Put down the stones and step back into your glass house, Rob Otto. You’re entitled to your opinion, but make sure you start thinking more clearly before publishing your work — especially in the forum you intend to do so.

Otto of MLive.com publicized his distaste for the Chicago Blackhawks’ tradition of cheering throughout the National Anthem before games at the United Center yesterday, writing it is “disrespectful to the song and what it stands for…” His military upbringing did not teach him such practices, and Otto was taught to have respect for his country and for his flag.

Otto doesn’t buy Blackhawks fans are being patriotic, and it “makes his skin crawl every time he hears it.” And Otto wrote this on his blog titled, “Ottoman Empire.”

Hmm. “Ottoman Empire,” huh? Interesting play on words. What’s the point you’re trying to make, Mr. Otto, with the title of this blog? The Ottoman Empire controlled parts of Europe, Asia and Africa, expanding the empire by war and ruling for nearly 700 years into the 20th Century.

Want to talk about disrespect? I can assure you there’s no one out there with ancestors who supported the Ottoman Empire writing for blogs titled “The United States of America” and bashing traditions they don’t understand. Whether or not you came up with this title, Mr. Otto, a rather large chunk of world history has been demeaned to make you look creative.

Simply because you believe you have a strong voice with powerful opinions and want to make your readers clear that is the case, you have no right to compare yourself to an empire which dominated most of the world over the course of two different centuries.

My point is this, Mr. Otto: The title of your blog I’m more than sure means no disrespect to anyone. I’m sure you and most of your readers even find it to be slightly humorous. I know this, and I know there’s no significant meaning to it. The same goes for Blackhawks fans who cheer during the National Anthem in support of their country. No disrespect is meant, and there’s no malicious intent by partaking in this tradition.

I interviewed Jim Cornelison, who sings a heart-throbbing rendition of the song every night before faceoff. He enjoys the tradition, and he’s smart enough to know the fans aren’t cheering for him. They cheer because of the song he’s singing with passion.

Men and woman who have and currently are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces stand patriotically next to Cornelison as he bellows out the tune over the roaring fans. These men and woman are well aware of the tradition before stepping foot onto that red carpet extended onto the ice. Do you really believe these soldiers would partake in the event if they believe the United Center tradition is disrespectful to the country they’re serving?

The soldiers stand proudly during the Anthem, then gladly accept a standing ovation midway through each game from their seat as the crowd makes known its appreciation of their service. Even the players knock their sticks against the boards to salute them.

You’re also forgetting before the 1991 All-Star Game at Chicago Stadium, the tradition you loathe led to captivating millions of viewers around the country in support of our troops serving in the Gulf War. Fans hung flags from the rafters, tears rolled down the faces of many in the crowd and patriotism was taken to another level.

If that’s not respect, I don’t know what more you want. I’m a season ticket holder, and I partake in this tradition proudly. It literally gives me chills. Because you don’t understand it, doesn’t mean you have to knock it.

People celebrate and support traditions in different manners than others. I’ll accept the point you made: Not all traditions are always right.

But celebrating a tradition differently than yourself doesn’t always make it wrong, either.

Follow BlackhawkUp.com @blackhawksup and on Facebook
Download Blackhawk Up’s FREE iPhone and Droid apps!

The Communists celebrate one their five goals in front of Cristobal Huet. (Yarkdbarker.com)

Well, Cris, I’ve defended you up and down. Today, you’re on your own.

There are a lot of people to blame for the Blackhawks’ second-period meltdown, but the brunt goes to Huet. I’m not sure if I’m more upset about the 5-4 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, or if I’m simply flaming pissed the meatballs got what they wanted. While I think it’s flat out stupid and ignorant that there are “fans” who are actually cheering AGAINST players on the team they “root” for, I didn’t have much to say to them today. Four goals on 17 shots won’t get anyone on your side.

Before most people could finish lunch, the Blackhawks led 2-0 and for awhile it seemed we could take it easy like Sunday morning. Goals from Duncan Keith and Andrew Ladd had the UC rocking, and “DE-TROIT SUCKS!” rained throughout the place.

