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GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:59 am
by dmiles2186

The Chicago Blackhawks are off to a stirring start, putting them on the brink of their best in 40 years.

The St. Louis Blues, though, have a chance to win their first three games for the first time in nearly two decades.

A healthy and rejuvenated Marian Hossa looks to spur the Blackhawks in their home opener Tuesday night against the reigning Central Division champions.

Chicago (2-0-0) is in search of its best start to a season since beginning 4-0-0 in 1972-73, while the Blues (2-0-0) haven't started with three straight wins since 1993-94.

The Blackhawks began this season in impressive fashion Saturday, scoring the first four goals in a 5-2 win at Los Angeles to spoil the Stanley Cup champions' banner-raising celebration. They followed that up a day later by beating Phoenix 6-4 in a rematch of their opening-round playoff series, won by the Coyotes in six games.

Hossa may have found some extra motivation in Arizona after suffering a concussion on a vicious hit by Phoenix's Raffi Torres in Game 3. The star right wing spent the lockout recovering, and he's quickly returned to form with two goals in each of the first two games, including the decisive tally 14 seconds into the third period Sunday.

"I felt good off the ice biking and doing the strength, but when I got on the ice it was a little different," Hossa told his team's official website. "The brain had to adjust to so many movements, so many players, such a fast pace ... when I was doing it I didn't feel myself. I'm glad I had time to be prepared. By (January), my head was clear and I wasn't afraid to go into the corners."

St. Louis has struggled to slow down Hossa. He has 10 goals and seven assists in 17 meetings over his first three seasons with Chicago, including six goals in eight matchups at the United Center.

The Blackhawks have won seven straight at home versus the Blues, but St. Louis arrives in Chicago with confidence after beating Detroit 6-0 at home Saturday and claiming a 4-3 shootout win at Nashville on Monday.

"It's our first road game of the year, we were down by a goal and end up tying it up and winning," center Jaden Schwartz said. "We had a little adversity there, and we came through so I think we can build on that."

Vladimir Tarasenko is looking to continue a brilliant start to his NHL career after getting one goal and two assists against the Predators, setting up Alex Pietrangelo's third-period tally that eventually forced overtime and the shootout. The 21-year-old right wing found the net twice against the Red Wings in his NHL debut.

"Vladi's playing really, really well right now," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We've got a couple lines really playing well right now."

Brian Elliott is expected to be in net after replacing an ineffective Jaroslav Halak in the second period Monday and stopping all 13 shots he faced - not to mention both shootout attempts.

Elliott went 23-10-4 while setting franchise records with a 1.56 goals-against average and nine shutouts last season. He's 1-2-1 with a 2.21 GAA in four meetings with the Blackhawks, losing both visits to Chicago despite a 1.93 GAA.
Team Comparison
BLUES (2-0-0) at BLACKHAWKS (2-0-0)

TV: FS-Midwest; CSN-Chicago

Season series: It’s the first of five meetings this season between the Central Division rivals. The Blackhawks won four of six last season, though they needed a shootout in each of the last two.

Big story: After a sensational start out West this past weekend, the Hawks play their home opener before what’s sure to be a packed house at the United Center. But the Blues have also won their first two games, including a 4-3 shootout win at Nashville on Monday.

Team Scope:

Blues: Two nights after they proved they can make winning look easy, the Blues also showed they have some resilience. St. Louis trailed 3-2 entering the third period at Nashville, but Alex Pietrangelo’s third-period goal forced overtime and T.J. Oshie and Alex Steen connected in the shootout for a 4-3 victory.

"It's our first road game of the year, we were down by a goal and end up tying it up and winning," center Jaden Schwartz said. "We had a little adversity there, and we came through so I think we can build on that."

The Blues outshot the Predators 39-24 and have nearly doubled the output of their first two opponents – 75-38.

Blackhawks: Shades of 2009-10. Though it’s only a two-game sample, this season’s Hawks look a lot like the Cup-winners of three years ago in terms of having a balanced offense that’s generating lots of goals.

Chicago routed Los Angeles 5-2 in its opener on Saturday and outscored Phoenix 6-4 on Sunday, giving the Hawks 11 goals in two games.

“I know it's only two games and it's early to be talking about it,” forward Marian Hossa told the Chicago Tribune on Monday, “[but] we're rolling four lines so everybody is more energized instead of playing two or three lines so much ice time. So far, we are happy about it."

