Apr 19, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa (81) celebrates scoring the game-winning goal against the Nashville Predators with center Jonathan Toews (19) during overtime at the United Center. The Blackhawks beat the Predators 5-4 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

In the first period of the Blackhawks and Oilers game, Marian Hossa collected his 500th assist.  The assist set up Jonathan Toews 22 goal of the season and an early lead for the Blackhawks.  Hossa has played in 1,017 games and now has 434 goals and  500 assists for 934 career points.  The other impressive number is a career +181 rating.

Hossa is also sitting at 97 career playoff points so hopefully he will end up this playoff season with another milestone and finish well over 100 career playoff points.

Congrats to Marian Hossa, Here is to many more milestones!!

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Mar 5, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa (right) and right wing Patrick Kane (left) warm up before the game against the Minnesota Wild at the United Center. The Chicago Blackhawks wear Marian Hossa

On this date in Chicago Blackhawks history,

On April 24, 2010 at the United Center the Blackhawks won their most dramatic game outside of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals in a tide turning series win against the Nashville Predators.  In the always important Game 5 with the series tied 2-2 the Blackhawks were staring straight into the face of defeat especially when Marian Hossa was given a  major boarding penalty.  With Antti Niemi pulled Patrick Kane scored with 13.6 seconds left to tie the game

As exciting and loud as the United Center was when Kane forced overtime there was still four minutes left on the Hossa penalty.  The Hawks killed off the penalty and then the puck magically found Hossa stick as he left the box for the game winner!

If these series of events don’t happen the Hawks probably don’t win the Cup.  The Kane goal is Game 6 was incedibly exciting, but this had to be by far the most important win of the 16 playoff wins in 2010.

Where were you when Kane knocked in the game tying goal? It’s already been three years but it still feels like yesterday!

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Apr 9, 2013; St. Paul, MN, USA; Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa (81) celebrates his goal with forward Jonathan Toews (19) during the second period against the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The Hawks are an amazing 30-5-4, but there is a difference between the good Hawks and great Hawks and it starts with #81.  The great thing about Hossa is that he makes everyone on the ice better because he does everything very good on both ends of the ice.  With Hossa on the ice the first line with Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad just dominate the puck for their entire shift.  If they don’t have the puck Toews and Saad can take offensive chances because they know that the best two-way player in the NHL has their back.

Don’t get me wrong I believe the Hawks are full of great players, but the glue that holds all the greats Hawks players together is Hossa.  The Hawks, when facing tough fore-checking opponents like the Blues, Ducks, and Kings, missed injured Hossa in their recent 8-5 stretch without 100% #81, but with Hossa in the lineup this Hawks team is dynamic and 5-0-1 in their last six games.

Last night the Hawks weren’t able to get the puck in the net though they had plenty of chances, but never fear Hossa had this highlight play waiting for the Wild which showcased all of his talents in one play, Enjoy!

The Hawks need the entire roster playing great to win the Stanley Cup, but along with Patrick Sharp the Hawks need a healthy, dominating Hossa the most!

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November 26, 2011; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right winger Patrick Kane (88) and right winger Marian Hossa (81) shoot during warmups prior to the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The NHL polled it’s writers about the top right wings in the NHL and low and behold guess who top the list?!?  They may have ranked #1 and #3 on the NHL list but they both are #1′s in my book.

Patrick Kane got the nod as the top right wing in the league and how can you blame the writers for that call. Kane has made a great comeback in 2013 after a disappointing 2011-2012 season. Through 27 games Kane has 14 goals and 17 assists he also collected his 400th career point last night on a great passing play. Kane has just as much or more talent then anyone else in the league and he has showcased it this season.  He has made great clutch goals spectacular shoot out goals and incredible passing plays to set up goals.  The crazy part of it all is that Kane is only 24 years old. Kane has a Stanley Cup clinching goal so he can only add to his legend.

Hossa was voted third and there are times like in the third period of the Columbus Blue Jackets when Marian Hossa just takes over games. While Kane is spectacular offensively Hossa is strong on both ends of the ice.  Hossa just played in his 1,000 game and if healthy will collect his 1,000 career point sometime next season. Hossa  stops and creates a lot from his work on the defensive end, and  more impressive to me than the 1,00o points is his career +172 rating. Hossa has a +9 rating with 11 goals and 10 assists.  Hossa healthy return is one of the key reasons the Hawks have had such a successful start to the season.

