Tuesday night, the Chicago Blackhawks came out on top against the Detroit Red Wings, winning the game 2-1, and stopping any negative thought that this team isn’t back. After beating St. Louis on Sunday, critics said the Hawks real test would be Tuesday against Detroit; some doubted Chicago’s ability. But guess what, they passed with flying colors. Detroit has been the power house in the Central Division since Chicago fell back during their skid, and currently lead the league with 84 points. Chicago is still in 6th in the Western Conference, but is now holding strong with 73 points, only 3 behind Nashville and 6 in back of the Blues.

Both teams went into Tuesday night’s game missing key players, Datsyuk for Detroit and Toews for Chicago, but this didn’t stop the Blackhawks from playing a great game, all around.

“In 82 games, you’re going to play without some players on any given night,” forward Patrick Sharp said. “Losing him was big, but we rallied around each other and all stepped up.”

Chicago is now winning games for one main reason: they are actually playing defense, and not just “okay” defense, it is superb. Tuesday night, Corey Crawford was unbelievable in the net, stopping shots that 2 weeks ago, would have went right by him. Detroit did start out with the lead, just 2 1/2 minutes into the game. Filppula put a slap shot from center past Crawford on the power play. This goal, though, would be the only one for Detroit for the rest of the night.

“We’re all doing the little things defensively,” said defenseman Duncan Keith, who is a plus-8 over the last three games. “With forwards back-checking hard and being a lot better in our own end and defensemen blocking shots, it makes everybody’s job easier.”

The Blackhawks couldn’t find the back of the net in the 1st, but this didn’t stop them from coming out and dominating the 2nd period. They continued to fire the shots on goal, and then 8 minutes into the 2nd, Keith pushed the puck through to Hayes who got the lucky bounce and put it past Jimmy Howard. It was all tied up.

It was definitely a night for the goal keepers Tuesday night. Both Howard and Crawford had saves, upon saves, but fortunately for the Blackhawks, at the beginning of the 3rd, Kruger flipped one by Howard to give Chicago the go-ahead-goal. Detroit came close many times, but Corey Crawford was solid in the net and didn’t let anything by, to give Chicago the BIG “W”!

“Corey was rock solid,” Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. “He was big, strong, controlled rebounds. They put a lot of bodies in traffic at the net. They test you on almost every shift. I thought he was excellent.”

The 3 star selections for the night were Blackhawk rookies, Jimmy Hayes and Marcus Kruger, and Red Wings keeper, Jimmy Howard (who had 27 saves in his first game back after coming back from an injury that put him out for 2 weeks).

MVP: Corey Crawford. Once again, he held his own, as a Toews-less Blackhawks team topped the leader of the NHL. With 31 saves in the game, I think its safe to say, Crawford played one monstrous game in the net. 

Best of the Best Reviews|

Blackhawks win fourth in a row - The Chicago Sun Times reviews the Blackhawks big win over the Western power house, Detroit Red Wings 

Black & Red Hot Takes|

Rookies are looking hot and promising for Chicago…..

Hayes, Kruger lead Toews-less Hawks over Detroit

Joel Quenneville showing faith in rookie Dylan Olsen

Tuesday night, the Chicago Blackhawks came out on top against the Detroit Red Wings, winning the game 2-1, and stopping any negative thought that this team isn’t back. After beating St. Louis on Sunday, critics said the Hawks real test would be Tuesday against Detroit; some doubted Chicago’s ability. But guess what, they passed with flying colors. Detroit has been the power house in the Central Division since Chicago fell back during their skid, and currently lead the league with 84 points. Chicago is still in 6th in the Western Conference, but is now holding strong with 73 points, only 3 behind Nashville and 6 in back of the Blues.

Both teams went into Tuesday night’s game missing key players, Datsyuk for Detroit and Toews for Chicago, but this didn’t stop the Blackhawks from playing a great game, all around.

“In 82 games, you’re going to play without some players on any given night,” forward Patrick Sharp said. “Losing him was big, but we rallied around each other and all stepped up.”

Chicago is now winning games for one main reason: they are actually playing defense, and not just “okay” defense, it is superb. Tuesday night, Corey Crawford was unbelievable in the net, stopping shots that 2 weeks ago, would have went right by him. Detroit did start out with the lead, just 2 1/2 minutes into the game. Filppula put a slap shot from center past Crawford on the power play. This goal, though, would be the only one for Detroit for the rest of the night.

“We’re all doing the little things defensively,” said defenseman Duncan Keith, who is a plus-8 over the last three games. “With forwards back-checking hard and being a lot better in our own end and defensemen blocking shots, it makes everybody’s job easier.”

The Blackhawks couldn’t find the back of the net in the 1st, but this didn’t stop them from coming out and dominating the 2nd period. They continued to fire the shots on goal, and then 8 minutes into the 2nd, Keith pushed the puck through to Hayes who got the lucky bounce and put it past Jimmy Howard. It was all tied up.

It was definitely a night for the goal keepers Tuesday night. Both Howard and Crawford had saves, upon saves, but fortunately for the Blackhawks, at the beginning of the 3rd, Kruger flipped one by Howard to give Chicago the go-ahead-goal. Detroit came close many times, but Corey Crawford was solid in the net and didn’t let anything by, to give Chicago the BIG “W”!

“Corey was rock solid,” Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. “He was big, strong, controlled rebounds. They put a lot of bodies in traffic at the net. They test you on almost every shift. I thought he was excellent.”

The 3 star selections for the night were Blackhawk rookies, Jimmy Hayes and Marcus Kruger, and Red Wings keeper, Jimmy Howard (who had 27 saves in his first game back after coming back from an injury that put him out for 2 weeks).

MVP: Corey Crawford. Once again, he held his own, as a Toews-less Blackhawks team topped the leader of the NHL. With 31 saves in the game, I think its safe to say, Crawford played one monstrous game in the net. 

Best of the Best Reviews|

Blackhawks win fourth in a row - The Chicago Sun Times reviews the Blackhawks big win over the Western power house, Detroit Red Wings 

Black & Red Hot Takes|

Rookies are looking hot and promising for Chicago…..

Hayes, Kruger lead Toews-less Hawks over Detroit

Joel Quenneville showing faith in rookie Dylan Olsen