Who’s hot: Rookie Vladimir Tarasenko has been a shot in the arm for the Blues’ offense. The 21-year-old Russian followed up a two-goal performance in his NHL debut on Saturday with a goal and two assists against Nashville. … Hossa is coming off back-to-back two-goal games, showing no ill effects from the season-ending concussion he suffered in the playoffs last spring.

Injury report: The Blues are healthy. … Chicago is without forward Daniel Carcillo, who sustained a lower-body injury in the third period of Saturday’s win at L.A. and is expected to miss about a month. Rookie Brendan Saad will replace Carcillo on the top line with Hossa and Jonathan Toews.
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Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:24 am
by gaijin
Man, this game should be chippy. Both teams sitting at 2-0-0, looking to establish themselves as the team to beat in the Division. Plus, you know, Blues-Blackhawks.

:goblues: :letsgoblues: :hawkssuck:

Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 8:36 am
by cprice12
I don't have a good feeling about this game.
Back to back nights for us...Chicago didn't play yesterday...we're in Chicago.

I think we only win this one 4-3. :grin:

Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:08 am
by glen a richter
Blues won't take this one, unfortunately.

Hawks 3
Blues 2 (Tarasenko, Schwartz)

Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:12 am
by STLADOGG
I feel a shutout coming. Not the good one.
Blues 0
Hawks 3

Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:39 am
by Winning Unlimited
Tarasenko steps his game up.
  • *38th in the NHL with a 37% shooting percentage.
    *Did not score in the shootout last night.
Blues with 3-2 in an OT thriller. And the Blues are led to victory quietly by Elliott and Shattenkirk. Did you know that Shatty22 leads defensemen in points? dmiles and FKeenan are our forums GDT tandem.

Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:40 am
by F Keenan
Elliott > Crawford and if it's Emery < Elliott. Blues haven't won in Chicago in the last 7 visits, we're due.

Blues 3
Hawks 1

Stewart gets 2. Tanks with an empty netter.

Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:43 am
by Winning Unlimited
Any news on Andy Mac? or Vlad's interpreter?

Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:06 am
by dmiles2186
Winning Unlimited wrote:Any news on Andy Mac? or Vlad's interpreter?
On Twitter last night, I believe it was JR who posted that Hitch said Amac is fine, will just need a few stitches. No Keith Tkachuk reconstructive dental surgery needed.

Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:37 am
by cardsfan04
I don't have a great feeling about tonight either. Road game after traveling the night before with no off-day. Hopefully it's early enough in the season (plus a rivalry game) to overcome that.

Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 11:29 am
by DaDitka
If our first two lines don't play better then they have the first two games then we're in trouble here. I'm not talking about the play of the individual players, but the lines as a whole.

That said, we've got 4 out of an available 4 points with our top top line underachieving......it's kind of scary how good this team 'could' be.

Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 12:22 pm
by Oaklandblue
Start swapping goalies again. Last night Elliott should have started anyway. Today start Halak.

Crawford and Emery are not on the same level as Halak/Elliott. They are beatable. I'm actually surprised that these guys aren't hunting down and signing Luongo. After losing Niemi to the Sharks, they've had good netminding but nothing to write home about.

Perron and Pie are the questionables at this point. Is Perron experiencing some sort of concussion-related syndromes? He's not been himself..

Tank will start things off with scoring with backup from AMac and Bergs. Expect the kind of game we saw last night.

We take this one in OT 2-1.

Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 12:45 pm
by ramsfan115
Oaklandblue wrote:Start swapping goalies again. Last night Elliott should have started anyway. Today start Halak.

Crawford and Emery are not on the same level as Halak/Elliott. They are beatable. I'm actually surprised that these guys aren't hunting down and signing Luongo. After losing Niemi to the Sharks, they've had good netminding but nothing to write home about.

Perron and Pie are the questionables at this point. Is Perron experiencing some sort of concussion-related syndromes? He's not been himself..

Tank will start things off with scoring with backup from AMac and Bergs. Expect the kind of game we saw last night.

We take this one in OT 2-1.
I can agree with you on Perron, but Petro?? He has a goal and 2 assists with a plus 2 so far, and averaging around 24 minutes of ice time, with one penalty in that duration. I actually see him as an asset instead of of a liability at this point...

Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 12:50 pm
by Oaklandblue
ramsfan115 wrote:
Oaklandblue wrote:Start swapping goalies again. Last night Elliott should have started anyway. Today start Halak.

Crawford and Emery are not on the same level as Halak/Elliott. They are beatable. I'm actually surprised that these guys aren't hunting down and signing Luongo. After losing Niemi to the Sharks, they've had good netminding but nothing to write home about.

Perron and Pie are the questionables at this point. Is Perron experiencing some sort of concussion-related syndromes? He's not been himself..

Tank will start things off with scoring with backup from AMac and Bergs. Expect the kind of game we saw last night.

We take this one in OT 2-1.
I can agree with you on Perron, but Petro?? He has a goal and 2 assists with a plus 2 so far, and averaging around 24 minutes of ice time, with one penalty in that duration. I actually see him as an asset instead of of a liability at this point...
They're both assets, don't get me wrong. Pie just seems abit off to me and it might just be me. Perron has me worried atm.

Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 12:50 pm
by stinkdified
while the Blues (2-0-0) haven't started with three straight wins since 1993-94.
Man, this would be sa-weet! Don't quite think its going to happen. Here's to hopin' though. Hoping that the majority of us in here are wrong, lol.
dmiles2186 wrote:No Keith Tkachuk reconstructive dental surgery needed.
oh god, my sides...

Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 1:01 pm
by cardsfan04
Oaklandblue wrote:
ramsfan115 wrote:
Oaklandblue wrote:Start swapping goalies again. Last night Elliott should have started anyway. Today start Halak.

Crawford and Emery are not on the same level as Halak/Elliott. They are beatable. I'm actually surprised that these guys aren't hunting down and signing Luongo. After losing Niemi to the Sharks, they've had good netminding but nothing to write home about.

Perron and Pie are the questionables at this point. Is Perron experiencing some sort of concussion-related syndromes? He's not been himself..

Tank will start things off with scoring with backup from AMac and Bergs. Expect the kind of game we saw last night.

We take this one in OT 2-1.
I can agree with you on Perron, but Petro?? He has a goal and 2 assists with a plus 2 so far, and averaging around 24 minutes of ice time, with one penalty in that duration. I actually see him as an asset instead of of a liability at this point...
They're both assets, don't get me wrong. Pie just seems abit off to me and it might just be me. Perron has me worried atm.
Pietro made a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes last night before sniping that goal from a sick angle. Even if he's awful for a week at some point, I wouldn't consider him a questionable. He's a Norris candidate that had a mediocre game.

Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 1:18 pm
by amusiac
Any word on Redden?

Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 1:37 pm
by fargoblues
Note 3
Black Cocks 2
F/OT

Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 1:45 pm
by Frusciante
ramsfan115 wrote:
Oaklandblue wrote:Start swapping goalies again. Last night Elliott should have started anyway. Today start Halak.

Crawford and Emery are not on the same level as Halak/Elliott. They are beatable. I'm actually surprised that these guys aren't hunting down and signing Luongo. After losing Niemi to the Sharks, they've had good netminding but nothing to write home about.

Perron and Pie are the questionables at this point. Is Perron experiencing some sort of concussion-related syndromes? He's not been himself..

Tank will start things off with scoring with backup from AMac and Bergs. Expect the kind of game we saw last night.

We take this one in OT 2-1.
I can agree with you on Perron, but Petro?? He has a goal and 2 assists with a plus 2 so far, and averaging around 24 minutes of ice time, with one penalty in that duration. I actually see him as an asset instead of of a liability at this point...
In my book Petro is responsible for at least two, if not all of the goals we let in yesterday. On the first goal he made a rookie mistake in the neutral zone causing the breakaway. The second one he could've prevented in an initial phase when he let the Predator forward skate by him far too easily on the flank, before passing it in front of goal. On the third goal he failed to keep an eye on Hörnqvist, who was left completely unmarked beside Halak. Granted, he was not single handedly responsible as Halak probably should've saved both number 2 and 3, but I'm not used to seeing Petro making these mistakes. It's disturbing to say the least. But then again, as with Perron, it's probably just rust from not playing for half a year, which we will have to live with for a while now.

Re: GDT #3: 1/22/13 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 2:07 pm
by STLADOGG
I'm watching that game 3 game between the Flyers and Penguins last year. If anyone can remember it, I am hoping to see some of that tonight.