It’s pretty impressive that Hossa and Kane both made the top 3 for the entire NHL! All that really matters at the end of day isn’t where you are ranked but what you hoist at the end of the playoffs!

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Mar 5, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa (81) stands with his family as he is honored for having played in 1000 NHL games before the game against the Minnesota Wild at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

On March 3rd 2013, the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Detroit Red Wings, in the shootout by a score of 2-1.  The victory kept the Hawks incredible streak to start the season alive, and it couldn’t have come against a better team than their bitter rival in Detroit.  Unless you’ve been living under a rock since the start of the NHL season, you already knew all of that.   So much has been made of the Blackhawks’ achievements as a team, this season, but what may be a little lost in the hoopla, is the personal achievements of the Hawks’ individual players.  The greatest individual achievement for a Blackhawk this season, has got to be Marian Hossa playing in his 1,000th NHL game.  Hossa became just the 280th player in NHL history to play in 1,000 games.  Yes, 280 is a lot, but when considering just how many players have skated in at least one game in the NHL since it’s inception in 1917, this feat is pretty incredible.  As a way of celebrating this remarkable achievement, let’s take a look back on Marian’s outstanding NHL career.

Marian Hossa was the 12th overall pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft(I highly recommend Hawks fans to take a look at the list of players drafted before Hossa, a few might give you a bit of a chuckle).  Hossa only played 7 games with the Senators in the 1997-1998 season, before being reassigned to his WHL team, the Portland Winter Hawks, who wear an almost identical jersey and logo as the Blackhawks(foreshadowing?).  That season, Marian won WHL Rookie of the Year, and the Winter Hawks went on to win the WHL championship, in his first season with the team(definitely some eerie foreshadowing).  

“Hoss” would join the Senators for the 1998-1999 season, and put up 30 points in 60 games, in an injury shortened season, to finish second in in Calder Trophy(Rookie of the year) voting.  The following season, Marian would build upon his solid rookie campaign, by adding 56 points in 78 games played.  It was the 2000-2001 season that would serve as Marian’s break out season, that established him as a star at the NHL-level.  That season, Hossa scored 32 goals, accumulated 78 points, and earned his first NHL All-Star honors.

The 2000-2001 season would earn Marian his first multi-million dollar NHL contract, and although his production wasn’t quite up to the previous season’s standard, “Hoss” still had a solid season, piling up 66 points.  Although, it was already confirmed that Marian was a star at the NHL level, the 2002-2003 season arguably elevated him to the echelon of NHL superstar.  That season, he scored an insane(and a career-high, thus far) 45 goals!  Marian also added 35 assists to combine with his goal total for 80 points in 80 games played, that season.  The 2002-2003 season also marked the first time that Marian was part of a deep playoff run.  That season, the Senators were one game away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals, before they were defeated in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, by the eventual champions, the New Jersey Devils.  

How does one follow up, their season of NHL superstar establishment?  Marian Hossa sets a career high in points with 82, to lead the Senators in scoring and to the playoffs for the 2004-2004 season.  The Senators lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the playoffs, in what would turn out to be Marian’s last appearance as a member of the Ottawa Senators.

As many of you know, there was no 2004-2005 NHL season, due to a lengthy lockout that lead to the cancellation of the season.  During the lockout, went back home to Slovakia to play with his younger brother, Marcel, as members of Mora IK of the Elitserien League.  The end of the NHL lockout also marked the end of Marian’s lucrative contract with the Senators.  Hossa signed a new deal, with the Senators, and was simultaneously traded to the Atlanta Thrashers(now the Winnipeg Jets).  Showing no rust, or new-team blues, Marian put up a then, career-high 92 points during the 2005-2006 season.  In typical Marian Hossa fashion, he topped his career-high, with a new career-high.  The 2006-2007 season still remains as Hossa’s career-high in points, with an incredible 100 points!  Marian, also helped lead the Thrashers to their first and only playoff appearance, only to be swept in the first round, by the New York Rangers.  

The following season, Hossa would be traded at the trade deadline from the Thrashers to the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Marian helped to push the Penguins to the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, but were defeated by the Detroit Red Wings.  Following the cup run with the Penguins, Hoss signed a one year deal with the team that prevented the Penguins and him from hoisting the Stanley Cup, the Detroit Red Wings.  With Detroit, Marian added another 40 goal season, along with a total of 71 points on the season.  He helped lead the Red Wings back to the Stanley Cup Finals for a rematch with his former team from the previous season, the Pittsburgh Penguins(Had to be awkward).  However, when Hossa left Pittsburgh for Detroit, Lord Stanley’s Cup left Detroit for Pittsburgh.

