The Fifth Liners

In the wake of his investigation for alleged sexual assault, the Chicago Blackhawks could well be shifting one of its best. Patrick Kane  has been at the centre of trade talk in the last few days and the Hawks are apparently willing to listen. Despite his off-ice trouble, Kane has been one of the key figures of a tremendously successful team. Should Chicago offload him after three cup wins?  On the one hand I can understand Chicago wanting to be rid of Kane. This sort of rumor can destroy a man's reputation and should things be pressed further it could lead to a lot of lost ice time for him. Kane hasn't coated himself in glory, that is plainly obvious but does he really deserve to be ostracized already? The Blackhawks have been busy off loading their veteran players recently so how would losing a top line player really help at this point?  Another point to consider is that would any team in the NHL really touch a player who could be in...

Only a matter of weeks after hoisting the Stanley Cup for a third time, Patrick Kane is trapped in the eye of a major storm. The Chicago Blackhawks winger is being investigated over an alleged sexual assault while at home in Hamburg, NY. This scandal has led to him being removed from the cover on the NHL 16 game and the Conn Smyth winner has had his once sparkling image has now been firmly altered. Kane made the news once before for some troublesome off ice antics. Back in 2009 he was charged with assaulting a cab driver after a drunken night out in Buffalo, NY. While this incident might not have been life changing, it seems this current case could well be. Kane has always been one of the key figures of one of the most exciting and dominant attacking forces in Hockey. A 1st overall draft pick in 2007, he has scored over 205 goals and 557 points from 576 regular season games. A reliable and dangerous force on the top line, Blackhawks fans believed this man could do wro...

Goalie: Ben Bishop He may have missed out on a Stanley Cup ring, but Bishop was the glue that held Tampa Bay Lightning together during their play-off run. Notching up 13 wins including 3 shutouts, a save percentage of .921 and a GAA of 2.18, Bishop was remarkable in net.  Defense: Duncan Keith The rightful Conn Smyth Trophy winner, Keith was remarkable on the blue line. Scoring the first goal in game 6 was a tribute to his dominance. Scoring 21 points which included a staggering 18 assists, Keith had the highest plus minus rating of +16. The Chicago Blackhawks have been well served by this man and his importance was truly demonstrated in this final. Defense: Victor Hedman   Behind Keith, Hedman was the second highest plus/minus rating of +11. His great defensive quality helped back up Bishop in net. During this series, Hedman broke the record for the most points scored by a Lightning player in a single playoff year with 13. Heavily favored to win the Jam...

Tyler Seguin  Currently the beating heart of what is a patchy Dallas Stars team, Seguin currently sits second in the points standing with 59. He has a keen eye for goal and seems to score at will which if the Stars management can work out a plan promises great things. Seems inconceivable now that Boston traded him back in 2012 for Loui Eriksson- see how well that deal worked out boys! At only 23 years of age, Seguin is looking like he could be something remarkable! Jacob Voracek The biggest surprise of this season so far, Voracek has already scored an amazing 59 points, which nearly equals his entire season total of 62 points last season! The Philadelphia Flyers have endured a lacklustre season, from which the Czech winger has one of the few highlights. Many will say he have a fluke season and this will never again continue. They maybe right, but this season Voracek has deserved all the praise that has come his way and his name of the trophy would be fitting! Pekka Rinne...

Last season the Chicago Blackhawks as celebrated Dave Bolland's goal to seal the 2013 Stanley Cup against the Boston Bruins, you could be forgiven for thinking for thinking that the good times were only just getting started! This season the Blackhawks seemed to be suffering for a severe case of post cup winning hangover and after last night's 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, this once destructive Illnois crew seems have run out of petrol! But what has caused this team to decline so quickly? With the playoffs looming, Chicago currently lies 5th overall in the Western Conference, over 8 points drift of surprise leaders the St Louis Blues and they have racked up a whopping 15 losses so far! This is more than double the amount than during the 2012-13 regular season where they only recorded an incredible 7 losing games. Also their defence is leaking goals faster than the faulty pipe in my boiler at home and their goals against figure stands at 182 conceded! Compared to last se...

In the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers last night at the United Center, there was one moment that was guaranteed to make Hockey fans chuckle as after 2.36 of the second period, Hawks accidentally Patrick Kane looked on in horror as his shot he hit against the boards crept slowly into their own empty net on a delayed penalty! In a tight game, this moment is one that Conn Smyth winner Kane will wish to forget, check it out below

After last nights 7-2 steamroller over the Colorado Avalanche , it would appear that the Chicago Blackhawks are the public's favourite to retain their Stanley Cup crown this year! If they do succeed in taking back to back titles, it will make them the first team to achieve this since the 1997-98 Detroit Red Wings and will already make them one of the big successes of this decade alone! After their up and down start to their title defense, the Red Express has got back on the rails and it ain't going to stop any time soon! But as always with winning, things are never straight forward because across from our brothers in Illinois are another team who are equally hungry and have a burning desire not to repeat last years play-off nightmare in the shape of the Pittsburgh Penguins ! Both sides have an equally strong case as they possess offensive units to die for- Chicago this season have been led by free scoring winger Patrick Kane, whose 21 goals have pushed them to the top of the...

