Martin Havlat criticizes his coach for tirade Tim Sassone, Daily Herald

Havlat claims Savard didn’t air his frustrations with the team before speaking to the media:

"He wasn't talking to us after the game, so if he had something to say he should talk to us first," Havlat said after practice Monday, the first following the three-day all-star break.

Havlat doesn’t read newspapers or the internet:

"I just heard some stuff, but I don't really know everything. I know he wasn't happy, that's all I know. I don't think anybody was happy. We all want to win."

Havlat tells the media to go talk to Savard:

"He never mentioned names, and he never talked to us after the game," Havlat said. "If he had something to tell us, or what he told you guys, he should tell us after the game.

"If you guys want the answer, you have to ask him who are the names. Like I said, he should talk to us. I think it would be better."

Savard, who was clearly refrencing Havlat, Lang and Ruutu, backs off of Havlat a bit, at least to the media, at practice Monday:

"Havvy has played good, I'll give him that. He has played good five of the last six games, but it's still not good enough," Savard said. "For us as a group we need to be better, everybody needs to be better from goaltender on out. It's as simple as that."

* I completely agree with Havlat.  However, he better be practicing what he preaches.  Hopefully he went to Savard with these statements before commenting to the media.  If not, nothing is accomplished and this balloons into a disconcerting matter in the Blackhawks’ locker room going forward.  Someone in that room, and it will probably wind up being Martin Lapointe, will have to resolve this before the locker room splits into pro/anti-Savard factions.  Savard went about this the wrong way and now someone will need to order a close-door meeting so everyone can get back on the same page.  I’m sure Havlat’s not the only one in that room who feels as though his coach has just shown them up.  The younger guys will respond in fear of their jobs or ice time.  Veterans have likely been through this before elsewhere and would prefer to be treated like men.

To me, I didn’t see the Hawks performing any differently last Thursday than they did in San Jose or Phoenix on Saturday.  Why wasn’t Savard frustrated with his team after those games?  His post-game tirade Thursday on the eve of the All-Star break seemed contrived and will go down as a ‘rookie mistake’ by the second-year head coach.

** C-49-Jacob Dowell, D-42-Jordan Hendry and RW-11-Jack Skille were all sent back to Rockford last Friday for the purpose of playing in the IceHogs’ home games against Chicago on Friday and Iowa on Saturday.

** Jordan Hendry and Jack Skille were recalled from Rockford yesterday.  Dowell remains with the IceHogs.

** David Koci has been placed on waivers.  Finally.  He’ll be sent to Rockford if no other NHL team picks him up.

** Word from yesterday’s practice has Nikolai Khabibulin getting the start tomorrow night in Denver, Colorado.

** Following Wednesday, the Hawks travel to San Jose for a Saturday matinee (3pm Chicago time) but don’t play again until next Wednesday in Edmonton.  They’ll be in Calgary Thursday the 7^th and Vancouver on Sunday Feb 10.  The road trip finishes with back-to-back dates in Columbus Wed Feb 13 and Nashville Feb 14.

Savard restates goal; commit to making playoffs Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune

Lashing out at his team in the media; Savard has no regrets Tim Sassone, Daily Herald

GM Tallon agrees change is needed, will listen to Savard's 'gripes' Chris Kuc, Tribune

Ben Eager believes he was injured before trade Tribune

Steve Rosenbloom Commit to the Indian Chicago Tribune

Duncan Keith proving he's a star Tim Sassone, Daily Herald

Patrick Kane and Sam Gagner (Oilers) maintain friendship in NHL Nhl.com

**Poll Result**

Which player would you Most-like to see moved by the Feb 26^th trade deadline?

23% - Cam Barker

18% - Dustin Byfuglien

05% - Martin Havlat

32% - Nikolai Khabibulin

05% - Tuomo Ruutu

18% - Other (you can choose Zyuzin, Perreault, or Lapointe – but we’re looking to get something in return)

No one selecting other left a response in the comment section which is disappointing because I’d be interested in knowing just whom on this team they’d consider to have decent trade value other than those listed above.

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com

** Chris Chelios is celebrating his 46^th birthday today.  Smash them plates~!

** 13 years ago today, the Blackhawks played their first game at the United Center.  Chicago trounced the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 on January 25, 1995.  The Hawks opened up the 48-game season with losses in Detroit and Winnipeg before opening the UC on Wednesday the 25^th.  Joe Murphy scored the first goal in the United Center.  Chicago would go on to finish third in the Central (24-19-5).  Bernie Nicholls and Joe Murphy finished 1-2 in team scoring with 51 and 41 points respectively.  Jeremy Roenick would have his shortened by Derian Hatcher’s knee on April 2, 1995, but would return against Vancouver in the second round of the playoffs.  Ironically, Denis Savard would be acquired from Tampa Bay to help fill the void left in Roenick's absence.  Savard was originally sent to Montreal in part because Roenick was ready to claim the number one center spot.  The Hawks were eliminated by Detroit in the Western Conference Finals four games to one.

The 1994-95 season was shortened as stalled NHL/NHLPA labor negotiations precipitated a lockout on behalf of the league.  An agreement was reached on January 11, 1995 and the season opened up on January 20^th.  The ’94-95 campaign ended on June 24^th when the New Jersey Devils completed a four game sweep of the Detroit Red Wings.

175 million dollars was needed to build the new home of the Bulls and Blackhawks.  Construction was completed in just about 28 months.