After that season, Hossa signed a long 12 year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.  A controversial, lengthy  fat, contract that few Hawks fans will complain about.  Hoss, missed the first couple of months of the 2009-2010 season, due to off-season shoulder surgery, but didn’t miss a beat in his return to the ice/debut for the Blackhawks.  Hossa brought a powerful two-way game, that many Hawks fans had never seen, and fit in right away with the team, and in the hearts of the fans.  Hoss and the Hawks marched their way through the playoffs en route to the Stanley Cup Finals.  This was Marian’s 3rd consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals, and he did it with a different team, each time.  The only difference, was this time Hossa finally got to walk of holding the Stanley Cup!  Perhaps it was destiny that was foreshadowed form his days with the Portland Winter Hawks?  For fun’s sake, let’s say yes.  That season, Marian also received the honor of representing his home-country of Slovakia, in the 2010 Winter Olympics.  

As Marian is now in the veteran era of his career, he exudes leadership qualities, and as long as he is healthy, he is arguably the greatest force to be reckoned with on the ice.  This season, has been no exception, as Hoss has returned from a nasty concussion suffered in last season’s post-season, with no ill-effects and continues to dominate on the ice.

Congratulations on 1,000 NHL games, Marian!

Jan 27, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Nick Leddy (left) is congratulated by left wing Viktor Stalberg (25) for scoring the game winning goal during overtime at the United Center. The Blackhawks beat the Red Wings 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

Game #22- Chicago Blackhawks (18-0-3) vs Detroit Red Wings (10-8-3)

Game Time- 11:30am Central

Tv- Nationally broadcasted on NBC

Radio- WGN Radio

Season Series- The Blackhawks lead 1-0  The Hawks won 2-1 in overtime getting both goals from their defenseman. The regulation goal from Duncan Keith and the OT winner from Nick Leddy.

Preview- Detroit is missing some big pieces in their lineup from Darren Helm to Todd Bertuzzi ,but the Red Wings still managed to split a California road trip (the reason they want in the Eastern Conference) by losing to the Kings but beating the Sharks.  Blackhawks nemesis Jimmy Howard will be in the net but even Howard hasn’t been able to slow the turning tide in this rivalry.  The Hawks have won four straight against the Red Wings and eight out of the last 11.  These games are always close no matter what the records say for either team.  Detroit even rested Howard Thursday night in San Jose so you know the franchise short term goal(today) is to be the team that ends the Blackhawks point streak.

The Blackhawks are doing something historically great and it’s being  led by a group of two in Corey Crawford and Ray Emery.  It’s been quite a while since goal tending and not scoring was the top story in Chicago, but both net minders have been extremely strong with the emergence of the great play by Emery during Crawford’s injury as major reason for the streak being able to continue.  Although the big guns for Chicago like Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, and Jonathan Toews are still leading the team in goals and points, the other main factor for the Hawks streak is the production the Hawks are getting from players on all four lines.  Bryan Bickell and Viktor Stalberg both lit the lamp from the bottom lines Friday night which gives the Hawks balance and flexibilty for Coach Quenneville to play any line at anytime during any contest.

Prediction- The Hawks will be in for their biggest test yet to extend their point streak but the Hawks speed and skill will be too much for the Red Wings to overcome. The Hawks leave the Joe with a 4-2 win. Also look for a big day from Mr. 1,000 NHL games played Marian Hossa, 2 goals and an assist!

What is your Gameday prediction?

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Feb 25, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa (81) reacts to scoring the game winning goal against Edmonton Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin (35) during overtime at the United Center. The Chicago Blackhawks beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 in overtime. The Blackhawks set an NHL record for scoring at least one point in 19 consecutive games to open a season. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

When Marian Hossa takes his normal spot in the starting lineup this afternoon in Detroit, he will become only the 280th NHL player to have laced up his skates for 1,000 NHL games.  Hossa won his first Stanley Cup after joining the Chicago Blackhawks in 2009 for the 2010 run.  Hossa is one of the strongest two way players in the NHL which is proven with his career +169 rating and having only one season since 1997 which he ended in a minus rating.

