SB Nation User Blog: SCH

Open Thread: Blackhawks vs. Avalanche, 7:30 PM CT

SCH — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:15:55 -0000

Chicago Blackhawks (5-3-3) vs. Colorado Avalanche (5-6-0)

Chicago TV: CSN (HD)
Chicago Radio: WGN (720 AM)

Open Thread: Blackhawks vs. Stars, 7:30 PM CT

SCH — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:11:11 -0000

Chicago Blackhawks (3-3-3) vs. Dallas Stars (4-4-2)

Chicago TV: CSN+ (HD)
Chicago Radio: WGN (720 AM)

For the second straight year, the Hawks play the Stars on Halloween night. Last year, it was in Dallas and the Blackhawks won 5-4 on a night when Jason Williams was the hero.

It sure would be nice to get over the .500 mark (if you don't count the SO losses as real losses) tonight with a back-to-back game tomorrow in Columbus. Let's hope Khabibulin is in goal tonight. I really don't feel like watching Cristobal Huet give up a bunch of soft goals again.

Open Thread: Blackhawks @ Wild, 7:00 PM CT

SCH — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:50:31 -0000

Chicago Blackhawks (3-2-3) @ Minnesota Wild (5-0-1)

Chicago TV: Versus
Chicago Radio: WGN (720 AM)

The Hawks are going to be looking to bounce back tonight from a tough 6-5 shootout loss on Saturday against the Red Wings. This team has yet to win a game on the road, and I think now would be a perfect time to get that first victory out of the way.

Cam Barker is back with the Blackhawks, while Niklas Hjalmarsson and Jordan Hendry have been sent back to Rockford. Good move, as Barker deserved to make the team out of training camp anyways. Hopefully he gets a good chance up here and maybe even some power play time if possible.

Open Thread: Blackhawks vs. Red Wings, 7:30 PM CT

SCH — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 17:41:08 -0000

Chicago Blackhawks (3-2-2) vs. Detroit Red Wings (5-1-1)

Chicago TV: WGN (HD)
Chicago Radio: WGN (720 AM).

The first meeting between the Blackhawks and Red Wings of the season -- should be fun. Detroit is off to another good start this year and the Hawks are hoping to give them trouble tonight at the United Center. The Blackhawks went 5-3 last year against the Wings, and hopefully they can put up a similar or better mark this season. It'll be a large, rowdy crowd and hopefully the Hawks fans can rub it in to the Detroit fans by the end of regulation after a win.

Quenneville already given contract extension

SCH — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:17:12 -0000

From the Chicago Tribune:

It wasn't finalized until Wednesday, but new Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville has signed a three-year contract, according to general manager Dale Tallon.

Quenneville's deal is through the 2010-11 season and he celebrated by watching his team go out and dominate the Edmonton Oilers 3-0 at the United Center.

The Hawks are 2-0-1 since Quenneville took over for Denis Savard.

"I thought we've had three good games and I thought this was our best," Quenneville said. "In all areas we were strong and our special teams were really good. Our puck possession, our speed, our pressure, making plays, every part of our game we were happy with."

Well, um, that was quick. This seems to be jumping the gun a bit on Tallon's part. Quenneville's only coached three games so far and while the team has looked a little better, it seems to be a little too early to start handing out contract extensions. I think Quenneville's style has been fairly effective so far but I hope this quick extension doesn't backfire on Tallon in the future.

Open Thread: Blackhawks vs. Oilers, 8:00 PM CT

SCH — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:05:31 -0000

Chicago Blackhawks (2-2-2) vs. Edmonton Oilers (4-0-0)

Chicago TV: CSN (HD)
Chicago Radio: WGN (720 AM)

Kind of a tall task for the Hawks tonight. The Oilers come in with a perfect 4-0 record and have allowed only 9 goals in those four games (if my math is correct that is just above 2 goals a game allowed). They've also scored 13 goals in those 4 games, which comes out to over 3 goals a game. They're certainly off to a fantastic start, that much is for certain.