The building officially opened on August 18, 1994 but the UC didn’t host its first event until eleven days later, when the World Wrestling Federation put on its annual summer super card, SummerSlam.  For our professional wrestling historians, the main event on that card saw the Undertaker take on the ‘Imposter’ Undertaker.  The ‘real’ Undertaker (Mark Calloway) won the match, ending the run of the imposter’s (Brian Lee) run in the WWF.  In the co-main event, Bret “Hitman” Hart faced his brother, the late Owen Hart, in a steel cage match.  Pro football Hall of Famer and Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton made an appearance cornering Razor Ramon (Scott Hall) in his Intercontinental Title match with Diesel (Kevin Nash).  The storyline of this match had Ramon acquire the ‘services’ of Payton to help prevent Diesel’s cornerman, Shawn Michaels, from interfering in the match.  The announced attendance for the event was 23,000.  If that’s wasn’t the real number, it was very close and would be the single-most attended event in the building’s history.

**Poll Result**

How do you rate the Hawk’s defense as a group?

(Keith, Seabrook, Sopel, Byfuglien, Wisniewski, Barker, Hendry)

26% - They’re the future.  Go with it.

13% - Two will emerge as top-2 d-men.

09% - Oh boy  We’re in trouble.

22% - Good enough to be average.

30% - We’re in need of an upgrade

There could've been multiple answers here.  I don't see anything from Keith suggesting he can be a consistent offensive force on the blue line.  He's a wonderful skater, but if he didn't have that attribute, I don't know if he'd even be in the league.  Seabrook could wind up being a number two guy.  I don't think we have to wait any longer to refer to Cam Barker as a first round bust.  The Hawks should move him and avoid making the same mistake as they did in holding on to Mark Bell hoping one day he'd eventually become something he wasn't cut out to be.  On Dustin Byfuglien; what Denis Savard and Dale Tallon are trying to say when they insinuate he may be better suited to play forward and not the position he's been at his entire life, is they believe Byfuglien's too stupid to play defense in the National Hockey League.  Mental mistakes can hurt a team no matter where they occur on the ice.  Byfuglien can hurt the team just as much at wing as he can on the point.  If he’s susceptible to mental errors or they don’t have faith in Byfuglien being able to adjust to speed of the NHL game, he should be traded while he still has value.  The Hawks are in need of a player who’s not currently in their organization, an elite defenseman who can shut down the other team’s top line and quarterback their own power play.

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com

Tonight – Game 50 of 82

Home Game #27 – Thursday January 24, 2008 – 7:30 – United Center

Columbus Blue Jackets 24-20-6, Overall 54pts, 10^th WEST, 3^rd Central (8-14-2, on Road)

at Chicago Blackhawks 23-22-4, Overall, 50pts, 13^th WEST, 5^th Central (13-12-1, at Home)

Columbus is wrapping up a five-game road trip tonight (2-2-0) as both teams head into the All-Star break.

Denis Savard has decided to go with Nikolai Khabibulin in goal.  Patrick Lalime had started six of the last eight, going 4-1-1.  Savard had been quoted last week that he intended to go with Lalime until he lost.  Well, Lalime and the Hawks lost Tuesday in San Jose, though blame should hardly be placed solely upon Lalime.  Khabibulin last played Friday January 11, a 5-2 loss to Minnesota before a crowd of 21,139 fans at the United Center.

Only three teams in the league (Ottawa-92, LA-88, Detroit-84) have scored more goals at home than the Blackhawks.  Denis Savard’s team has tallied 82 goals in 26 games on its’ home ice.  It’s the goal differential that counts, however.  Ottawa is a plus-15 at home.  Detroit is a whopping +30 in 25 home dates to the Blackhawks’ plus-9. 

On the other hand, only LA and St. Louis have scored fewer goals than Chicago on the road. (LA-49 in 22gp, STL-53 in 21gp, CHI-53 in 23gp).  More so, the problem is, the Hawks have allowed five more power play goals than they’ve scored at the United Center.

Ben Eager returns tonight after being sidelined for the past 14 games with concussion symptoms.  He’s appeared in just three games and a little more than 17 minutes of ice time since being acquired from the Flyers for Jim Vandermeer on December 18.

With tonight’s crowd, the Blackhawks will surpass the 8.5 million mark in United Center-Hawks’ attendance (regular/post season).

Blackhawks expected line-up as listed at blackhawks.nhl.com

Scratches are expected to be: C-94-Yanic Perreault (42gp, 4g, 4a, -5)…. D-27-Andrei Zyuzin (27gp, 1g, 2a, -10)…. LW-48-David Koci (worthless)…. RW-22-Martin Lapointe (bruised kidney) has been placed on injured reserve to make room for the returning Ben Eager.  What will it take to get rid of David Koci?

Other on Injured Reserve:  C-17-Kevyn Adams (knee surgery, out for season)… RW-29-Jason Williams (sports hernia)…. C-36-David Bolland…. C-19-Jonathan Toews (knee sprain)…. LW-32-Kris Versteeg (shoulder)…

Columbus Blue Jackets anticipated line-up

GM: Scott Howson

Coach: Ken Hitchcock

Assistants: Gary Agnew, Gord Murphy, Claude Noel

Goaltending coach: Clint Malarchuk

16-Brassard will play some with Nash and Modin, but if Tuesday’s game was any indication, Ken Hitchcock will shuffle his lines quite a bit….. C-91-Sergei Fedorov is out with a concussion.  He’s on injured reserve and will miss his 4^th straight game tonight…... W/C-51-Andrew Murray dressed Tuesday in Dallas but it’s expected he’ll sit vs. the Hawks…. W-11-Curtis Glencross may get the nod over Shelley…. LW-45-Jody Shelley does not have a point in 33 games this season…..