When Patrick Kane appeared to score to make it a cool 3-0, the jackass zebra made the first of what would turn out to be a horrendous number of questionable calls on a day the officiating was beyond awful for both sides. It was determined Dustin Byfuglien interfered with Jimmy Howard and the goal was disallowed. Replays showed Buff didn’t even come close to breathing on him. Pathetic.

Cue momentum shift.

Then the second period started, and the whole team collectively farted out a performance that turned my hangover into a pounding migraine.

Brian Rafalski scored through a bit of a screen on the power play, then Niklas Lindstrom got one through just 28 seconds later on a 4-on-4 to tie the game. Jason Williams scored less than four minutes later when Huet missed the pass sliding right in front of him, leaving the net wide open for Williams. Before I could extend my middle finger, Valtteri Filppula scored on a defensive lapse by Brian Campbell and Niklas Hjalmarsson to make it 4-2.

Q-Stache gave Huet the hook to draining boos from the season-high crowd, which proceeded to cheer the presence of Antti Niemi in net. But even the Meatball Savior couldn’t stop Pavel Datsuyk’s breakaway chance with 2.7 seconds left in the period. Kaner, who despite an assist and fake goal probably played his worst game of the season, got picked clean by Datsuyk at the blue line leading to the chance at the end of the period. I almost vomited.

This whole let’s-take-the-second-period-off thing is really starting to chap my ass. This can’t continue into mid-April, because summer is going to start before we can even pull the flip-flops out of the closet if it does. Playing 40 minutes is all well and good if the Blackhawks are playing college basketball. Fix this. Now. It doesn’t just happen in loses, either.

Living up to standard, the ‘Hawks came out in the third period after Q-Stache singed their ass hairs in the locker room. Ladd scored on a giveaway unassisted just a couple minutes into the frame to cut the Communists’ lead to 5-3. Over the course of the next 10 minutes, the ‘Hawks kept up the pressure and came close to potting another goal before Ladd turned his trick and scored again.

Marian Hossa had a great chance to tie the game late but waited on the shot and tried to slip it past Howard into the lower left corner. Howard got the skate out and denied him. The sequence continued and a loose puck sat in the crease before being knocked away.

The ‘Hawks then tried roughly 37 times to pull Niemi for the extra attacker but F-ed it up with multiple offside and icing calls. Game over.

Despite Huet playing like dog shit, this loss doesn’t fall squarely on him. The defense looked extremely poor in that second period, and the effort on the ice from every Blackhawk was a D- at best. I’m not defending him, but it takes a lot of shit to go wrong in front of a goaltender for him to allow four goals in 10 minutes. Scoring chances don’t just appear out of nowhere.

The ‘Hawks have Monday and Tuesday to figure it out before the Los Angeles Kings come to town. The Kings scare the ever loving shit out of me, by the way. I don’t like how we match up against them, and I’m dreading the possibility of facing them in the

playoffs.

‘Til then…

Follow BlackhawkUp.com @blackhawksup and on Facebook
Download Blackhawk Up’s FREE iPhone and Droid apps!

Enough said. Luongo better pray he’s done with the Blackhawks this season. The gold-medal winning goalie and savior of Canada gave up five goals during the first and only period he played in the Blackhawks 6-3 win Friday against the Vancouver Canucks.

At least he didn’t weep this time. Pansy.

Follow BlackhawkUp.com @blackhawksup and on Facebook
Download Blackhawk Up’s FREE iPhone and Droid apps!

Ladies and gentleman, these are your Chicago Blackhawks. You’ve watched this team succeed with and without Marian Hossa and Dave Bolland, with and without Cam Barker and Kim Johnsson.

And yes, you’ve seen the Blackhawks succeed WITH Cristobal Huet and Antti Niemi. Nothing has changed.  There are no more talks of trades to make “improvement” to the goaltending situation. I’ve said it before, but now it really rings true — either get behind this team, or consider yourself ignored if the ‘Hawks make a Cup run. No more cynicism. This is it. Deal with it.

