Saturday’s Three Stars: 100 Minute Drought Ends, But Hawks Still Fall
Jim Neveau, PIB Co-conspirator It only took over 115 minutes of game time, but the Chicago Blackhawks finally managed to light the lamp in the City of Angels. Jonathan Toews scored a goal shortly into a third period power play, but it wasn’t enough in the end as the Blackhawks lost in a shootout to the Los Angeles Kings 2-1. Once again, the Hawks ca

Friday’s Three Stars: Ducks Roast Hawks on PP, Win 3-0
Jim Neveau, PIB Co-conspirator In the world of professional sports, there is a phenomenon known as the “letdown game”. A letdown game usually happens after a game where a team achieves an emotional high, usually with a big victory over a big opponent, and it is one of the hardest things in sports to guard against. Brent Seabrook (photo property of Pam Rodriguez) To be frank, there are no teams that are completely immune from having a le

Wednesday’s Three Stars: Hossa Nets Two, Hawks Go Shorty Crazy in Big Win
Jim Neveau, PIB Co-conspirator Author’s Note: Pardon the shortness of this piece: I’ve got a turkey in the oven and about 14 different side dishes cooking. Gotta love Turkey Day. Well, so much for Marian Hossa easing his way into the Blackhawks rotation. The veteran sniper, playing in Game 1 of his new 12-year contract with the Hawks, scored two goals and played over 16 minutes as Chicago waltzed into the HP Pavilion and systematically destroyed the San Jose Sharks. Troy Brouwer, Patrick Sharp, Dustin Byfuglien, John Madden, and Brent Seabrook also added goals for the Blackhawks in their 7-2 drubbing of San Jose.

Questions Abound as Marian Hossa Prepares to Join the Hawks
Jim Neveau, PIB Co-conspirator When Marian Hossa returns to the Hawks lineup this week, it will raise a slew of questions that head coach Joel Quenneville and the coaching staff will need to address. The first and most obvious question is how will he perform? Will not playing in an AHL rehab stint affect the play of a guy who did n

Sunday’s Three Stars: Bickell Scores, Niemi Blanks Canucks 1-0
Jim Neveau, PIB Co-conspirator If there was any reservations about the Hawks inserting Antti Niemi for the first time in weeks, it was quickly forgotten as he covered every inch of the net to perfection in a 30 save performance. His spot-on goaltending gave the Hawks the boost they needed to overcome a massive Vancouver attack and sneak out of GM Place with a 1-0 victory on Sunday night. Bryan Bickell scored his first goal of the season for the Blackhawks off a rebound, and that’s all the scoring for either team.