Last meeting – Wed November 14 in Columbus:

-- Blue Jackets win 4-2

-- First game of Hawks’ six-game November road trip (2-2-2)

-- Hawks goals: Keith (3), Byfuglien (2)

-- Jacket goals: Nash (12), Fedorov (4), Fritsche (2), Chimera (5)

-- Patrick Lalime: 17 saves, 21 shots against

-- Pascal Leclaire: 16 saves, 18 shots against

-- Stars of game: 1-Sergei Fedorov, 2-Rick Nash, 3-Jason Chimera

-- Fight~!  Dustin Byfuglien vs. Jared Boll (14:50-1^st) --Jim Vandermeer vs. Rick Nash (20:00-3^rd)

’07-08 - 2^nd match – Wed November 7 at United Center:

-- Blackhawks win 5-2

-- Hawks goals: Wisniewski (4), Toews (6), Seabrook (2), Keith (2), Sharp (6)

-- Jacket goals: Rusty Klesla (2), Zherdev (4)

-- Patrick Lalime: 24 saves, 26 shots against

-- Fredrik Norrena: 30 saves, 35 shots against

-- PP: Hawks 0-2 … CBJ 0-6

-- Ole-Kristian Tollefsen hit on Kevyn Adams in 1^st – ends Adams’ season (acl/mcl)

-- Fight~!  Adam Burish vs. Curtis Glencross (2:40-1^st)

’07-08 - 1^st match, October 23 at United Center:

-- Blue Jackets win 7-4

-- Hawks goals: Kane (2, 3), Toews (3), Wisniewski (2)

-- Jacket goals: Nash (6, 7), Novotny (2, 3), Fedorov (2), Tollefsen (1-SH-en)

-- Hawks 0-6 on power-play.  ‘Jackets 1-4 (Fedorov)

-- Fredrik Norrena started for Columbus and stopped 24 of 28 Hawks’ shots

-- Khabibulin had one of his worst games of the season, allowing 6 goals on 25 shots

-- Ruutu 3 assists, line with Toews and Kane (3 goals, 5 assists, +7)

-- Hawks out shot Columbus 28-26

-- Fight~!  None

Blue Jackets notes: (with help from Columbus’s media notes)

-- Slick-skating D- Kris Russell (46gp) scored the first 2 goals of his career Tues in Dallas

-- CBJ (8-14-2) rank 27^th out of 30 teams on the road in NHL

-- Rick Nash career: 331gp – 142g, 108a, 250pts, 350pim, 53ppg, 3shg, 22gwg

-- Nash has only 2 career hat tricks

-- 1 for 11 on PP vs. Chicago this season  … Killed all 11 Chicago PP’s against

-- Rick Nash is the lone ‘Jacket headed to the All-Star game

-- Of tonight’s roster, 10 players were drafted by CBJ, 5 via trade

-- Acquired thru free agency: David Vyborny (‘00), Jody Shelley (’00-01), Adam Foote (‘05), Jan Hejda (‘07), Mike Peca (‘07), Jiri Novotny (‘07)  

-- Shelley (380gp, 11g, 18a) and Vyborny (517gp, 109g, 198a) have played their entire NHL careers with Columbus and along with Rusty Klesla, are the only players remaining from the Blue Jackets’ inaugural 2000-01 season

-- Ron Hainsey (‘05) and Manny Malhotra (‘03) have both been acquired through waivers.

-- Pascal Leclaire was won 8 of his last 10 decisions

-- Jared Boll was born in Charlotte, NC, but grew up in Crystal Lake, IL

Blue Jackets’ goal scoring droughts:  Jan Hejda (74), Adam Foote (48), Jody Shelley (46), Ole-Kristian Tollefsen (26 -Chicago 10/23 empty netter), Jared Boll (14), Manny Malhotra (13), Jiri Novotny (11), David Vyborny (10), Curtis Glencross (10), Mike Peca (9), Dan Fritsche (6), Jason Chimera (4), Rusty Klesla (3),

Hawks notes:

-- In case you missed it, Adam Burish scored his 1^st NHL goal Tues in San Jose

-- Hawks (13-12-1) have 16^th best home record in NHL

-- Will have 5 top-ten 1^st round picks in lineup tonight, CBJ- 4

-- Only 8 other teams have given up more goals than the Hawks (142 in 49gp), just two of those (Carolina, Calgary) would qualify for the playoffs as of today.

-- Ottawa (1^st East, 2^nd NHL) has surrendered one less goal (141 in 49gp), yet scored 27 more goals than the Hawks (166-139)

-- Kevyn Adams, Toews, Bolland, Lapointe, Jason Williams and Jim Vandermeer were all in the lineup the last time Columbus visited the UC

Blackhawks’ goal scoring droughts: Ben Eager (30), Andrei Zyuzin (22), Kevyn Adams (20), Tuomo Ruutu (19), Duncan Keith (19), James Wisniewski (17), Jake Dowell (12), Cam Barker (10), Craig Adams (10), Martin Lapointe (7), Martin Havlat (5), Brent Sopel (5), Kris Versteeg (4), Dave Bolland (3), Patrick Sharp (4), Robert Lang (4),  and Adam Burish (0)

Blackhawks +/- losers

Blackhawks +/- leaders

Head to Head:

Power Play

CBJ: T-21^st NHL – 38 goals, 229 chances – 24^th on road (15.3%)

CHI: T-21^st NHL – 36 goals, 217 chances – 18^th at home (16.8%)

* CBJ has allowed 3 short-handed goals against … CHI = 6

Penalty Kill

CBJ: 2^nd NHL (86.5%) – 2^nd on road (88.0%) * San Jose tops in home/away PK

CHI: T-19^th w/Calgary (81.0%) – 26^th at home (79.2%)

In the Shoot-Out

CBJ: 2W – 5L (2-3 at home, 0-2 on road); 0 of 6 chances converted on road

CHI: 4W – 1L (3 of last 4 wins in s-out) 1-0 at home (10/6 vs Det)

Columbus vs. Detroit 1-1, vs. Nashville 1-1, vs. Dallas 0-2, vs. Anaheim 0-1)

* Pascal Leclaire is 2-2 in the shootout, allowing 7 scores on 15 chances

**Tonight’s Officials**

Referees: Tim Peel #20  --  Brad Watson #23

Linesman:  Mark Wheeler #56  --  Mark Shewchyk #92

Jim Cornelison will sing the anthem.

