Go Blackhawks

[Da Coach]

I was there Friday night. It was definitely wild and loud...especially when Big Buff scored the winning goal in OT!!

One of the things you see at the game that you can't see on TV is the pre-game video. It is one of the coolest things I've ever seen, and makes even the Bulls pre-game video look second-rate.

After the game, as I was coming down the staircase from my seat in the 300 level of the UC, one Hawks fan starting chanting "Detroit s@#%s, Detroit s@#%s"!! Pretty soon, everyone is chiming in. Some rivalries in the NHL run very deep, even when they are not playing each other!

I was at yesterday's game, and I agree, the pregame video montage is fantastic, especially if you are a long-time Blackhawk fan and remember all the old players. Everything about the game and game-day experience is top notch. Rocky Wirtz and John McDonough have done an incredible job.

[BU RICK]

One really tough kid, and he came back in the game!

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/story/13439428/minus-seven-teeth-keiths-toughness-a-boon-for-blackhawks?tag=headlines;nhl

Remember when the goalies didn't wear face masks and the players didn't wear helmets, goalies figured it out, and I believe the NHL had to fight the players union to get the players to even wear helmets.

I don't know why they don't wear a smaller sized version of a NFL players face guard that at least covers the face (which they wear, but it only covers the eyes) BUT also figure out something that also covers the mouth, would make sense to me. Go Blackhawks!

[LG281]

Anyone else got "The Fratelli's" song stuck in their head...I have since game 4 ended.

Its actually getting kind of annoying.

[Da Coach]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEXHeTcxQy4

or for those who prefer the Blackhawks connection-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bieSkYOC8RM

[Bravesfan]

I was at yesterday's game, and I agree, the pregame video montage is fantastic, especially if you are a long-time Blackhawk fan and remember all the old players. Everything about the game and game-day experience is top notch. Rocky Wirtz and John McDonough have done an incredible job.

Cool you were at the game! That had to be one incredible experience!

I wonder what Bill Wirtz is thinking now from above, seeing his son implementing everything he stood against, and watching how this team is flourishing! Well, let's all enjoy this season because it might not happen again for awhile.

Just a half an hour to face-off!

[Fyrebyrd]

If you can show me one person who is a "non-hockey" fan and has watched this whole game and does not find it entertaining, I will show you a bloody liar

[Future Walk-On]

Goalllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll l

[Da Coach]

Hawks win 6-5!
Really exciting game! Philadelphia is a much better team than their season record suggests. This series should be a battle.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/boxscore;_ylt=AoLI5l2f_tG37Gb7uy02wHx7vLYF?gid=2010052904

[LG281]

Great game tonight Hawks...freaking awesome.

Don't remember watching a hockey game that was that high scoring. Sloppy play all around...but high scoring nonetheless.

[Da Coach]

TV ratings for Game 1 between the Blackhawks and Flyers were the highest for a Stanley Cup opening game in 11 years. Ratings in Chicago were huge.

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/towerticker/2010/05/blackhawks-tv-toprated-stanley-cup-game-1-in-11-years.html

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/05/30/saturday-ratings-nbc-shoots-and-scores-with-game-1-of-nhl-stanley-cup-final/52767

The Chicago Blackhawks have been a ratings winnner for NBC in Chicago-

http://www.suntimes.com/business/lazare/2309722,blackhawks-tv-ratings-nbc-052410.article

Even cable channel Versus, which most cable subscribers in the US don't have access to, has been scoring big ratings numbers for their NHL coverage, especialy Blackhawks games. And the Blackhawks Game 3 of their previous playoff series vs. Vancouver received a 10.14 rating, which stands as the most-watched event in the history of Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/towerticker/2010/05/blackhawks-tv-game-3-ot-win-nets-versus-more-big-ratings.html

The Cubs have given up their slots on WGN radio for the 3 games that conflict with the Blackhawks

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-05-26/sports/chi-100525-rosenthal-blackhawks_1_tom-langmyer-wgn-cubs-president-crane-kenney

[Fetz86]

Everyone getting pumped for game 2 tonight? I know I am.

[BU RICK]

Me too! Go Hawks!

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/

[Da Coach]

I wish I was there. Can you believe what the ticket prices are?
$400+ for standing room tickets, $5-800 for upper bowl, and $1000 or more for lower bowl tickets.

http://www.stubhub.com/chicago-blackhawks-playoff-tickets/blackhawks-vs-flyers-5-31-2010-935342/

[Da Coach]

The first place Tampa Bay Rays are supporting the Blackhawks-

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iXK2rRREn-UIviiWD63pvchXCR-QD9G1EHAG1

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/05/tampa-bay-blackhawks.html

[Da Coach]

More Blackhawks stories for the hockey fans here-

The Flyers will dress Dan Carcillo for game 2, so expect a much more physical game with some possible altercations. Carcillo is by far the leader in penalty minutes for the Flyers in the playoffs, and he hasn't even dressed the last several games. Carcillo had 207 penalty minutes in the regular season, almost twice as many as anyone on Chicago.-

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/37437453/ns/sports-player_news/

The Hawks have had great production out of their star players, but it was their secondary players who excelled in game 1 and they have all year-

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=530571

One interesting side story is Blackhawk's player Marian Hossa, who signed as a free agent before this season. A lot of NHL players play their whole careers without ever appearing in the Stanley Cup Finals, but Hossa is playing in his 3rd straight Finals, for his 3rd different team. This time he is hoping for better luck. In 2008 he played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and they lost to the Detroit Red Wings. In 2009 he played for Detroit, and they lost to Pittsburgh. This year he is hoping to win the Cup with the Blackhawks.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2010-05-31-1808160436_x.htm

Fountain at Daley Plaza dyed "Blackhawks" red-

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Fountain-tribute-to-Blackhawks-a-ghastly-delight?urn=nhl,244707

And anyone who has attended a Blackhawks game has heard the deafening cheers the crowd traditionally does during the national anthem before each game. Experts think that could cause serious hearing damage.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-05-30/news/ct-talk-blackhawks-noise-0531-20100530_1_hearing-loss-anthem-blackhawks