If the Blackhawks brass was so worried this team couldn’t win with what it has, Stan Bowman would have hit the panic button and overpaid for a goaltender at the deadline. Since he didn’t and the Blackhawks stood their ground, maybe now everyone will realize their constant bitching isn’t being heard, and definitely isn’t appreciated.

Once again the meatballs were out in full force tonight when Huet gathered in trickling pucks to sarcastic cheers. I won’t sit here and say the ‘Hawks 5-3 loss Tuesday to the Islanders showed any signs of good goaltending. Both Niemi and Huet played like dog shit. It’s going to happen, and they won’t make every save. Georges Vezina has a damn trophy named after him, and even he lost games and had shitty performances.

Tonight, Huet gave up two goals on 14 shots. The first goal was controversial, but it probably shouldn’t have slipped through. The second goal came off yet another in-zone turnover, this time by Niklas Hjalmarsson passing to the middle of the ice when he had a great clearing chance along the boards available. Huet faced a sudden one-on-one from less than 10 feet away. Not many goalies make that save.

EDIT: I was at the game and wrote this immediately after. I missed the slash on Hammer until seeing the highlights this morning. My bad, Hammer. I love you. No harm meant.

Even so, I’ll take the Blackhawks goaltenders giving up two goals any night. Why? Because the ‘Hawks way more often than not put up three or more — like they did tonight.

Hossa scored on a hell of a wrister, then later assisted beautifully on Bolland’s first goal since returning from back surgery. Hjalmarsson redeemed himself and scored the game-winning goal just 20 seconds in to the third period. Dustin Byfuglien and Jonathan Toews added some insurance as the ‘Hawks exploded for three in the closing period.

The goaltending wasn’t even a thought, seeing as the Blackhawks must have forgotten they were playing a glorified AHL squad. Sheldon Souray was out, and the Oilers started rookie Devan Dubnyk, who came into Wednesday’s game with a 0-6-1 record. Yet after two periods, the Blackhawks found themselves tied 2-2. Luckily they broke the game open in the third so I didn’t have to kill people on my way out of the UC.

Observations:

• Meatballs. From Fork over at Hockee Night:

Where there is panic, there is no room for logic. This leads to that buddy of yours staying with a girlfriend he can’t stand, because he’s afraid he’ll be alone. It’s what keeps people in jobs they hate, because they’re afraid they won’t get another one. It’s how people get hosed buying a car or a house, because they’re afraid they’ll miss out if they don’t agree to terms right now.

It’s what makes otherwise sane people think the team with the second-best goals against average in the NHL can somehow improve with a retread like Dwayne Roloson or Marty Turco.

Seriously everyone…chill the fuck out.

Again, the panic. Look, with tonight’s win, the Hawks moved into a tie for first place in the Western Conference. This is one helluva hockey team. And that’s top to bottom. Now they’re getting healthy, and they are going into the home stretch. Like the goaltending or hate the goaltending, but learn to love the goaltending, because this is what we’ve got until the last handshake like.

And if the Hawks get to the Promised Land, I hope we find out how “Kiss my ass” sounds in French and Finnish.

• How about THAT, Q-Stache?! You don’t put forwards on the point of the power play and it actually looks good! You might be onto something here! (Please, please keep it like this.)

• Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp and Toews looked great tonight. Tomas Kopecky and Ben Eager didn’t.

• When the hell is John Madden coming back? I miss him. A lot.

• The beautiful Chelsea McDougall, who attended her first-ever Blackhawks game with me tonight because she’s fucking awesome.

• It’s back to the UC this Friday against Vancouver, which also stood pretty firm at the trade deadline, but probably shouldn’t have. I always love the lead up to playing the Canucks, though. It gives me a chance to constantly make fun of the Ambiguously Incestuous Duo known as Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

Follow BlackhawkUp.com @blackhawksup and on Facebook
Download Blackhawk Up’s FREE iPhone and Droid apps!

Nassau Coliseum, home of the New York Islanders (Blackhawk Up image)

If you see a bunch of overly tanned players on the ice tomorrow, do not adjust the tint on your television sets. The two-week Olympic break is over, the beaches are closed to players and it’s time to cram a quarter of the NHL schedule into a month and a half. Welcome back.

