Hawks win! Hawks Win! Hawks Win!: Tribute To Pat Foley

 

It was a long time coming and it was appropriate during Pat Foley night that he was able to shout Hawks win! Hawks win!...one more time! It was an emotional night as we said farewell to the voice of the Blackhawks for the past 39 years with a pre-game on-ice ceremony, that included family and people closest to Pat. He will be sadly missed by Blackhawks fans from Chicago and beyond, since the broadcast can be accessed by all, via streaming services and network TV. I'm not even from Chicago and I've had the joy of watching Hawks broadcasts since I've been able to get them and it just won't be the same without him.

On the ice (after the ceremony), there was ahockey game and the Blackhawks played an inspired game and had much more jump and enthusiasm than the previous weeks. It was entertaining and the Hawks were competitive, something that's been missing since they were officially eliminated from the playoffs.

Highlights:

• Hey, the Hawks won! It was their first win in nine games and it took extra-extra time to settle the game with a 5-4 shootout win. Though the Hawks blew a two goal lead in the third period, they hung on and the Cat was the only scorer in the shootout.

• Goals: It was the start the Hawks were hoping for, Patrick Kane scored 1:18 into the first period. It was back and forth on the scoreboard, as the teams traded goals, twice with it tied 2-2, until late in the second when the Hawks took a lead 3-2. The Hawks scored again early in third to give them a two-goal lead, before the Sharks scored a pair to force overtime. Other goals were from Taylor Raddysh, who scored in back-to-back games giving him 9, on a tip-in from Seth Jones. Calvin deHaan from a great feed from Kane and a beautiful 3-way passing play between Kane, DeBrincat, Jones and Strome. It was Strome's 21st of the season, a career high. The Strome line which was reunited for this game, played especially well and were a threat every time they were on the ice. There is such a drop in offensive production behind these guys and breaking them apart made no sense. Patrick Kane finished the night with 1 goal and 2 assists, Dylan Strome with 1 goal and 1 assist and Alex DeBrincat with 3 assists, plus the shootout goal.
  

• Goal? The Blackhawks appeared to expand their lead in the second period with the puck fluttering around the goal line before James Reimer swatted it away. Depending on the angle, it was very close, but the call on the ice took, no goal.

• Foley: Very cool to hear past players, fellow broadcasters, family and even Gary Bettman offer their congratulations to Pat on his retirement. The common theme seemed to be he'll be doing a lot of golfing during his retirement. Visiting Pat and Eddie in the booth were Troy Murray, who works on the radio broadcast and Hawks legends, Denis Savard and Chris Chelios who wanted to thank Pat in person. Much of the telecast game was filled with reminisce and hilarious stories, that I'm sure Eddie was in tears of laughter, joy and sadness. A wonderful moment was following the game when the players saluted Pat up in booth, while Pat and Eddie gave a toast and chugged some brew from their Pat Foley pint glasses (it was giveaway night!). The night ended with Pat addressing the crowd and players one more time and thanked everyone for these great years!

Up next: It's an early matinee in Nashville, Saturday at 11:30 am Wow, that's early! 

"Blackhawks fans enjoyed the broadcast, and we know they enjoyed the outcome."

A Perfect Night At The UC? Far From It!

The stage was set for a memorable evening at the United Center in Chicago on an April Sunday night. 

1.  The Blackhawks honoring Jonathan Toews with an on-ice ceremony alongside his parents, his brother, former and present assistant captains and the silver stick commemorating 1000 games played.
2. Lots of former Blackhawks in the building.
3. Playing one of the worst teams in the league, the Arizona Coyotes.
4. Hawks start fast, scoring their quickest goal of the season from the start of the game.

But, from there it went downhill. The game could have gone the Hawks way, the team was able to tie the game in third after Arizona took a 2-1 lead in the second and in overtime, if not for a Patrick Kane penalty in the last minute and a bad bounce off of Jonathan Toews skate into his own net, it could have gone to a shootout. It very easily could have gone off Toews skate into the Coyotes net, but it didn't...those are the breaks. For me, the lasting memory of this forgettable game was they still lost to that so-called worst team (forget the loser point!), so really, who's the worst team in the league? We could get confirmation if they lose again on Thursday night. 

Quick Thoughts:

• The aforementioned alternative captains on the ice before the game were Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, Andrew Shaw, Brent Seabrook, Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa...Hossa was there?!!!  As well, Adam Burish and Corey Crawford were in attendance.

• Between the first and second periods, Pat and Eddie announced Pat's replacement for next season as Chris Vosters, who will be the new television play-by-play announcer for Blackhawks hockey. He's done a bunch of games already this season and he's done a good job, so congratulations Chris, those are big shoes (or should we say mouth) that you are filling. Pat Foley's last game in the Blackhawks booth will be April 14th against the San Jose Sharks. The evening will feature memories of Pat's through his 39-year career. Must see TV! Get your soft serve ready!
  

• The Hawks are currently on a five game losing streak, and in the last 15 games, the only teams they have beaten are Anaheim (2x), Ottawa and LA Kings. During this time they have also lost to fellow bottom feeders, Arizona, Buffalo and Philadelphia. It's infuriating because on-paper the Blackhawks should be so much better than they've shown. Even against Arizona, they are clearly the better team, but they allowed the Coyotes to stay in the game before giving up two quick goals and not capitalizing on their many first period opportunities. Almost every time the Strome/Cat/Kane line was out there, they continually cycled and carried the play in the Yotes zone. Aaargh!