Here are the games played with each franchise  breakdown

Ottawa Senators-467 games

Atlanta Thrashers-222 games

Pittsburgh Penguins-12 games

Detroit Red Wings-74 games

Chicago Blackhhawks-Todays’ game will be his 225th in a Blackhawks jersey.

Let’s not kid ourselves Hossa is a very consistent point machine to go along with his strong defensive play.  Last season Hossa joined the 900 point club and currently has 426 goals and 495 assists for 921 career points.

Hossa along with line-mate Jonathan Toews benefited most from the lockout by being able to return to the Hawks lineup completely healthy from their concussion syndromes.  The Hawks success this season has been getting production from every player in the lineup, but Hossa play has been extremely strong which features 9 goals and 8 assists and a +6 rating to help guide the Hawks down history’s path.

Congrats on the milestone and here’s  to plenty more games this season including a lot more in the playoffs!!

Let’s Go Blackhawks!!!

Mar 1, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook (7) is congratulated by his teammates for scoring a goal for scoring the game winning goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during overtime at the United Center. The Blackhawks beat the Blue Jackets 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

“The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.” Anonymous 

Back in the 1960’s there was a TV series called Mission Impossible. Not the Tom Cruise movies, although these were loosely based on the original TV series that took us on a journey every week with the IMF (Impossible Missions Force) team.

The IMF team faced different villains and different obstacles every week while trying to accomplish their mission. The IMF team was comprised of different operatives that possessed different skill sets that were needed to achieve success on their missions.

Although I don’t think it was ever revealed who the IMF really worked for it was implied it was some branch of the US government. The missions were most definitely black ops requiring the most skilled technicians.

Sounds a little familiar to Chicago Blackhawk fans doesn’t it? Every game that the Blackhawks play presents new challenges and obstacles to be overcome by the team. Each game you have no idea what particular set of skills will be needed or employed or what situation will arise to be overcome.  You never know whose shoulders the brunt of the mission will fall on. There is a different hero each time.

No one can dispute that this run that the Blackhawks are on is remarkable and probably they themselves did not think that what they are achieving would be possible. Then again it really isn’t all that surprising due to several factors.

Stan Bowman has assembled a team built around a core that already knows that the impossible is achievable and what it takes to succeed. Credit him with keeping the right members in the core and obtaining the right pieces to complement them.

Joel Quenneville has made adjustments this year and has righted some of the problems of the past two seasons. There is no question this year the team is more focused on the defense and playing as a team and supporting one another on ice. It is under Coach Q’s and his coaching teams’ constant reminder to the team of the mission at hand and keeping the team focused.

Then there is the almost flawless execution by the team on a game in and game out basis. Each team member has their specialty and skill sets that they know when to employ and which skills will work against which opponents.

Whether it is Jonathan Toews power rushes to the goal crease, Patrick Kane stickhandling wizardry that mesmerizes the opponent, Patrick Sharp’s snipping shots, Marian Hossa’s power moves or the teams defense which is operating with special forces like tactical precision the teams skill sets are evident. Every member of this team has specials skills which are too many to list.

The one common element each member has regardless of their skills is their ability to not only achieve the impossible, but to make it look fun and sometimes a little too easy.

Like everything, this will end sometime but until then each game is like a new exciting mission with an opponent looking to stop this team in an unknown script but with the same results – points to the Blackhawks and closer to achieving their goal.

Until the next game “Your mission, Jonny and team, should you decide to accept it, is…  Good luck, Jonny.” – 1

1 Intro used at the beginning of every Mission impossible show. Mission Impossible ran from 1966-1973 and was created by Bruce Gellar.

Feb 25, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa (81) reacts to scoring the game winning goal against Edmonton Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin (35) during overtime at the United Center. The Chicago Blackhawks beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 in overtime. The Blackhawks set an NHL record for scoring at least one point in 19 consecutive games to open a season. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

It wasn’t the prettiest of the Chicago Blackhawks 19 consecutive games without a regulation loss, but their victory over the Edmonton Oilers was a victory none-the-less.

