Martin Hanzal and Peter Mueller scored the initial goals in the first period as the Phoenix Coyote defense held on from there, eventually defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 last night in Glendale, AZ. Despite the 2-goal deficit, the Blackhawks handled Phoenix in regards to general scoring opportunities.  In total they put 32 shots on goal to the Coyotes 23.

Kris Versteeg put Chicago’s only point on the board 14 minutes into the second period. This would mark the last exciting occurrence on the offensive end, as both teams were shut out completely in the final period.”We’ve got to bear down and try to get to those opportunities,” said Versteeg. “If we score on half our opportunities it’s totally a different game.”

The Hawks are set to face off against the Colorado Avalanche tonight before hosting the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, November 9th.  Chicago Blackhawks tickets are available now!

After six years away from the NHL, former veteran RW Theo Fleury is determined to make a comeback at the age of 41 years old. Fleury ran into trouble with the league after violating the NHL substance abuse policy during the 2002-2003 season.  Since then with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous and his family members, the seven time All-Star reached out for reinstatement.

Drafted 166th overall by the Calgary Flames in 1987, Fleury is currently in the process of signing back with the first team that gave him a look to begin with.  During his 15 previous seasons with the Flames, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers, and Chicago Blackhawks, he earned 455 goals with 633 assists.  If he doesn’t make the Flames line up, he will be expected to be a part of the Abbotsford Flames farm team.

Aside from his quest to re-join the NHL, Fleury more importantly is happy to be back on the right track.  “I think the biggest thing is that I’m healthy again,” he said. “I’ve lost a lot of weight and eating properly and sleeping well. It’s been all part of my personal growth more than anything else.”

The Chicago Blackhawks have reportedly signed Marion Hossa to a 12 year $62.8 million contract. The 30 year old phenomenon is going to his fourth team since 2008 but with a 12 year deal he should be around long enough to get accustomed to life in Chicago. The Blackhawks are a good young team that just got better. Hossa himself is no stranger to good clubs coming off back to back years of Stanley Cup Finals appearances with the Penguins in 2008 and the Red Wings in 2009. The Blackhawks are hoping that in his next Finals appearance Hossa might finally get his chance to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup.

The news will no doubt cause quite a stir in Chicago. Although not available yet, you can count on Chicago Blackhawks tickets selling quite well for the 2009-2010 season.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings may be on a Stanley Cup finals collision course again. Both teams won the first games of their respective Conference Championship series’, and seem to have the edge in making it to the finals. The Pittsburgh Penguins held off the Carolina Hurricanes’ late charge on Monday to secure win number one. Pens defenseman Phillippe Boucher notched an assist, and his first playoff goal since 2004. Boucher sat for much of the regular season with a foot injury, and only dressed for four of Pittsburgh’s playoff games so far. Boucher made his presence felt in Monday’s game though.

“He’s been ready, he stayed ready and worked hard,” Pens coach Dan Bylsma told the AP’s Alan Robinson. “He didn’t get a lot of minutes, but when he did he cashed in.”

The Red Wings had an easier time than the Penguins, beating the Blackhawks 5-2 on Sunday night. Former Blackhawk Daniel Cleary victimized the team that drafted him, notching a goal at 8:23 to tie the game in the first period, as well as a late goal that put the nail in Chicago’s coffin.  “I wasn”t in Chicago very long, so no hard feelings,” Cleary said in a post-game press conference. Detroit’s defense was solid, and netminder Chris Osgood stopped 30 of 32 shots that made it to him. The Red Wings have won 4 of their last 5 games, and seem to have the momentum to carry them to the finals.

Detroit Red Wings tickets and Pittsburgh Penguins tickets are available now.

You never want to blow a 3 goal lead but when you are playing one of the top teams in the league, you’ll take it. The playoff bound Chicago Blackhawks did just that on Wednesday night with a 6-5 OT shoot-out win over the San Jose Sharks.  The Blackhawks blew a 4-1 lead before fighting their way back, eventually winning with shoot-out goals by Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. 

Chicago came out strong in the 1st period, building a 3-1 lead on goals by Havlat, Byfuglien, and Ladd.  By the end of the 2nd period things were tighter as the Sharks pulled within a goal at 4-3.  The back and forth would continue in the 3rd period with the Sharks’ Joe Thornton tying the game at 5-5 with just over two minutes left in regulation.

The win for the Blackhawks left them alone in 4th place in the Western Conference and 2nd place in the division.  The playoff starved Blackhawks are certainly looking forward to making a run at the Stanley Cup this year. Chicago Blackhawks playoff tickets are now available.

At 32-15-8 the Chicago Blackhawks are a true contender in the Central Division trailing the Detroit Red Wings by just 10 points for 1st place.  The Blackhawks put on another fine display in their 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.  Trailing 3-2 going in to the 3rd Chicago scored the next three to take the lead and the win. Kane, Bolland and Toews scored the final three goals for the Blackhawks. 

The Lightning built their lead on a hat trick by Steven Stamkos.  The Blackhawks opened the scoring in the 1st period with a goal by Duncan Keith.  Toews scored his first goal of the game for Chicago in the 2nd period.

Upcoming Home Games for Chicago Blackhawks:
Blackhawks vs Wild 2/22
Blackhawks vs Penguins 2/27
Blackhawks vs Kings 3/1
Blackhawks vs Ducks 3/3
Blackhawks Tickets & Schedule

On January 1st, 40,818 fans piled into Wrigley Field to watch the Blackhawks take on the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings. Unlike last year’s bitterly cold and snowy affair, the skies were clear and the temperature was a relatively balmy 32 degrees.  The Blackhawks jumped out to the early lead, leading 3-1 after the first period. Jiri Hudler, who jump-started the Red Wings offense by scoring two of the three Detroit goals in the second period, was impressed by the atmosphere at Wrigley. “I kind of had my mouth open in the beginning,” Hudler told the AP’s Rick Gano. “We were all looking at each other during the anthem—‘Wow, this is awesome.” The Wings’ 6-4 win gives them an eight point lead over the Blackhawks in the Central division.

2009 Chicago Blackhawks Tickets are available now!

The official seating chart for the 2009 NHL Winter Classic has been released! The New Year’s Day matchup between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field is one of the most anticipated sporting events of the season.

Tickets for the 2009 NHL Winter Classic are available now!

The Chicago Blackhawks are on their best run in 27 years. Chicago has won their last seven games, and are 8-1-1 in their last ten. If they can win their post-break game against Philadelphia, they will go for the Blackhawks franchise record against the Minnesota Wild on December 28th. Led by right wing Patrick Kane, the Blackhawks are making at run at the division lead. The New Years Day matchup against the Detroit Red Wings may have a lasting effect on who wins the Central.

Chicago Blackhawks Tickets and NHL Winter Classic Tickets are available now!

The NHL Winter Classic, hockey’s annual outdoor game, is coming to Wrigley field this season. Unlike last year’s Pittsburgh/Buffalo affair, the 2009 Classic may have implications in the results of the Western Conference Central Division.

The Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings have stepped it up recently. Both teams have fought through tough schedules to put up 7-1-2 records in the past ten, and have largely avoided the injury bug. With a game in hand, Chicago trails Detroit by 7 points - though the teams have had similar seasons so far. Red Wings RW Marian Hossa leads the team with 24 points, while Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane has 25.

NHL Winter Classic Tickets are available now, as are Chicago Blackhawks Tickets and Detroit Red Wings Tickets