Unfortunately for Blackhawks who enjoyed a wonderful vacation, the scenery goes from dynamic to dog shit tonight as the ‘Hawks are forced to skate in the toilet bowl of sports arenas, the Nassau Coliseum. Despite the fact the Islanders have played parallel to the look of their stadium, they’re only six points out of a playoff spot in the horrific Eastern Conference.

Antti Niemi will be in goal for the ‘Hawks — much to the delight of the meatballs — while Kyle Okposo (40 points) and Matt Moulson (36) attempt to get a couple through.

The Islanders savior and No. 1 overall pick John Tavares is having a decent rookie season with 34 points (17G, 17A), but his minus-18 +/- rating is one of six Islanders players with a minus-12 or worse, which includes Brad Park’s gawdawful minus-20.

Defenseman Mark Streit is one of the few bright spots for this franchise just waiting to be moved or contracted. He’s scored 31 points and leads the Isles in ice time at over 25 minutes per game. If this were a video game and you could turn the fatigue off, the Isles would have Streit on the ice for every minute.

Everyone will be wondering if the six Blackhawks Olympians and four who played all the way through to Sunday will be worn out tonight. The obvious goal for Q-Stache is to hope the ‘Hawks can get up early and rest his stars and skip some shifts so the rested guys can finish out a victory. Either way, I don’t see Q extending the play of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Marian Hossa or Tomas Kopecky. Keith most likely will not play his usual 26 minutes, and I see Brian Campbell taking on a few extra minutes of ice time tonight.

With Rick DiPietro out (I know, shocking), Dwayne Roloson should be in net for the Isles opposing Niemi. Puckdrop is an early 6 p.m. CT start. I admittedly will not be able to see much of this game as I’ll be attending the English Beat and Fishbone show at House of Blues with my PBR-drinking father. Nothing like some ska and reggae on a Tuesday night.

GO HAWKS!

Follow BlackhawkUp.com @blackhawksup and on Facebook
Download Blackhawk Up’s FREE iPhone and Droid apps!

The Blackhawks and Blues have swapped AHL players two days before the trade deadline. The ‘Hawks acquired goalie Hannu Toivonen with defenseman and Chicago native Danny Richmond — who have both been assigned to Rockford — for goaltender Joe Fallon.

Sorry, meatballs. Cristobal Huet and Antti Niemi are still your goaltending duo on the big club. Q-Stache also announced today Niemi will start in net tomorrow night in Long Island when the Blackhawks face the New York Islanders.

Interesting. More on that later.

Follow BlackhawkUp.com @blackhawksup and on Facebook
Download Blackhawk Up’s FREE iPhone and Droid apps!

Brent Seabrook, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith with their gold medal after Canada beat the United States 3-2 in overtime.

Congrats to Jonathan Toews, Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith winning a gold medal after Canada defeated the United States 3-2 in overtime Sunday. Patrick Kane will bring home a silver medal, and hopefully that’s not the only piece of silver he holds this season. You know, because the Stanley Cup is made of silver. See what I did there.

Big ups though to Toews, who was named the star forward of the Olympic tournament. The kid proved to everyone in the world that he should get more attention as an elite player.

Since I’m pretty upset about Canada winning that game, I’ll let you go to the video for this one. Damnit, anyone but F-ing Sidney Crosby.

Every American watching this game sat back and waited for something to happen. No way could this game end with an uneventful finish. With an empty net on one end, Zach Parise tied the game with 24.4 second left to send the game to overtime.

Then the asshole did this and ruined my afternoon.

Follow BlackhawkUp.com @blackhawksup and on Facebook
Download Blackhawk Up’s FREE iPhone and Droid apps!

Their facial expressions say it all. Patrick Kane and Team USA defeat Jonathan Toews and Canada 5-3 Sunday in Vancouver.

Thirty years ago, Team USA jubilantly gave Americans reason to believe. Sunday, it silenced a nation.