Remainder of 8-game 2007-08 season series vs. Columbus (Jackets lead 2-1)

Game 4 – Tonight – 01/24 – at United Center – 7:30

Game 5 – Wed February 13 – in Columbus – 6pm central

Game 6 – Fri March 14 – in Columbus – 6pm central

Game 7 – Wed March 26 – in Columbus – 6pm central

Game 8 – Sun March 30 – at United Center – 6:00

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com

Tonight – Game 49 of 82

Road Game #23 – Tuesday January 22, 2008 – 9:30 central – HP Pavilion

Chicago Blackhawks 23-21-4 Overall 50 pts, T-12^th WEST, T-4th Central (10-9-3, on Road)

at San Jose Sharks 25-15-7 Overall 57 pts, 5^th WEST, 3^rd Pacific (9-11-4, at Home)

Things have certainly been looking ‘up’ for the Hawks in the past ten days.  However, trouble could be awaiting in San Jose tonight.  The ‘Shark Tank’ has been anything but accommodating to the Blackhawks in the past seven years.

March 17, 2003 marked the last time Chicago won at HP Pavilion in San Jose.  Blackhawks won 3-2 in overtime.  Chicago is 0-5-1-0 in their last six trips to the Shark Tank and they’ve only won once since 1999 on the Sharks’ home ice (1-7-3-1).

San Jose comes into tonight’s game having lost four games in a row and the last three games in regulation: the only span they’ve done such so far in the ’07-08 season.

On the other side, the Blackhawks are trying to set a new season-high for consecutive victories; five.  Three of the last four games have been decided in a shoot-out, thus giving the Hawks’ opponents (Nashville, Colorado and Phoenix) each one point as a result.  Chicago is battling those three teams for positioning in the Western Conference playoff push.

Sharks left winger Milan Michalek scored both goals in these two teams only other meeting this season.  Each goal came while the Hawks were short-handed.  Michalek must enjoy seeing the Blackhawks.  In his career, Michalek has 7 goals and 3 assists in nine career games vs. Chicago.

Jeremy Roenick is tied with five other players for the league lead in game-winning goals with six.

Last week San Jose netminder Evgeni Nabokov missed out on an opportunity to tie Martin Brodeur for most consecutive starts in a single season.  Nabokov had started every game this season before sitting January 13 at Anaheim.  He had started 43 straight games.  Brodeur set the record of forty-four in 1996.  Blackhawks goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin ranks third on the list for his 42 consecutive starts while with Phoenix in 1997.

Blackhawks expected line-up …….

Probable scratches: D-27-Andrei Zyuzin… LW-48-David Koci (s/b in ECHL)… RW-22-Martin Lapointe (bruised kidney)…..

Injured Reserve: C-19-Jonathan Toews (knee sprain), W-29-Jason Williams (sports hernia), C-36-David Bolland (broken finger), W-32-Kris Versteeg (shoulder), C-17-Kevyn Adams (acl/mcl surgery)

San Jose Sharks anticipated line-up…..

President & CEO: Greg Jamison

General Manager: Doug Wilson

Head Coach: Ron Wilson

Asst Coaches: Tim Hunter~!, Rob Zettler

Advisor to Hockey Operations: Mike Ricci~!

Scout(Ontario)/Player Develop: Bryan Marchment~!

D-5-Rob Davison (15gp, 0pts, 21pim, -3) has worked both at forward and defense of late.  The San Jose Mercury News reported today that he practiced with the defense on Monday…. C-39-Tomas Plihal was recalled from Worcester (AHL) to fill Curtis Brown’s spot on the roster. Plihal, 24, has appeared in 3 NHL games in his career but none of those three have come this season…. C-11-Marcel Goc, 24, has just two goals and five points in 29 games played this season.  Goc has been a healthy scratch two out of the past three games…..

Sharks on IR:  D-4-Kyle McLaren (minor knee surgery)…. D-6-Brad Norton (back)….. LW-29-Ryan Clowe (knee)…. C/W-37-Curtis Brown (hand)…..

Last Meeting – Wednesday October 10 at United Center

-- San Jose wins 2-1

-- Hawks goal: Jonathan Toews (1^st of season, career) 13:43 1^st per (Seabrook, Kane)

-- Sharks goals: Milan Michalek (1st & 2nd)

-- Evgeni Nabokov: 16 saves, 17 shots against

-- Nikolai Khabibulin: 30 saves, 32 shots against

-- Michalek GWG with 3:31 left in the 3^rd

-- Power Play: Sharks 2 for 6 … Hawks 0 for 2

-- Fight~! Rob Davison vs. Martin Lapointe – 11:53 1^st 

-- Jonathan Toews’ NHL debut

-- United Center attend: 10,122

Sharks Leading Scorers:

Sharks’ notes:

-- Last game: Saturday- Lost to Detroit 6-3 at HP Pavilion

-- Jeremy Roenick’s career vs. Blackhawks: 36gp, 9g, 17a, 26pts, +2, 57pim, 3ppg, 3gwg

-- One of the conditions GM Doug Wilson had in signing Jeremy Roenick prior to this past training camp was that J.R. give up drinking during the season.

