Hawks vs. Stars

This was not a very good game for us. Big D slid the puck past Turco on a power play early in the game, but that was all the Hawks scoring for a while. After giving up five consecutive goals, Coach Savard traded Crawford for Lalime. The Hawks managed a slight comeback with two Rene Bourque goals, but they were not enough as Crawford gave up two goals and the Hawks wound up losing 7-4. The next Hawks game is at home this Sunday afternoon versus Vancouver.

Hawks vs. Coyotes

Last night the Blackhawks blanked the Coyotes 1-0 at the United Center. It was great to get a win, especially a shutout win at home, but the game was not the most exciting. I would have liked to see a little more action in a game featuring a team fighting for its life in front of a respectable crowd of about 15,000. The only goal was sort of an accident by Jason Williams; Bolland threw the puck in front of the net and it happened to go off Williams' skate and past Bryzgalov. Lalime, playing for an injured Khabibulin, earned his first shutout of the season, and his first in about a year. Andrew Ladd, Ruutu's replacement, played his first game as a Hawk, Petri Kontiola was recalled from Rockford to fill in for Robert Lang who was out with a bad back, and Martin Havlat injured his shoulder in the second period and did not return. Tonight the Hawks face off with Dallas and newly acquired Brad Richards.

Trade Deadline

The trade deadline was today. The Blackhawks made two moves. Tuomo Ruutu was sent to Carolina for Andrew Ladd and Marty LaPointe was traded to Ottawa for a 6th round pick in the 2008 draft. While I hate to see these guys go, I think Dale Tallon made the right decision. Ruutu has not performed as well as anyone would have liked. His best season was his rookie one. Even in that season he only got 44 points, acceptable for a rookie and maybe even for an average fourth year player, but not one earning 2.25 million per year. This season he is on track for only 28 points. Not acceptable. In return we get a younger player for under 1 million per year, but is on pace for about the same number of points as Ruutu, but in fewer games played. I have a harder time letting go of Marty. Granted he did not put many points up on the board and has been healthy scratches recently, he brings experience and leadership to the table. He is the person Coach Savard gave the "A" to put on his jersey for the entire year; the other two changed monthly. Also, Marty is a great role model for the young guys like Kane and Toews. I am not sure who will replace him. I guess the Hawks felt they were not getting 2.4 million out of him. Now that Tallon got rid of such expensive players, I hope he signs someone good this summer with the extra money.