The Blackhawks are going to have to play a sound defensive game in their own zone tonigth and have to avoid turnovers, especially when guys like Ales Hemsky are on the ice, who will make you pay for that kind of thing. This team will also have to take advantage of the power plays they get against a team that has not allowed much offensively to anyone so far. This game may come down to who has a better night on special teams.

Also, note the odd start time of 8:00 PM central time for this one tonight. I was trying to think of any time recently when there was that late of a start time for a Hawks game in Chicago, but nothing came to mind.

Skille sent down, Brouwer up

SCH — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:37:47 -0000

From the official site:

The Chicago Blackhawks have recalled right wing Troy Brouwer (6-2, 213) from the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs. In addition, the Blackhawks have assigned right wing Jack Skille to the IceHogs.

Brouwer, 23, leads Rockford with six assists and eight points in five games this season, which includes a four-point night (G, 3A) last Friday against the Iowa Chops. The Delta, British Columbia, native has appeared in 12 games with the Blackhawks over the last two years, which includes notching his first career point – and assist – in two outings last season.

I'm a little surprised, but Skille was not quite playing with the physical edge necessary to compliment his good speed, and wasn't quite playing at the level the Hawks probably wanted him at through the first 6 games. If Skille can go down and develop a good physical game, I can see him being a good scorer in this league. Until then, we will see if Brouwer can stick around on the big club.

Open Thread: Blackhawks vs. Canucks, 6:00 PM CT

SCH — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 18:07:15 -0000

Chicago Blackhawks (1-2-2) vs. Vancouver Canucks (3-2-0)

Chicago TV: CSN (HD)
Chicago Radio: WGN (720 AM)

Well, Joel Quenneville's debut didn't go too well last night after the Hawks blew a 3rd period lead with 13 seconds to go and eventually lost 4-3 in a shootout to the Blues. Hopefully, things go better tonight at home with a big crowd on hand.

Goalie-wise, I would think we will probably see Cristobal Huet tonight with Khabibulin having played last night, but how about Khabby anyways? Another stellar game for him last night in St. Louis and he has been the better goalie by far through the first 5 games of the year. Hopefully, Huet can get it going so we don't have to worry about trading the wrong goalie.

Open Thread: Blackhawks @ Blues, 7:30 PM CT

SCH — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 03:47:13 -0000

Chicago Blackhawks (1-2-1) @ St. Louis Blues (3-1-0)

Chicago TV: CSN (HD)
Chicago Radio: WGN (720 AM)

Tonight we see the debut of Joel Quenneville behind the bench for the Hawks and, wouldn't you know it, it'll be against the team he formerly coached for eight seasons. It should be interesting to see what kind of system the Hawks will be playing under Quenneville, and how they will respond to a rather surprising coaching change.

I would have to think we will see Nikolai Khabibulin in goal after the stellar performance he turned in against Phoenix. It would be nice to have an encouring performance tonight to calm those who may think this coaching change was a big mistake. We shall see how it all works out.

Bergevin the new member of the coaching staff

SCH — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:44:49 -0000

From the Hawks' official site:

The Chicago Blackhawks announced today the addition of Marc Bergevin as an assistant coach on Joel Quenneville’s staff.

Bergevin, 43, is currently in his third season in the Blackhawks front office, having previous served on the scouting staff, which includes his most recent stint as the director of professional scouting. The Montreal native joins John Torchetti, Mike Haviland and goaltending coach Stephane Waite as the fourth member on Quenneville’s staff.

“Marc has a tremendous amount of experience as a player and as a scout and will bring a great deal of success to our coaching staff,” Blackhawks General Manager Dale Tallon said. “His hard work ethic and sense of humor will help our young players as they continue to develop. He has a wonderful relationship with Joel and we are very excited to add him to our great coaching staff.”

Looks like that will probably be the only change made to the coaching staff for now. I was thinking that Quenneville might bring in some of his old coaches from St. Louis or Colorado but it looks like he's sticking with what he has right now.