-- Patrick Marleau career vs. Blackhawks: 37gp, 12g, 15a, 27pts, even, 27pim, 6ppg, 3gwg

-- Marleau leads the Sharks all-time in scoring- 764gp, 227g, 287a, 514pts, -16

-- With one point tonight, Joe Thornton would tie Mike Ricci for 6^th all-time in Sharks’ scoring

-- Jonathan Cheechoo on the power play: 2 goals, 2 assists

-- PP leaders: Thornton (6-15-21), Rivet (2-11-13), Marleau (2-9-11)

-- Vs. Central Div: 5-4-0

-- 1999-00 Season opener 10/4/99 in SJ, Sharks notched 26 shots on goal in the 3^rd (SJ,W 7-1)

-- Christian Ehrhoff scored his 1^st NHL goal vs. Hawks, 11/26/03 in San Jose

-- Have scored just one empty-net goal this season (Hawks have 7)

Sharks’ goal scoring droughts: Rob Davison (79), Marc-Edouard Vlasic (65), Brad Norton (65), Christian Ehrhoff (48), Mike Grier (18), Alexei Semenov (13), Sandis Ozolinsh (12), Matt Carle (9), Marcel Goc (7), Patrick Rissmiller (6), Patrick Marleau (4), Joe Pavelski (4), Craig Rivet (4), Kyle McLaren (4), Torrey Mitchell (3), Jeremy Roenick (3)

-- Roenick needs 3 goals to tie Jean Beliveau (507) for 36^th in all-time NHL goals scored

-- 17 of the 23 players on the current Sharks roster were originally drafted by San Jose

-- Roenick recorded 7 hits Saturday vs. Detroit

Hawks’ notes:

-- 57 NHL games…. ZERO goals for Adam Burish

-- Patrick Kane has a 4-game point streak (3g, 3a)

-- Denis Savard’s head coaching record: 47-51-0-11  [47W – 62L]

-- Record when scoring 4 goals or more: 14-1-1  [3 goals or less: 9-20-3]

-- Dustin Byfuglien leads Hawks’ d-men and ranks 24^th among NHL d-men in scoring

-- Dustin Byfuglien on the power play: (2 goals, 9 assists)

-- PP leaders: Kane (4-14-18), Toews (4-12-16), Lang (5-8-13)

-- Vs. Pacific Div: 5-6-1

Blackhawks’ goal scoring droughts: Ben Eager (30), Andrei Zyuzin (22), Kevyn Adams (20), Tuomo Ruutu (18), Duncan Keith (18), James Wisniewski (16), Jake Dowell (11), Cam Barker (9), Craig Adams (9), Martin Lapointe (7), Martin Havlat (4), Brent Sopel (4), Kris Versteeg (4), Dave Bolland (3), Patrick Sharp (3), Robert Lang (3),

-- Having missed the past three games and not expected back in the line up until next week, Martin Lapointe will no longer be able to reach 1,000 NHL games played in the 2007-08 season.  Had he dressed in every game this season, Lapointe would have reached 1,000 on March 30^th vs. Columbus at the UC.

Head-to-head:

-- In January: San Jose 3-3-2  … Hawks 4-6-1

-- Leading after 1: San Jose 13-5-3  … Hawks 8-3-0

-- Leading after 2: San Jose 18-0-2  … Hawks 12-0-2

-- Trailing after 2: San Jose 2-13-2  … Hawks 5-16-0

-- Tied after two:  San Jose 5-2-3  … Hawks 6-5-2

-- In OT, ’07-08:  San Jose 2-7-0  … Hawks 6-4-0

-- 5 on 5: San Jose +2 (77gp-75ga)  … Hawks- Even (77gf-77ga)

Power Play:

San Jose: overall 16^th in NHL (17.6%) – at home 18.1% (14^th)

BHawks:  overall T-20^th in NHL (17.0%) – on road 17.2% (15^th)

Penalty Kill:

San Jose: overall 2^nd in NHL (86.4%) – at home 82.0% (19^th)

BHawks:  overall T-17^th in NHL (81.3%) – on road 83.8% (T-6^th)

Short-handed point leaders:

San Jose: Torrey Mitchell (2g, 1a) Mike Grier (1g, 1a)

BHawks: Patrick Sharp (7g, 2a), Rene Bourque (3g, 2a)

In the shootout:

San Jose: 2W–5L; (for) 8 scores, 23 chances  …. (against) 11 goals, 22 chances

BHawks: 4W–1L; (for) 7 scores, 13 chances  …. (against) 4 goals, 15 chances

**Tonight’s Officials**

Referees:  Don Koharski #12  --  Gord Dwyer #39

Linesman:  Tim Nowak #77  --  Thor Nelson #80

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com

Tonight – Game 48 of 82

Road Game #22 – Saturday January 19, 2008 – 8:00 central – Jobing.com Arena

Chicago Blackhawks 22-21-4 Overall 48 pts, 13^th WEST, 5th Central (9-9-3, on Road)

at Phoenix Coyotes 24-21-1 Overall 49 pts, 12^th WEST, 4^th Pacific (9-11-1, at Home)

I don’t have a lot of time today, so here are the basics.

** Today is the 17^th anniversary of the 1991 NHL All-Star game at Chicago Stadium.

Blackhawks’ lineup as it was last night.  I wouldn’t expect much change…….

