Thank you, thank you very much: ‘Hawks 4, Preds 1

Sorry for the lack of updates, everyone. But this is one of the few Blackhawks blogs being run by a solitary soul, and even bloggers need a holiday break.

It’s about time the ‘Hawks decided to play with Nashville from the opening faceoff rather than wait until midway through the second period to figure things out. I’m happier than hell the ‘Hawks have only tonight’s game to get through before we can write off the Predators for the rest of the season.

The Blackhawks’ 4-1 win in Music City provided me a nice, relaxing Saturday night. At no point in this game did I have to worry about anything. The ‘Hawks dominated from the get-go, and the only hiccup was Martin Erat’s breakaway goal that trickled through Cristobal Huet’s legs after Toronto made the correct call. I could have been upset over the fact Brent Seabrook looked a bit careless on receiving the pass off the boards and then skating very lethargically as Erat headed down ice, but hey, we’ll leave it alone.

Is it just me, or is there something especially beautiful about a well-placed, long wrister that finds the back of the net? Dustin Byfuglien’s goal was awesome, and Troy Brouwer’s screen on Pekka Rinne helped a ton. It was the sixth straight game Nashville allowed a power play goal, and if the ‘Hawks didn’t score with the man advantage tonight I would have punted my cat.

Patrick Kane showed just how much his tremendous passing ability is feared on his goal, potting one over a sunk-in Rinne while he and Shea Weber played the potential pass to Brouwer right up until Kane knocked the water bottle.

Andrew Ladd and Patrick Sharp also notched goals in the ‘Hawks three-goal second period which put the game away. I took a nap during the third period and missed nothing.

Jonathan Toews had two assists tonight. And before you begin to start stocking up on water and supplies to prepare for the end of the world, Tomas Kopecky DID indeed have two assists tonight. You’re not crazy, you read it right.

The win puts the ‘Hawks six points up on Nashville and ties them with San Jose with 53 points at the top of the West. They’re 25-9-3 overall and 9-3-0 in December. When I wrote this month’s preview, I mentioned a successful month would be 10-4-1 to finish the year out with 56 points, which would be nine points ahead of last season’s pace. I know some of you out there think I’m an idiot, but I’m pretty spot on with this one.

See you at the United Center tonight as the Blackhawks get the Predators out of their regular-season lives. GO ‘HAWKS!

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