Follow me @jaeckel
I'm going to do a severely abbreviated preview blog here today.
Jonathan Toews has been put on IR, and he should be, assuming his injury is not too serious as the team keeps saying, back soon after the All-Star break.
In his roster spot, though likely not centering the first line (that honor might go to Dave Bolland), Brandon Pirri, who has been red hot for the AHL's Rockford Ice Hogs, has been recalled.
We know the Preds and certainly remember the pasting they put on a tired Hawk club in Nashville a few days ago.
Although many, myself included, feel the time has come to give Ray Emery another turn at the wheel, the Hawks are going with Corey Crawford again tonight. I would certainly expect #50 to be on a short leash. However, if it reaches that point, agains the stingy Preds, this one likely goes in the loss column as well.
With Patrick Sharp and now Toews out with wrist injuries, the Hawks are without two of their fearsome foursome of top forwards. Still, even without those two, they have as much talent upfront as most teams. And certainly, they should have tons of motivation tonight in a key game against a division rival.
Patrick Kane, a lot of Hawk fans are waiting for you to come out of the phone booth.
As for Mr. Thomas . . . personally, I don't typically look to goalies for political insight. And rather than trying to nuance my own point of view on this, my fellow HB blogger Paul McCann really captured it in his blog this morning. I suggest, if you're interested, you check it out.
If any comments on the blog devolve to the point of name-calling, either directed at other posters or politicians or parties, they'll be reported to the mods. Feel free otherwise to discuss, or just keep it to hockey.
Thanks
JJ
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»