Martin Lapointe should be healthy enough for a return tonight, so that will push either Jordan Hendry or Cam Barker out of the lineup.  I suppose Savard could also sit Yanic Perreault, but he’d be doing his team a service to get Cam Barker off the ice and James Wisniewski off the wing.

Probable scratches: D-27-Andrei Zyuzin… LW-48-David Koci … RW-22-Martin Lapointe (flu)…..

Injured Reserve: C-19-Jonathan Toews (knee sprain), W-29-Jason Williams (sports hernia), C-36-David Bolland (broken finger), W-32-Kris Versteeg (shoulder), C-17-Kevyn Adams (acl/mcl surgery)

Phoenix Coyotes anticipated line-up…..

Managing Partner: Wayne Gretzky

GM: Don Maloney

Head Coach: Wayne Gretzky

Associate coach: Ulf Samuelsson~!

Asst Coach: (Rick Tocchet when he’s reinstated next month)

Goaltending Coach: Grant Fuhr

Probable Phoenix scratches:  W-17-Radim Vrbata (groin)…

Hawks’ notes:

-- 56 NHL games…. ZERO goals for Adam Burish

-- Tuomo Ruutu still needs 2 goals for 50 career (213gp)

Blackhawks’ goal scoring droughts: Ben Eager (30), Andrei Zyuzin (22), Kevyn Adams (20), Tuomo Ruutu (17), Dunan Keith (17), James Wisniewski (15), Brent Seabrook (12), Jake Dowell (10), Martin Lapointe (7), Cam Barker (8), Craig Adams (8), Kris Versteeg (4), Dave Bolland (3)

**Tonight’s Officials**

Referees:  Greg Kimmerly #18  -- Marc Joannette #25

Linesman: Lonnie Cameron #74 – Thor Nelson #80 (same as last night)

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com

Tonight – Game 47 of 82

Road Game #21 – Friday January 18, 2008 – 8:00 central – Pepsi Center

Chicago Blackhawks 21-21-4 Overall 46 pts, 14^th WEST, 5th Central (8-9-3, on Road)

at Colorado Avalanche 25-18-3 Overall 53 pts, 8^th WEST, 4^th Northwest (16-6-0, at Home)

The Blackhawks kick off a three game road trip tonight in Denver.  Tomorrow, the Hawks head to Phoenix for a Saturday night matchup with the Coyotes and on to San Jose where they’ll meet Jeremy Roenick and the Sharks on Tuesday.  The Hawks next occupy the United Center on Thursday Jan. 24, when Rick Nash and the Columbus Blue Jackets come calling.

Patrick Lalime will get his third consecutive start in goal.  Denis Savard has said he will ride Lalime until he loses, so it’ll be interesting to see if Khabibulin is between the pipes tomorrow when Chicago faces his former team, the Coyotes.

Ten out of the Blackhawks next eleven games will take place on the road.

** Jason Williams had sports hernia surgery today to correct the groin problems which have kept him out of the line up since November 28.  He won’t return for another six weeks.

Blackhawks expected line-up as per blackhawks.nhl.com…….

Don’t ask me why Adams, a right wing, will line up as a center tonight for Denis Savard when Yanic Perreault (a career center) is on the same line.  Perhaps someone told him “Adams” was meeting the team in Denver and just assumed Kevyn Adams had miraculously recovered from knee surgery three months early….. I guess the “Badger Line” experiment is over… Ruutu is a much player better at home than on the road, nonetheless, he really needs to get his game going on this trip.  Ruutu hasn’t scored since the Hawks blew out LA at the UC on December 12…..

Probable scratches: D-27-Andrei Zyuzin… LW-48-David Koci (horrible at everything)… RW-22-Martin Lapointe (flu)…..

RD-43-James Wisniewski (knee sprain) is due back in the lineup on this 3-game road trip…. Martin Lapointe (bad flu) missed his first game since coming to the Blackhawks prior to the ’05-06 season.  Reportedly, Lapointe wanted to play but was talked out of it by team doctors.

Injured Reserve: C-19-Jonathan Toews (knee sprain), W-29-Jason Williams (sports hernia), C-36-David Bolland (broken finger), W-32-Kris Versteeg (shoulder), C-17-Kevyn Adams (acl/mcl surgery)

Colorado Avalanche anticipated line-up…..

President: Pierre Lacroix

GM: Francois Giguere

Asst to GM:  Michel Goulet

Head Coach: Joel Quenneville

Asst Coaches: Tony Granato & Jacques Cloutier

Goaltending Coach: Jeff Hackett

Don’t talk to the Avalanche about injuries -

ON I.R. – C-19-Joe Sakic (hernia surgery)… LW-94-Ryan Smyth (broken ankle)…. C-26-Paul Stastny (appendectomy)… D-34-Kurt Sauer (concussion symptoms, neck)…. Sakic is due back, at the earliest, the first week of February…. Smyth around the last week of February…. Stastny had his appendix removed yesterday and will miss the first game of his young career (128gp) tonight.  He’s expected to miss 2-3 weeks….. Sauer’s return is uncertain.  He suffered the injury when he was hit by San Jose’s Patrick Marleau on Nov. 30….

Probable Colorado scratches:  D-48-Kyle Cumiskey…. D-7-Johnny Boychuk…..