The Hawks, who were playing in their second of back-to-back games, while the Oilers had the previous night to rest in Chicago, while the Hawks were busy defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets.  In the first period, the Oilers and their fresh legs, really couldn’t keep pace with the surging Blackhawks, but the scoreboard did not reflected no such advantage.  The Oilers took a 1-0 league on a Jeff Petry shorthanded goal, after Duncan Keith lost his footing and coughed up the puck.  A minute later, Patrick Kane evened the score at one goal a piece with his Power Play goal.  The score would remain tied through the rest of the period, while the Hawks dominated play, but overall, failed to finish,

The second period consisted of both teams exchanging chances, with the Hawks getting the most of them.  However it was Edmonton who would break the tie, late in the second period, on rookie Nail Yakupov‘s Power Play goal penetrated the almost always reliable Chicago Penalty Kill.

The Hawks game flying out of the gate, to start the third period.  The game was evened up at 2 goals apiece, when Viktor Stalberg’s shot was ruled a goal after a brief video review for confirmation.  The Hawks, again piled on the scoring chances in the third, but again left with nothing to show for it.  Former Hawk, and current Oiler goaltender, Nikolai Khabibulin, was very strong in net for Edmonton.  The game clock eventually hit zero, with the score tied, each team earned one point in the standings, and the Blackhawks streak of games to start a season without a regulation loss had stretched to 19 games.

The game needed less than two minutes of overtime to reach a decision, as Patrick Sharp displayed some great moves and shot a puck that was eventually buried in the back of the net on a rebound by Marian Hossa, giving the Chicago Blackhawks a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

Notes-

Ray Emery got the job done tonight, but wasn’t exactly spectacular.  He made a few very nice saves, but gave up some juicy rebounds, but he did enough to earn the win to extend his record on the season to 8-0-0.

Hawks captain Jonathan Toews, had a slightly “off” night.  He missed on several clutch shot attempts, and took an ill-timed offensive zone penalty.  Havign said that, the captain always makes his presence felt, even on his rare “off” nights.  Toews was 12 for 21 in the faceoff circle, and made some nice passes on the night.

Daniel Carcillo continues to make his presence felt as a phyiscal force, since returning from injury.  Carcillo was credited with a team-high 6 hits on the night.

The Blackhawks hit the road for their next game, in what should be an interesting matchup against the division-rival, St. Louis Blues.  Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM Central Time.

Feb 19, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Marian Hossa (81) leaves the game after being injured by Vancouver Canucks right wing Jannik Hansen (not pictured) as head coach Joel Quenneville looks on during the third period at the United Center. The Chicago Blackhawks beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 in the shootout. The Blackhawks tied an NHL record for scoring at least one point in 16 consecutive games to open a season. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

When Duncan Keith elbowed Daniel Sedin last spring I called for a 2 game suspension for what was a dirty hit that is not excusable.  I was off by 3 games because even though Keith didn’t have any priors on his hockey resume, Brendan Shanahan still gave Keith a 5 game suspension. 

Last night Jannick Hansen made another dirty inexcusable elbow to the head of an opponent.  First off not to defend Keith but Sedin had made a run at Keith and no penalty was called so he wrongly took justice into  his own hands.  Last night Hossa had scored two goals, the second one undressing the entire Canucks defense so there was no retaliation coming except due to embarrassment.  It is extremely hard to catch a puck in midair when you are planting an elbow into someones head.  It could have been accidental if this was against the Blue Jackets, but this was the Vancouver Canucks and there are no accidents.

What happened last night ,within a stone’s throw from last season Raffi Torres hit, is a play that shouldn’t happen and there should be real discplined enforced.  What makes it worse was listening to the Canucks play by play crew that said the hit was ok.  I’m all for homer announcers! I want Pat Foley doing every game I watch, but to say that the hit was ok is ludicrous. Not only that when the game headed towards O.T they were talking about how courageous a game Hansen played in the third period. Courageous really?!?  this is unacceptable even from a home brewing point of view.  Even if Hansen has no history it was a bad hit just like Keith’s was a year ago. You didn’t read how Quenneville was upset that a hearing was called or Chicago sports writers saying that Sedin is as fragile as the Christmas story Lamp.  Everyone in town knew Keith was in the wrong.  Wake up Vancouver!! The Hansen hit is not a part of hockey in 2013.

Here is the Shanahan video  which explains why Hansen only gets a ONE game suspension. Shanahan and consistency are not synonymous! Equal punishment should be what is enforced and Hansen should have received a 5 game suspension, but he skates away with a one game slap on the wrist! 

As one Hawks fan said on Twitter it didn’t matter because the Hawks don’t see the Canucks until April, and hopefully Hossa will return to the ice healthy well before April’s contest! Get well soon and Get back on the ice soon Hossa!

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