Blackhawks Lose To Blues In Season Opener, 5-2

Blues coach Ken Hitchcock St. Louis got what he needed from their best players, and that was more than enough on the opening night.

Vladimir Tarasenko had two goals and an assist, and blue started the season with a solid 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks Jersey on Wednesday.

"The guys who were present did a number today," Hitchcock said. "The guys who have been here before and know what it feels like to play in this building, know what it feels like to play against Chicago, played very well today."

Kevin Shattenkirk and Paul Stastny each had a goal and two assists for the Blues, who eliminated the Blackhawks in seven games in the first round of the playoffs in April. Jake Allen had 17 saves in his first game since he was handed the lead work illegal trade blockade June Brian Elliott to Calgary.

Alexandre Fortin making Blackhawks think long and hard about roster spot

Blackhawks in the locker room, the biggest closet for a skater currently belongs to 19-year-old Alexandre Fortin. At one end of the room, Fortin ranks third goalkeeper Corey Crawford Jersey and with Scott Darling needing larger cabinets because they have more equipment than others.

It is a temporary fix for Fortin - without skater can have a very large wardrobe for the season, much less someone who is 19. Over time, you will have to move. The only question is where?

There are two options - to another position in the room should Fortin make the cut or the final list back to the Major Junior Hockey League Quebec.

Kero, Gustafsson Among Blackhawks Sent Down Monday

Chicago Blackhawks are slowly trimming their roster to size before the start of the new season, and some notable prospects were among those cut from the team Monday morning.
Forward Tanner Kero, expected to compete for a spot in front bottom-six with the Hawks, was among those assigned to the Rockford IceHogs in a series of cuts Monday. Joining him on the list were the defenders Erik Gustafsson and Ville Pokka, who were both hoping to make the blue line of the team this year.
Chicago Blackhawks throw the puck on preseason vs Penguins
Gustafsson, who appeared in 41 games for the Blackhawks last season while notching 14 assists, did not make the list after a season in charge for the team. The Hawks have signed Michal Kempny and Brian Campbell as free agents, and also saw the emergence of players like Gustav Forsling on the blue line, and all three of these players are likely over Gustafsson on the graph of depth.

Canada holds off Team Europe in Game 1 of World Cup of Hockey final

TORONTO - Canadians unbeaten Tuesday showed that even at their worst, they are the best team at the World Cup of Hockey.

The line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Sidney Crosby has created a pair of goals to lead unusually sloppy Team Canada to a 3-1 win against the European team in Game 1 of the best-of- series three championship. Canada may enter the title with a victory Thursday (8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN 2)

"We need more guys on deck we had tonight," said Canadian coach Mike Babcock.

Babcock said he did not think "we moved the puck out of our all tonight area."

His players shared his assessment of their level of play below normal, yet Canadians have found a way to win their fifth straight game of the tournament. They outscored the opposition 22-7.

"We showed that we can play with them," said EU Anze Kopitar captain.

Kopitar said the effort of the Europeans was "probably our best game of the tournament."

Brian Campbell enjoying return to Blackhawks

CHICAGO (AP) - 3 year old daughter of Brian Campbell had football on Saturday morning, so his family jumped the melee Blackhawks at the United Center. The defender grimacing said he did not know if his team was still playing games, but had to be there.

Not much. Campbell will get plenty of opportunities for family time this year.

"It's just great to wake up every morning and I know the area and very happy with my wife and children with the school and just be ready to go," he said.

The move was a highlight for Chicago, which lost Johnny Oduya during free agency last July and missed his veteran presence at times last season. With Campbell in the fold, the Blackhawks seem to be in great shape with their blue shirts, with Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook leading a deep group of defenders.

Campbell, who helped Chicago win the Stanley Cup in 2010, has six goals and 25 assists in 82 games with the Panthers last season. He led the NHL defensemen with a plus-31 plus-minus.

"Just like a real smart player," said Blackhawks assistant Kevin Dineen, who was also Campbell coach for three seasons in Florida. "I think patience is a real key for us. He really quality games. It has been around for a while and he loves the game. He can skate all night."

Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith practices as camp starts

Blackhawks defender Duncan Keith participated in practice on the first day of training camp Red Vs. White scrimmage on Friday.

Keith played in the World Cup of Hockey continue rehabilitation on his right knee. Two-time winner of the Norris Trophy had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in October, and although he played after that, he determined that he was not ready for the World Cup.

"Well, today was the first skate," he said. "I was a little skating here this month, just trying to get away, trying to take it one day at a time."

Keith did not say if he would be ready for the season Oct. 12 at home against the Blues.

"I do not want to look too far ahead, but I like the progression," he said. "Today it was good to get back into the swing of things, even though it was a short practice."

Although his knee continued defender said that he regrets that he can not play in the World Cup.

"It was disappointing, especially when we had a long offseason this year," he said.

Blackhawks Top 25 Under 25: Nick Schmaltz awaits his NHL chance at No. 2

Nick Schmaltz has been one of the top prospects from the Chicago Blackhawks Jerseys since the team traded up to select him in the first round of the NHL Draft 2014 now ranking No. 2 on our list of Top 25 Under 25, the gifted striker is the edge of a potentially large role with the NHL team this season. Like any other young striker struggling for playing time in Chicago, he has a lot of competition, but Schmaltz has the biggest rise of the heap. If he is able to put it all together as a player three areas, Schmaltz could be one of the best plays in hockey.

discomposure
Schmaltz has been a good prospect for a long time, and the Hawks liked from the beginning. That's why negotiating to write the Madison, Wisc., native in the first round in 2014, and is why we pushed so hard to sign him to an entry level contract this summer. Since he agreed to leave college to become a professional, who has been constantly mentioned as a possible factor major contributor in Chicago this season.