Last Meeting – Friday October 19 at United Center

-- Hawks win 5-3 (final goal a Robert Lang empty-netter)

-- Chi goals: Jonathan Toews (2), Patrick Sharp (2), Patrick Kane (1), Tuomo Ruutu (2), Lang (4)

-- Col goals: Wojtek Wolski (2), Marek Svatos (3), Ryan Smyth (3)

-- Khabibulin: 3 goals against, 40 shots

-- Jose Theodore: 4 goals against, 26 shots

-- Power play: Hawks 0-5  … Avs 1-5

-- Stars of the game: 1-Patrick Kane (3pts), 2-Joe Sakic (2a), 3-Patrick Sharp (3pts)

-- ‘The Toews Goal’ 6:59-1st

-- Attend: 13,519

Colorado Leading Scorers:

Avs’ notes:

-- Horrible early: Avs have been outscored 40-28 is the 1^st period.  They get better though and are a plus-13 in the second twenty.

-- Vs. Central Division: 4-7-0

-- Joel Quenneville (419 wins) is 7^th amongst active NHL coaches in wins and 18^th All-time.

-- Have allowed just 1 short-handed goal this season

-- When Wolski scores- Avs 9-2-1 … When Hejduk scores- Avs 9-3-0

-- Andrew Brunette will appear in his 418^th consecutive game tonight.  He’s second in the NHL in that category.  Calgary’s Cory Sarich is the NHL’s current-active Iron Man (436 consecutive).

-- Tyler Arnason led the Avs in scoring vs. Chi last season.  In four games, Arnason had two goals and 3 assists vs. his original team.

Avalanche’ goal scoring droughts: Kyle Cumiskey (37), John-Michael Liles (29), Karlis Skrastins (22), Tyler Arnason (19), Scott Hannan (19), Kurt Sauer (18), Scott Parker (15), Ian Laperriere (15), Jaroslav Hlinka (13), Ben Guite (13), T.J. Hensick (13), Cody McCormick (8), Brett Clark (7), Wojtek Wolski (7), Jordan Leopold (5), Ryan Smyth (3)

Hawks’ notes:

-- 55 NHL games…. ZERO goals for Adam Burish

-- #48 in the lineup = 1:19 of ice time for David Koci

-- Vs. Northwest Division: 3-5-1

-- All-time vs. Colorado/Quebec: 38-39-9-3  [14-23-6-0 in Col/Que]

-- Tuomo Ruutu still needs 2 goals for 50 career (212gp)

-- Craig Adams’ NHL career (all with Carolina) 427gp – 33g, 44a, 77pts, 337pim

-- Adams is a 3^rd or 4^th line checking winger.  He’s not an enforcer but he is capable of defending himself and his teammates.

Blackhawks’ goal scoring droughts: Ben Eager (30), Andrei Zyuzin (22), Kevyn Adams (20), Tuomo Ruutu (16), Dunan Keith (16), James Wisniewski (14), Brent Seabrook (11), Jake Dowell (9), Martin Lapointe (7), Cam Barker (7), Craig Adams (7), Kris Versteeg (4), Dave Bolland (3)

Head-to-head:

-- In January: Avs 4-3-0  … Hawks 2-6-1

-- Leading after 1: Avs 7-1-1  … Hawks 8-3-0

-- Leading after 2: Avs 15-2-1  … Hawks 12-0-2

-- Trailing after 2: Avs 4-12-2  … Hawks 5-16-0

-- Tied after two: Avs 6-4-0  …. Hawks 4-5-2

-- In OT, ’07-08: Avs 6-3  … Hawks 4-4

-- 5 on 5: Avs- 93 gf, 84 ga (+9)  … Hawks- 76 gf, 76ga (E)

Power Play:

Colorado: overall 29^th in NHL (13.9%) – at home 17.5% (14^th)

BHawks:  overall 16^th in NHL (17.3%) – on road 18.2% (11^th)

Penalty Kill:

Colorado: overall 16^th in NHL (81.5%) – at home 80.0% (22^nd)

BHawks:  overall T-18^th in NHL (81.2%) – on road 83.7% (T-8^th)

* Hawks are tops in the NHL in dressing players 8 who’ve made their NHL debuts in 2007-08 (Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Jacob Dowell, Kris Versteeg, Petri Kontiola, Jack Skille, Jordan Hendry and Magnus Johansson).  Colorado is second with six (T.J. Hensick, Jaroslav Hlinka, Johnny Boychuk, Cody McLeod, Tyler Weiman and David Jones).  Atlanta also has dressed six natural rookies.

**Tonight’s Officials**

Referees:  Don Koharski #12 – Justin St. Pierre #45

Linesman: Lonnie Cameron #74 – Thor Nelson #80

Tonight’s game is being shown on the “CSN +” channel check here for the channel in your area

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com

Craig Adams loads up on Blues’ Dan Hinote January 5 in St. Louis

Photo credit: Jeff Roberson, AP/Yahoo Sports

Official Press Release blackhawks.nhl.com

Craig Adams will earn $600,000 this season and next.  He’ll be an unrestricted free agent following the 2008-09 season.  Adams is a fourth line right wing who can also kill penalties.  Both he and injured Blackhawk Kevyn Adams were teammates on the 2006 Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes.

This deal makes very little sense unless you consider Craig Adams will fill Martin Lapointe’s role should Lapointe be dealt prior to the trade deadline or not be resigned before next season, as is expected.

I suspect this is a courtesy transaction between the two teams after Carolina took beleaguered winger Sergei Samsonov off Tallon’s hands earlier this month.  Samsonov has fit in quite well the the ‘Canes so far, and with Carolina getting some injured players back in the next few weeks, Craig Adams was going to be in a position where he would’ve been a healthy scratch in Carolina.  Now, Tallon gets a little compensation for a player who is helping Carolina (for the time being).

Adams was born in Seria, Brunei and will turn 31 on April 26.

In 427 career games, Adams has scored 33 goals and 44 assists while compiling 337 penalty minutes.  As a player, he’s similar to Hawks’ center Kevyn Adams, only a right wing.  The two are not related.