• Kevin Lankinen's luck in overtime is unbelievably bad. He now has lost 6 games in extra time and his overall record this season is now a putrid 4-10-6 or straight up wins/loses 4-16!! I like Lankinen, I really do, he's a good goalie, but those numbers are insane. Not sure what the Hawks are going to do going forward with their goalies, but the way they have mis-managed the goalies they had (Crawford, Lehner, Subban, Fleury), who knows? This is something we'll discuss thoroughly when the season ends...Aaaagh!!
  

Up next: Hawks don't play until Thursday for another battle for the basement against an equally bad team as the Yoties, Seattle Kraken.

No Tricks: Need Goals! No Goals

After scoring eight goals last game against the New Jersey Devils, you'd think the Hawks could score at least one goal, nope! After a scoreless first period where the Blackhawks looked competitive, the Blues scored three straight in the second period and one more in the third to coast to a 4-0 victory at the UC Sunday afternoon. Another painful loss at home!

Takeaways:

• In the second, it felt like the Blues were toying with the Hawks, playing a game of "keep away" for much of the period. Giveaway after giveaway cost the team with numerous unforced errors from the home side.
• Speaking of unforced errors, the d-pairing of Caleb Jones and Connor Murphy were on the ice for every goal (McCabe might have been on for one?). They coughed up the puck or were forced off the puck in their own zone on more than a couple occasions and makes you want to yell, "get the f**cking puck out!!". The rest of the defense played okay, considering. Seth Jones was fine, Jake McCabe returned, Regula gets overwhelmed at times, but he's been steady and Isaak Phillips just called up from Rockford, played a safe and efficient game.
• Without Fleury in goal, this game could have been a runaway a lot sooner. He made some amazing stops and sometimes it was the second or third chances that went in. Especially while shorthanded, the Blues controlled the play and had Fleury moving side to side to side to side most of the game. I fear the blowouts could become even more frequent if Fleury gets traded at the deadline. Doesn't help that your team can't score in front of you. This season against the Blues in four games, the Hawks have given up 12 goals, while only scoring 4 goals and were shut out twice!
•  Just a random thought, but with the Jones brothers (Seth & Caleb) and Phillips on the back end, it meant that 3 of 6 (50%) of the Hawk's defencemen in the game were black. Not sure how often or at all if that's happened.

• Unfortunately, there weren't many highlights for the Hawks on the ice, but at least upstairs in the broadcast booth, Pat and Eddie were back together. Midway through the third, Caley and Colby said, "How about some desperation, it's kids day at the United Center give the kids something, some desperation", Eddie added, "You need a push-back for the great fans at the United Center", Pat followed with, "for all these great young fans, you don't want the ball pit and bouncy house to be the highlight of the day! Classic Pat!
  

Double Hat Tricks: Want Goals? We Got Goals!

 

"Hat-trick" Kane completes the hat-trick into an empty net

From a fan standpoint, it was an exciting game, from a goalie's point of view, not so much. Thirteen goals were scored between the Chicago Blackhawks and the New Jersey Devils and fortunately for the Hawks they scored eight of them. A see-saw battle with the teams exchanging goals, scoring in bunches. The Hawks opened the scoring, then the Devils scored two straight to make it 2-1 after the first period. Then, with help from the power-play (3 power-play goals!), the Hawks scored 3 (making it 4-2), the Devils 2 (4-4), Hawks 2 (6-4), Devils 1 (6-5), then 2 more into an empty net (8-5). Lots of goals and lots of hats!

Random thoughts:

• Both Patrick Kane and Brandon Hagel scored hat tricks for the Hawks with their third into the empty net. The last time two Hawks scored hat tricks in the same game was in 2003 with Eric Daze and Steve Sullivan completing the task. A nice way for Hagel to celebrate his 100th game in the NHL.
• Kevin Lankinen made his return to the Hawks lineup in his first game since January 22 because of an injured hand. Despite allowing five goals, he made some timely saves and didn't get much help from a depleted d-core who were without Calvin DeHaan and Jake McCabe and lost Murphy briefly after taking a big hit. Speaking of goaltending, the Devils have experienced loads of trouble in net. Injuries have hurt their starters and they've been struggling to keep a consistent starter healthy. Definitely a weakness.
• Nice to hear Pat Foley back doing play-by-play during the TV broadcast. With all the others auditioning for Pat's job, his voice is part of the joy of listening and watching to a Blackhawks telecast. The combo of Pat and Eddie Olczyk will be sadly missed next season and hopefully Eddie can do as many Hawks games as possible. It was first game with Caley Chelios doing colour commentary and she did a very commendable job filling Eddie shoes. She's much more pleasant to listen to than Colby Cohen (though he's ok) and her work as an analyst in the studio with Pat Boyle this season has been a breathe of fresh air. She's been excellent!
• Jerk of the game: PK Subban. Though he was pretty much unnoticeable most of the game, PK was up to his old tricks with a cheap-shot on Brandon Hagel as he scored into the empty net in the dying seconds of the game. As Hagel flew past Subban full speed, PK tripped Hagel and he crashed into the net. An extremely dangerous play, if the net wasn't there he would have crashed into the boards. Notice how Hagel has been the recipient of so many cheap-shots from opponents? His hard working, never stop working, "nose over the puck mentality" play clearly annoys opponents and it's too bad the Hawks don't have more players that play that way.

 

Remember when a first period three goal lead was safe? Not so much nowadays and the Winnipeg Jets proved that last night. Up 3-0 after the first, the Jets gave up 6 straight in the second and third period. The Avs are a much superior team, especially at home, so being down 3 wasn't a big deal. The Jets gotta get out of this current streak of losses if they have any hope at all of making the playoffs. In a related story, I received my playoff package yesterday. I might save more money this season.