The Chicago Blackhawks stuttering start to their new campaign continued with a 5-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild at the United Centre last night- this defeat leaves the Hawks record as 6-1-3 which after their glorious start last year, is making them look slightly awkward. Zach Parise got the Wild started after he scored a rebound on a powerplay after 12.39 of the 1st period played after Corey Crawford had saved the initial effort! But then Niklas Backstrom made an excellent save from Marion Hossa on the break away with six minutes remaining! Minnesota's lead was then increased to 2-0 when after only 1.03 of the second period, Kyle Brodziak tipped in Marco Scandella's shot to leave Hawks fans bewildered! Their frustration grew when Backstrom denied Jonathan Toews and then the post denied another potential goal to still leave Chicago behind, they also had a goal waived off for a high stick before Bryan Bickell finally smashed one in for the home side to reduce the scores to 2-1 ...

The St Louis Blues clinched a dramatic late 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at the Scottrade Center last night to continue the reigning champions indifferent start to the 2013/14 season. Vladimir Tarasenko put the Blues in front after 15 minutes when he scored a high shot past Corey Crawford, but Patrick Kane tied the scores at 1-1 only two minutes later. After 7 minutes of the second period Alex Pietrangelo's long shot deflected off Blues captain David Backes to put the home side 2-1 in front on a powerplay! But yet again the Blackhawks levelled the scores again when Jonathan Toews scored on their own powerplay to bring things to 2-2. But with only 21 seconds remaining in the third period, Alexander Steen seized on a 3 on 1 breakaway chance to slot the puck underneath Crawford and give the Blues the win! To see the celebrations erupt among the home fans, you would have thought this was the playoffs! Jaroslav Halak was to thank for keeping the champions out and his fi...

Brent Seabrook was the overtime hero once again; as the Chicago Blackhawks came from behind in an exhilarating 6-5 win against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden in game 4 to level the series at 2-2! After Tuukka Rask ’s shutout in game 3 on Monday, the Blackhawks have come back strong. The Hawks began the first period strongly when Brandon Saad set up Seven Days in Hockey favourite Michal Handzus on a 2 on 1 after 7 minutes, but Saad became the enemy soon after as his giveaway led to a long range leveler on a Power Play by Rich Peverley . But the game burst into life in the second period when Chicago skipper Jonathan Toews scored a tip after 6 minutes to put them in front 2-1, this goal was Toews first goal since the Western final against the Red Wings and two minutes later the in-form Patrick Kane pushed them further ahead!   Milan Lucic however, put the Bruins back in the game when he scored a backhand rebound off a Zdeno Chara shot before Marcus Kruge...

A brilliant hat-trick from Patrick Kane sealed the Chicago Blackhawks place in the Stanley Cup final against the Boston Bruins with a pulsating 4-3 overtime win over the LA Kings at the United Center last night! After a season which has seem them win many admirers, the Hawks’ superb forward line will get to compete for the ultimate prize!  The Hawks took control in the first period with defenseman Duncan Keith ’s slap shot putting them in front and the lead was quickly doubled when Kane pushed them further ahead, all around the home fans were already getting into party mood!  But the second period would dampen the festive spirit as Dwight King ’s shorthanded goal for LA cut the lead to 2-1 and suddenly it looked like the Kings weren’t keen to have their crown stolen away just yet! After three minutes of the third period, Anze Kopitar scored his first of the series to tie the game and end his barren spell of six scoreless games!  Faith was restored in t...

The Chicago Blackhawks fought back from 2-1 down against the LA Kings at the Staples Center last night to secure a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference final and to leave the Blackhawks one win away from guaranteeing their place in the Stanley Cup final! All around there was an anticipation in the air that the Kings could produce a fight back like their Quarter Final win against St Louis previous and the sell out crowd expected big. When Slava Voynov drove in the opener from distance, it appeared it would be party time all the way for LA! But Chicago had no desire to fade away quietly and were level after 13 mins when Bryan Bickell scored! But less than two minutes into the second period, Dustin Penner beat Corey Crawford to score his first goal in over 11 games and to put the Kings 2-1 ahead!  Justin Williams had the chance to put them further ahead but his breakaway effort was superbly stopped by Crawford But again Chicago responded strongly and again tied the scores whe...

Nobody predicted this. Not even me, and I'm biased. Last night Detroit welcomed the Chicago Blackhawks to the Joe Louis hoping to build on Saturday's series tying victory. A tense first period saw plenty of penalties but no goals. It wasn't until seven minutes into the second period that Gustav Nyquist demonstrated perfect control to skate round Corey Crawford 's goal and slot home past diving defensemen and a helpless goalie to get his second goal of the playoffs. Less than a minute later, Drew Miller , who also had solid game was on hand to tip the puck into the net after a goalmouth scramble. 2-0 Detroit. Patrick Kane made a good breakaway to reduce the deficit to one goal five minutes into the third period but two minutes later Pavel Datsyuk was on hand to fire a screamer of a shot into the top shelf. No chance of Crawford saving that shot. Goal of the playoffs contender? Maybe.