No medals were awarded following the United States’ surprise 5-3 victory against Canada, but Ryan Miller and the Americans looked plain golden. It was the type of game that could turn casual hockey observers into die-hard fans, and die-hards into pucking addicts. Forget it was the preliminary round, and forget these two teams could meet again deeper in the medal round.

Sunday’s game shoved hockey into the spotlight for a country commonly viewed as the silver medalist in a two-nation rivalry.

The Americans hadn’t beaten Canada during Olympic play in 50 years, but Sunday it took Team USA a mere 41 seconds to strike. Brian Rafalski slapped one off the stick of Sidney Crosby and past Martin Brodeur for a 1-0 lead. Even after Eric Staal deflected a Brent Seabrook shot past Miller to tie the game, only 22 seconds elapsed before Rafalski answered to once again put the Americans ahead.

When the Canadians seemed destined to gain control of the contest by dominating the first half of the second period and tied the game on Dany Heatley’s goal, Miller took control. The former Michigan State Spartan turned away chance after chance from Canada on his way to 42 saves on the night. The shot total heavily favored Canada (45-23), and without Miller the scoreboard could have looked a lot different.

On a team filled with young stars, the savvy veterans fittingly put Team USA in the driver seat late in the game. Chris Drury netted a goal after a mad scramble for a loose puck in front of Brodeur, then 34-year-old captain Jamie Langenbrunner deflected a Rafalski shot with his skate to put the Americans ahead 4-2.

After Crosby pulled Canada within 4-3 on a power-play goal with 3:09 remaining, Mike Babcock pulled Brodeur and Ryan Kessler sprawled out and knocked a loose puck into the empty net for the final margin.

If you’re one of the NHL worry-warts who cringe each time one of your team’s stars takes a hit, the scene after Kessler’s goal proved these Olympians are competing their hardest to win for their country. Stop worrying and just enjoy it.

The Americans tackled each other and rolled on the ice like little kids. It was a true snapshot into the passion these players possess for hockey, and a look into the roots of each Team USA player. Think Sunday’s game meant something to them? Put your level of importance on it, then multiply it by roughly 50 million. The math may not even put you in the same universe with theirs.

There’s a long way to go, three more games to be won and most of the world standing between the United States and a hockey gold medal. While Canada stews over a loss at the hands of its little brothers to the south, Sunday’s victory will be enjoyed thoroughly by American hockey fans — both old and new.

Notes on Blackhawks Olympians:

Patrick Kane: Didn’t factor much into the victory; one shot in 16:20 of ice time.

Jonathan Toews: Stellar in the loss for Canada, playing terrifically on both ends of the ice; two assists, plus-2, 14:26 TOI.

Duncan Keith: Played up to his Norris Trophy-winning potential; 24:05 TOI, plus-2, assist.

Brent Seabrook: Hasn’t played much these Olympics, but had an assist tonight in 8:02 of action.

Eddie Olczyk: Blackhawks and NBC hockey color man actually said what I wrote in the headline. No, I’m not kidding. He really did.

Follow BlackhawkUp.com @blackhawksup and on Facebook
Download Blackhawk Up’s FREE iPhone and Droid apps!

Think about this, and think about it unselfishly and intelligently. Would an NHL player rather win a gold medal representing his country, or would he rather win a Stanley Cup for his city?

My guess is if you ask a player, the question would be extremely tough to answer. That’s the way it should be. The problem resonating through the debate whether or not NHL players should be allowed to participate in the Olympics is this: We know how the players feel, and we ignore it.

NHL owners who dole out millions of dollars to field a team each season are rightfully concerned with their investments playing in non-NHL competition mid-season. Fans who shell out large amounts of cash to support their team have every right to gasp at the thought of a star player falling victim to injury during the Olympics — especially if their team is a legit Cup contender.

Media, such as the Chicago Tribune’s David Haugh, disagree with the NHL allowing it’s players to compete in the Olympics and note fans’ uneasiness due to the risk of injury. It’s a fact — a player getting hurt in the Olympics could severely damage a team’s Stanley Cup hopes. I’m a Blackhawks season-ticket holder. If Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Marian Hossa or Tomas Kopecky  come back to Chicago injured, I’ll be pissed. There’s no getting around that.