Adams attended and played hockey four years at Harvard University.  He and his wife Anne had their first child this past July.  He’s played his entire career in Carolina and was Hartford’s 9^th round draft pick in 1996. Adams appeared in 29 NHL playoff games with the ‘Canes and did not record a single point.

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com

I’ve updated the current NHL stats for all former Blackhawks’ players still active around the NHL.  Below are the four NHL-active goaltenders with ties to Chicago’s NHL franchise.

Click here for a look at the current statistics through games ending Wednesday January 16, 2008 for all former - currently active Blackhawks forwards and defenseman.

Jeremy Roenick, who turns 38 today, is tied with Jarome Iginla and Patrick Elias for the league lead in game winning goals (6)….. Tyler Arnason is completely worthless.  I’d suspect he’ll sign on with a team in Europe next season but get sent home for being too out of shape.  What a waste this guy has been….. While Travis Moen is still a reliable third line-checking left wing for Anaheim, he’s been unable to build off the offensive success he attained during the Ducks’ Stanley Cup run…. Jean Pierre Dumont’s 37 points ranks him 54^th in the league in scoring….. Tampa Bay’s Brad Richards owns the distinction of having the worst plus/minus rating in the league at minus-25.  The next worst plus/minus rating belongs to Michael Nylander (-19, in 40gp), then Steve McCarthy (-18, in 28gp)….. Brandon Bochenski picked up his first goal of the season in his third game with Anaheim, Jan. 9 vs. Toronto at Honda Center.  He’s currently riding a three game point streak (1g,2a).  Randy Carlyle has used Bochenski in the shootout as well…. Michael Handzus is goalless in his last thirteen games (2a, -6).  Kings’ GM Dean Lombardi signed Handzus to a four year, 16 million dollar contract based on his performance in eight games with the Hawks last season.  Using Handzus’s stats playing in those eight games with Martin Havlat on his right wing, ‘Zus was on pace to score 31 goals and 82 points should he have stayed healthy the entire ’06-07 season.  This year in LA, Handzus is on pace to score 9 goals and 21 points.  To be fair, Marc Crawford has Handzus centering his third line, with Kyle Calder and Brian Willsie as his regular line mates.…. Dan Cleary is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.  Detroit will do everything they can to lock him up before then….. Dominik Hasek has improved his numbers greatly over the past month.  He’s surrendered just 11 even-strength goals (19 total GA) in his past 13 appearances dating back to December 4…..

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com

Blackhawks’ GM Dale Tallon was a guest this afternoon on Sirius Satellite Radio’s ‘Hockey Night in Canada Radio.’  Tallon joined hosts Jeff Marek and Kelly Hrudey at approximately 4:35 central time.

Tallon let out the news, perhaps prematurely yet again, that he’d just gotten off the phone with Patrick Sharp’s agent and he expected a contract extension would be in place by as soon as Thursday.

Sharp is scheduled to become a restricted free agent on July 1.  When news of Brent Sopel’s three-year, seven million dollar contract extension broke last week, the Canadian Press reported Tallon was in negotiations to retain the versatile forward's services.

Brent Seabrook, Tuomo Ruutu, Rene Bourque, James Wisniewski, Adam Burish and Dustin Byfuglien will all see their contracts come due at season’s end.  The Hawks’ organization does retain those players’ rights as restricted free agents just as in the case of Sharp.

Tallon also discussed Dustin Byfuglien, who he noted is currently 253 pounds, down from the 277 he was when he first debuted with the Blackhawks.  Tallon believes a lot of Byfuglien’s current struggles center around both his need to get into better physical condition, as well as a desire to “do too much” because knows “he’s so gifted.”  Tallon explained most of Byfuglien’s errors come at the end of shifts when he’s tired and susceptible to mental errors.  He also defended 'Big Buff' by noting “he’s starting to get it” and that Byfuglien is frustrated with himself because he’s not scoring as much as he knows he’s capable of doing.

When asked about Adam Burish, Tallon said ideally Burish is a 4^th line energy guy who can also put in some minutes in on the third trio.  Tallon commended Burish for his fearlessness and the energy he brings to the team.

Tallon noted that his team currently has five or six rookies who ideally should still be in Rockford.  He did not mention Jake Dowell, Kris Versteeg or Cam Barker specifically. 

Additionally, Tallon did say he’d be interested in talking to Peter Forsberg should the Blackhawks get back into the playoff race.

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com

Tonight – Game 46 of 82

Home Game #26 – Wednesday January 16, 2008 – 7:30 – United Center

St. Louis Blues 22-15-6 Overall 50 pts, 9^th WEST, 2^nd Central (8-8-2, on road), 14^th NHL

at Chicago Blackhawks 20-21-4 Overall 44 pts, 14^th WEST, 5^th Central (12-12-1, at Home), 25^th NHL

A lot has been said about the Hawks’ success versus the NHL’s best – Detroit Red Wings this season, but the Blues have done quite well for themselves as well.  Detroit owns an average 7-7-2 record against the Central Division so far in 2007-08.  Four of those losses have come against the Hawks, the other three versus the Blues.  St. Louis is 3-2 vs. the Wings this season, with the last win being a 2-0 shut out at Joe Louis Arena on New Years Eve.  Detroit has lost just ten games thus far in ’07-08.

*Patrick Kane has 2 goals in his last 28 games (one an empty netter 12/26).  Maybe Savvy should threaten Kane with the tapes?  If he doesn’t score tonight against the Blues, he has to sit down and watch Savvy’s highlights with his coach once more.  That’s a tremendous visual.

Blackhawks expected line-up per blackhawks.nhl.com …….