Chicago Blackhawks 6-0 after NHL Lockout

It’s been a little over a week since hockey season for the Chicago Blackhawks came back into play after a grueling lockout from the National Hockey League (NHL), and it has been more than gratifying for the team.

Their season opener on January 19 of this year gave Hawks fans something to be proud of as they defeated the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Las Angeles Kings, 5-2.  Michael Frolik left the arena with a goal, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane were able to get one goal and one assist each, and Marian Hossa was able to finish the night with an assist as well as two goals of his own.  Corey Crawford was a key player as well, stopping 19 shots at the goal, defeating the Kings on their own ice.

The following day, Sunday, January 20, the Hawks were once again hungry for a win as they came out on the ice against the Phoenix Coyotes.  Just a little less than a year ago Hossa suffered a major concussion at the hands of Coyotes player Raffi Torres, but he didn’t let that hinder his performance this time around.  By the end of only his second game back after his injury, Hossa scored two goals to help clinch the Hawk’s 6-4 win.  Dave Bolland and Patrick Sharp each contributed a goal and an assist and Viktor Stalberg scored as well.  By the end of the game, Kane and Michal Rozsival each had an assist and the Hawks were once again victorious.

The Tuesday, January 22 game against the St. Louis Blues was yet another Hawks win, and one to be proud of.  A beautiful goal from Kane resulting from a 3-on-0 break and a pass from Sharpe started the night off right, and it didn’t end there.  Stalberg and Brent Seabrook also scored with help from Duncan Keith who had an assist and five blocked shots of his own.  In the end, the Hawks defeated the Blues 3-2 in their home opener.

Thursday, January 24, Hawks fans were forced to hold their breath as their team was continuously shut out by Dallas Star’s goalie, Kari Lehtonen, who had 38 saves in the game compared to Crawford’s 21.  However, after spending two periods down, the score 2-0 Dallas. The Hawks came out with two more goals in regulation time, scored by Sharp and Toews, and with a game saving stop at the goal from Keith, the teams were forced into overtime.  It only took a little over a minute for Kane to send a behind the back pass in Hossa’s direction for the Hawks to leave with a 3-2 overtime win.

In easily one of the most aggressive hockey games thus far for Chicago, they were able to come out with yet another win.  The Columbus Bluejackets came out ready to play on Saturday, January 25, giving the Hawks a run for their money.  Bolland started out with a goal assisted by Kane who had one other in the night and Niklas Hjalmarsson proceeded to make a goal of his own with help from a re-direct from Stu Bickel.  Crawford played his best thus far, with 24 difficult saves during the night and Toews finished off the scoring for the Hawks’ night with a third quarter goal. Through a very rough and somewhat controversially refereed game, they were able to come out victorious with a 3-2 win.

Their most recent game, Sunday January 27 against the Detroit Red Wings at home was a tiring one due to the previous Bluejackets aggressiveness, but the Hawks were able to control their opponents numerous power-plays to come out with a 2-1 overtime victory.  Keith, who was a large contributor yet again on defense, scored the first goal of the night and Nick Leddy scored the game-winning goal with an assist from Stalberg and Toews.

The Hawks are now 6-0 and won’t play again until Wednesday, January 5 against the Minnesota Wild.  Here’s hoping for yet another victory for the Chicago team!