous saves and the team mauled him at the end of the game. That was, without a doubt, the best moment of the year. Seeing them all on the ice, jumping up and down together and listening to them chant 'Ole Ole Ole, Ole, Ole!' (Which really doesn't make any sense because we're playing hockey here, not soccer; but I guess they couldn't think of anything else, and they were already high on victory and smelling salts so they didn't know what they were saying).
They will face either the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins or the Portland Pirates (series tied 3-3) in the finals. It all depends on tonight's game. But does it really matter? The Wolves are lords...or their playoff mustaches are giving them some wicked good luck.
Update: They will be against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Finals.
Photo Courtesy Chicago Wolves.
Friday, March 21, 2008
A Capital Loss
The game was a few days ago, but I haven't had time to relive the amazingness because of other school commitments. I will now take the time to gloat and giggle over the wonderful, and appropriate, 5-0 shutout.
The pre-game honoring of Tony-O wasn't bad. Rocky Wirtz made another sweet reference to home games on TV when he spoke, the crowd roared and I gave him a silent salute from my couch. My favorite was the little montage:
I knew from the beginning that Kane and Backstrom were facing off. Two spectacular rookies they are and all I could think about was seeing them fight. That would just MAKE the game.
The first intermission began with a bang 4-0: a beautiful tip in by Williams from Wiz; a rather dirty, jam-the-goalie-down, goal by Toews during Lepisto's power play; a wonderfully placed slap shot from Yanic; and to top it all off, Sharpie's, easy-as-pie, hit into the 2 hole. Khabby didn't make any absolutely amazing saves during the first intermission but he did a good job. Wiz was mic'd up/live wired/talky talk boxed/whatever-you-want-to-call-it'd during the game and they showed some funny scenes of him touching the line judge's butt and saying "ohh ohh" when he was on the bench. What a rapscallion. Be careful James Wizniewski, we all know you have a big mouth and a junk yard dog demeanor but, I'd prefer it if you didn't make some unfriendly enemies.
My rather vocal hopes that Kane and Backstrom would battle it out were almost forgotten.
A little Semin on Burish. (Sorry Burish...I Just had to say it.)
The second period was full of angry Capitals. Alex "the great" Ovechkin was on a rampage; slamming our biggest guys (though not so 'tough' in Seabrook's case) into the boards whenever he had the chance. Though Big Dustin Byfuglien got a nice, crowd roaring slammer in, eventually. Then Ovie gave Khabby a little shot after the whistle blew and Toewser Laser flew over there and some punches flew. My happiness could not be expressed as I saw Kane and Backstrom pushing and shoving off in the corner of the screen. Both Toews and Ovechkin received roughing penalties; I gave Toewser a vocal kudo. Rene Bourquenstein (my own nickname, teehee) broke away within ten minutes and tapped it in smoothly. The second period ended, 5-0.
Dan and Eddie interviewed the great Tony-O during the second intermission:
I may be slightly ashamed that my brother and I couldn't breath because we were laughing so much. When Tony said, "hey Dan", I pretty much pissed in my pants. That's OK, he's an old guy and a jolly one to boot.
The third period began 5-0 but the defeat in the eyes of the Capitals was only a dull glimmer; they were coming out with a vengeance. At the same time we were leaving the locker room with a mission also: stop them. And at all costs we did. Khabby made a few spectacular saves. The crowd began to shout, "Khabby! Khabby! Khabby!" Sound familiar? "Tony! Tony! Tony!" was the usual chorus at the old stadium (and none of the announcers forgot to remind us all through out the game). Khabibulin, now fully charged with the sight of a shutout on the horizon, began to play at top speed. He finished with an absolutely fabulous diving save. The crowd went wild.
A shutout on the very night we honored one of our goalie greats. An appropriate finish.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Quote of the Night
From CapsChick, who will deny she said it, but should have known better to begin with..
"And the Penguins are winning... it's fun"
(just to save a little of her street cred, she's trying for a numbers win for the Caps over the Sabres. But still.)
Monday, February 11, 2008
DOUBLE FIST PUMP OF GREATNESS
I know I don't post much over here because I know most of the world could give less than a rat's hindquarters about the AHL, but this merits some internet-wide yelling.
Andrew Gordon is made of awesome. (and also the AHL player of the week)
For those of you who haven't been keeping up with the Bears/my life, Gordon has scored two hat tricks with me in attendance wearing his jersey. In my book, the kid could sneeze puppydogs and rainbows and not be more awesome than he already is. Mark it, if he doesn't make the Caps outright next year, he's gonna be the first callup from Hershey when they break a winger. And you can quote me on that. Read More......
