The Blackhawks have signed defenseman Shawn Lalonde to a three-year entry-level deal. Lalonde is currently with the Belleville Bulls of the OHL, and is one of the top prospects in the Blackhawks system (Red Risings #2). On the season he has eight goals and nineteen assists (twenty-seven points) in twenty-eight games.
If you read this blog often you should know Lalonde’s name by now – it might not be that long till we see the defenseman in a Blackhawk sweater.
Antti Niemi couldn’t stop the bleeding when he was brought into the game to replacing Cristobal Huet after he let in his fourth goal – a bad bounce off Troy Brouwer’s skate – early in the second period. It’s almost laughable how bad of a night it was for Huet. He needs to put this performance behind him, and drown any memories of this game in the bottle of cognac he keeps in his equipment bag.
The 5-4 loss can’t be blamed solely on Huet. There were some costly turnovers, and shoddy defense – see a stationary Brent Sopel getting beat by Steve Ott on his way to scoring the game winning goal. As a result the Blackhawks penalty kill took a hit last night when Dallas went two of five with the man-advantage. They fell to 86.5% (from 87.5%) on the kill, and are tied with San Jose for second in the league.
A few good things took place in last night’s loss to Dallas. The Blackhawks were dominant offensively in the first period out shooting the Stars twenty-one to eight. They were able to escape the period leading 3-2 because of the great play in offensive zone. The ‘Hawks player movement, puck movement and presence in front of the net was exciting to watch.
Coach Quenneville can look at that and the power play as bright spots from last night. The power play unit went two of four, and with the man-advantage the Blackhawks have scored five times in the last four games.
Next up, the Blackhawks will face the New Jersey Devils at home. Puck movement will be key, as Jacques Lemaire will deploy the trap to stymie the ‘Hawks fast paced offense.
Team Canada announced their Olympic roster this morning, and Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook will represent their country in Vancouver at the Winter Games. Being selected over so many other capable players to represent their nation is easily a highlight in their young careers.
Steve Yzerman and the Canadian brass had a deep talent pool to choose from. Keith was a lock to make Team Canada. Seabrook could have made the team all his own, but his on-ice relationship with Keith solidified his spot on the roster. Toews was on the bubble regarding his selection to the team, but as I wrote last week his leadership and past international experience would make him as asset. I neglected to mention his plus/minus rating and his success in the face-off circle.
Team Finland –
No surprise here, Antti Niemi was left off the Finnish team’s roster. The Fins are pretty deep at the position when it comes to NHL talent.
WJC Update –
In Sweden’s 4-1 victory over Russia, Blackhawks prospect Marcus Kruger came away with just a plus/minus of +1. In three games Kruger has two assists, two penalty-minutes and a plus/minus of +5 in the tournament.
A couple Blackhawks got some good news today. Marian Hossa and Tomas Kopecky were selected to the Slovakian Olympic hockey team. They are the first Blackhawks chosen to represent their country at the Winter Games in Vancouver.
No one will question Hossa’s addition to the roster. The choice of picking Kopecky to the team might surprise many since he hasn’t done anything of value with Chicago, but he is one of the few Slovakian players in the NHL. Only two Slovakian NHL players didn’t make the team – Marek Svatos and Boris Valabik. When Czechoslovakia split in 1993, most of the hockey talent resided in the Czech Republic.
Team Canada will announce their Olympic squad tomorrow morning, and Team USA will announce theirs New Years Day during the Winter Classic broadcast.
- Bryan Bickell was reassigned to the Rockford IceHogs this morning. It could be a while till he is recalled again. Kris Versteeg and Niklas Hjalmarsson were both on the ice at today’s practice. I would expect that both would recover from whatever ailed them before tomorrow night’s game in Dallas. Bickell has played twelve games with the Blackhawks this season, and has one goal and one assist.
- Chris Kuc reported that Adam Burish skated before today’s practice, and Cristobal Huet will start in net against the Stars.
- In yesterday’s Swedish 7-3 victory over Austria at the World Junior Championships, prospect Marcus Kruger had one assist and a plus/minus rating of +3. In two games played in the tournament Kruger has two assists, two penalty minutes and a plus/minus rating of +4. Sweden’s next game will be tomorrow against the Russians.
The Blackhawks put more space between them and Nashville with a 4-1 win over the second-place Predators last night. Six points separate the two Western Conference teams, and the ‘Hawks hope to add to the lead when they host their half of the home-and-home series tonight at the United Center. This match-up will be the last time the Blackhawks will face the Predators this regular season.
An observation from last night’s game was the Blackhawks dominance over their Central Division foe. It appears as though Coach Quenneville has everyone buying into what he is selling. First, Brent Sopel starts the season by not sucking. Then Dustin Byfuglien shows that he has the ability to beat a defender on a breakaway, and has played well since being demoted to the third line. Brian Campbell finally looks like the seven-million-dollar-man by scoring goals and skating all over the ice surface. Now, Tomas Kopecky proves to have some value by tallying two assists last night.
Penalty killing continues to be stellar for the Blackhawks, and the added scoring threat on the kill with Marian Hossa and Jonathan Toews will put teams on there heals with the man-advantage. There were a few good rushes and scoring chances while shorthanded last night. The power play has been effective in the last two match-ups – going one of three in each game. Byfuglien scored the lone power play goal on a wrist-shot from the blue line. He’s making me look bad after I suggested removing Byfuglien off the power play the other day.
On the Swedish Front –
Team Sweden neglected to add Hjalmarsson to their Olympic roster. He’s still Chicago’s little secret. The Swedes opted for a veteran squad. Remember Magnus Johansson? He made the team.
Swedish prospect Marcus Kruger had an assist, two penalty minutes and a plus/minus rating of +1 in the 10-1 victory over the Czech Republic at the World Junior Championships.
Bryan Bickell was reassigned to Rockford this afternoon. Last night marked his tenth game with the Blackhawks on the season, and he could get another cup of coffee as soon as this weekend – deepening on Ben Eager’s health. He’s missed the last four games with an upper-body injury.
Antti Niemi was coming off his worst game of the season in the 5-4 shootout victory over the Boston Bruins. He was caught out of position a few times, and didn’t have great rebound or puck control all night. That wasn’t the case in last night’s shutout of the Red Wings. Detroit is extremely good in front of the net – especially the wide-assed Tomas Holmstrom – and Niemi came up big when the Red Wings pressed hard in front of the net. It is the Fin’s fourth shutout on the season.
The Red Wings had possession of the puck longer then the Blackhawks’ defense would have liked, and out-shot the opposition 24-20 in the first two frames. Patrick Kane was able to get one past Jimmy Howard just thirty seconds into the second period while on the power play – the ‘Hawks were one of three with the man-advantage. Troy Brouwer’s screen of Howard made the goal possible. In the third period the Blackhawks took over scoring two more goals from Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews.
Next up, the Blackhawks will play the second place Nashville Predators Saturday and Sunday in a home-and-home.
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