My opinion? So what. And here’s why.

The NHL is the only pure international league of North America’s four major sports. While the NBA, NFL and MLB all have international players competing, they are leagues featuring games born in the United States. The central focus of each sport is in the U.S., despite each being played around the world at minimal levels of competition, and on the league itself.

The players feel the same way. They’re main purpose isn’t to compete internationally against inferior competition for the sake of doing so. That’s why NBA players turn down invitations to play in international competition, why football has never been an Olympic sport and why baseball was booted as a 2012 Olympic event. There’s little to no demand for these sports to feature international competition. It shows in how the World Baseball Classic has flopped.

I believe fans and media get caught up in “The American way,” so to speak, of sports when it comes to hockey. But hockey players are different. They grow up playing international competition, and hockey is truly played competitively throughout the world. If NHL players want to represent their country, let them do it.

That is exactly the point. They want to play. They compete against NHL teammates for roster spots in camps during the off-season to participate in the Games. No governing body of a centralized sports league should ever be allowed to take that away from them. If they didn’t want to play, they’d turn down the invitation. Plain and simple.

For a country of fans constantly wishing star players would be more passionate about the game they play, we’re sure quick to judge when a player shows his true desire for winning and competition. While the timing of the Olympics may not be perfect in relation to the hockey season, each and every competitor is playing for their true love for the game and their country. It should never be taken away from them.

I do understand the concerns, I really do. But aren’t we just being selfish? These guys are human beings, not property. No owner, no fan, no media member should ever question their passion and desire to represent their country in the game they love.

The Olympians are enjoying themselves, and you should enjoy watching the greatest hockey players in the world compete against each other for the next two weeks.

Follow BlackhawkUp.com @blackhawksup and on Facebook
Download Blackhawk Up’s FREE iPhone and Droid apps!

Haven’t done this in awhile, but here’s a look around the Blackhawks blogsphere:

Reading around the Internet today, everyone seemed to have two things in common: 1) Being shocked at Q-Stache’s decision to start Antti Niemi against Columbus and sending Cristobal Huet to a month-long hiatius between starts; 2) The Blackhawks need this Olympic break — bad.

As much as I hate this F-ing debate regarding the ‘Hawks goaltending, it’s a curious decision to give Niemi four straight starts and give Huet an assload of time wearing the baseball cap given the amount of backing Q-Stache has had for Huet this season.

• Still, not everyone is convinced Q-Stache is “passing the torch.” (Fifth Feather)
• Maybe Q-Stache is trying to get a rise out of Huet to start playing better. (Second City Hockey)
• Jesse Rogers says Niemi is more likely to bail out his team after a mistake than Huet. Of course, he presents no evidence of that. I remember many games Huet should have given up at least three more goals but bailed out the team with a big save or 10. (ESPN Chicago)
• CT saw no reason to single out any Blackhawk for having an off day yesterday, reiterating that this Olympic break is what some of these guys really need. (Hockee Night)
• Very disheartening news for my man crush: John Madden to the IR. (Inside the Blackhawks)
• Paint It Blackhawks’ three stars from Sunday. No Jake Dowell? Goal AND an assist?! (PIB)
• Troy Brouwer is the F-ing master. (Blackhawks Confidential)
• Finally, Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune is all aboard the Wild’s trade for Cam Barker. Why? Take a look at Barker’s performance Sunday: Goal, +3, 20:46 of ice time. (Russo’s Rants)

Now, can someone please tell me what the living shit is going on with Kris Versteeg? After being a finalist for the Calder Trophy last year, I had a man crush. I loved him, wanted more of him and was dying for him to have a great season. Son. Of. A. Bitch.

I’ve written about this before, and yesterday’s “eat shit” from Q-Stache has me livid over his play this season. Versteeg played a grand total of 4:54 yesterday because, “I just didn’t like the way he was playing,” coming directly from Q-Stache. Christ.

At least I don’t have to watch him for two weeks. Time to enjoy some Olympic hockey.

Follow BlackhawkUp.com @blackhawksup and on Facebook
Download Blackhawk Up’s FREE iPhone and Droid apps!