Here Come the Hawks!

Here Come the Hawks!

Here come the Hawks. And for tonight at least, we can say with a little extra pride, here come the Hawks, the mighty Blackhawks. Chicago didn’t just beat St. Louis tonight, they ran them over. Seven different players found the back of the net with Lucas Reichel of all people leading the charge with a pair. McKev, Nazar, Dickinson, Donado, Bertusi, and Green all joined the fun as the Hawks hung eight on the Blues, tying their all-time record for most goals ever scored in St. Louis, a mark that hadn’t been touched since February 20th, 1990. The win marked Chicago’s first road victory and their first real streak of the season. Points in three of their last four, confidence rising, and a young fast group starting to believe in itself. That’s a deadly combination. After the game, Nazar didn’t shy away from the emotion behind it all. He called it payback for that ugly Winter Classic loss. More importantly, he reminded everyone the team was playing for their captain, Nick Felino, who’s currently away on a personal leave. You could feel that extra spark in every shift. We’re praying for him and his family and everything going on. Frankie said that one was for him. It’s something we as a group talked about before and after the game. There’s never been any question about Lucas Reichel’s tools. The speed, the hands, the creativity have always been there. What’s been missing is the steady impact, the kind that makes you notice him every night. Against the Blues, he showed everyone why he was a firstround pick. He was the best player on the ice for Chicago tonight. His first goal was a perfect example of why coaches always preach just get the puck on net. It wasn’t the prettiest look, but Riel did catch Joel Hoer in the middle of his Michael Leightton impression. Maybe he was also still thinking about that soft one he gave McKv earlier. Then came the second, a gritty play along the boards to keep the sequence alive, followed by a smart drive to the net for a perfect tip on Alex Velic’s shot. By the end of the night, Brightel’s line told the story. two goals and assists, five shots, six attempts, and the kind of confidence boost that can help flip a young player’s season overnight. I’m so proud of this kid. I was convinced he was gone a month ago. No one’s expecting Riel to light it up for three points every night. But if he keeps bringing that kind of energy and impact, he’ll earn his way right back into the lineup and more importantly back into the team’s long-term picture. Consistency has always been the hurdle. One great game doesn’t change everything, but it can start the climb. Friday night in Vancouver will be a big test to see if Riel can build on the momentum and finally turn Flash’s potential into a steady rhythm. All summer long, the talk was about the work Connor Badard was putting in, and it’s showing in every part of his game. The added speed is obvious, but it’s his mindset that’s made the biggest leap. He’s sharper away from the puck, more confident with it, and he’s not backing down from anyone. Against the Blues, Bedsy picked up three assists. Each one a different layer of what makes him special. The first came from Hustle, winning a puck battle on the forche. The next two pure vision, threading passes that only a handful of players in the league can even see, let alone make. And when Colton Pereco tried to push him around, Bard stood his ground. It wasn’t that long ago people were questioning his body language, his compete level, even his maturity. Last season, Paul Besonette famously said Bernard was playing pond hockey out there. Fast forward tonight, those same TNT analysts were all on his growth, praising his edge, his effort, and his poise. It’s taken him less than five games to completely rewrite the narrative. They were all talking about him being on team Canada at the Olympics. Now, one of the greatest philosophers of our generation, Chief Keef, once said, “Started from the bottom. I’m the one that got the city up. They don’t [ __ ] with you when you’re down, but they love you when you’re up.” I still love you though, Biz. Even though the second period might have been Chicago’s cleanest 20 minutes of hockey all season, it was really the third that stood out. That’s usually where young teams get careless. Up three goals, feeling good, and easing off the gas. Not this time. The Hawks stayed locked in, kept pushing for more, and never drifted from their structure. That’s a sign of buyin and a credit to the coaching staff for setting the tone. And how about our third line, the so-called shutdown line? Lately, they’ve been anything but just defense. After dominating Utah with a 72.2 Cors 4% and six high danger looks, Donado, Dickinson, and McKay rolled straight into St. Lewis and did it again. In just under 13 minutes of five on five, they outscored the Blues 3 to1, held a 9-3 edge in scoring chances and didn’t give up a single high danger look. Their driving play, finishing chances, and taking a huge load off the top six. Coming into this one, the message was simple. Shoot the puck. After managing just 14 shots against Utah, the Hawks needed to generate more. Safe to say they got the memo. Chicago fired a season high 29 shots on the Blues tandem of Joel Hoer and Jordan Bennington, peppering them from all angles. I believe it was Panganger who said, “When you win faceoffs, you’re going to win games.” And the Hawks also cleaned things up in the faceoff circle, winning 55.6% of their draws, 30 of 54. Jason Dickinson led the way, going 11 for 16, while the young duo of Badard and Nazar combined for a solid 10 for 21. Ryan Green also got his first NHL goal, a moment he won’t forget anytime soon. As for Frank Nazar, he had himself a night, too. Not only did he make an impact on the ice, he also dropped an Sbomb on national television and gave us an alltime reaction shot in the process. Vintage chaos, and the fans loved every second of it. Nothing to complain about here. Hell of a win, boys. Hell of a win.

Here Come the Hawks! And I think at least just for today we can say it with pride!! Here come the hawks, the mighty Blackhawks!!!
Chicago didn’t just beat St. Louis tonight they ran them over. Seven different players found the back of the net in this one #chicagoblackhawks #chicago #blackhawks #franknazar #connorbedard #bedard #nhl #hockey #onegoal
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main channel @MSZFilms