Archive for February 1st, 2010
Chicago Blackhawks Back Home after Successful 5-3 Road Trip
Monday, February 1st, 2010 | Chicago Blackhawks, NHL, Sports | No Comments
Although it ended with a loss to the NHL’s 2nd worst team (the Carolina Hurricanes), the Blackhawks could not have been happier with their 5-3 eight-game road trip away from the United Center in Chicago. The Hawks started it off with wins over division rivals – the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings. After a hiccup in Ottawa with a loss to the Senators, the Blackhawks soundly defeated the playoff-caliber Flames in Calgary. After another bump in the road with a bad loss to the Vancouver Canucks, the Blackhawks took it to the lowly Oilers in Edmonton and then showed why they are considered a Stanley Cup title contender with a big win over the Western Conference points-leader Sharks in San Jose in overtime. Although the Hawks blew a 1st period 3-0 lead, the team never lost hope as regulation ended, striking with Troy Brouwer’s game-winning goal just a minute and a half into the overtime period. This team is built to win, and they proved it will a big road victory over the Sharks.
After playing 7 games in a 13-day stretch, you couldn’t really fault the Blackhawks for dropping Saturday night’s game in Carolina. Knowing they would be heading back home after that contest, it’s not surprising that they laid an egg against one of the worst teams in the NHL (who have been playing better as of late). On the bright side – they rallied to tie the game at 2 in the 3rd period and they outshot the Hurricanes 41-24. Huet didn’t play his best game – stopping 20 of 24 of the shots on goal.
Now it’s time to finish strong over the next 6 games before the Olympics start. The Blackhawks play 4 of 6 games at home at the United Center where they are 21-5-1. The play the St. Louis Blues twice, the Dallas Stars and the Columbus Blue Jackets – 3 teams towards the bottom of the Western Conference. With 2 other home games against the Phoenix Coyote and the Atlanta Thrashers – 2 potential playoff teams – the schedule is set up nicely for the Blackhawks. Winning 4 or 5 of these games is a must for the Blackhawks. Then it’s a sprint to the finish with 15 games in March and 7 games in April before the playoffs start.
Patrick Kane still leads the club with 60 points (21 goals). Duncan Keith (11 goals, 38 assists); Jonathan Toews (18 goals, 26 assists) and Patrick Sharp (16 goals, 27 assists) aren’t too far behind. The Hawks are primed to try to steal the #1 West seed from the Sharks. They trail by only 3 points and would love to be able to get home ice throughout the entire playoffs. That makes each of these games so important – even the “easy” ones. Coach Queneville will have his club ready for this next 6-game stretch – look for the Blackhawks to get off to solid start with a big win over the Blues on Wednesday night…
Some big wins at the Grammys last night
Monday, February 1st, 2010 | Concerts | No Comments
All of the crazy from Hollywood and the music world showed up the Staples Center last night for the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. There actually was a big upset that I was happy about with Kings of Leon taking home Record of the Year, they beat out Beyonce, The Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga and even the unstoppable Taylor Swift. All of the Swift fans do not need to worry because she also had a big win with Album Of The Year and I don’t think anyone was shocked she won. Taylor Swift has had a year that most artiest can only dream of with win after win on her number one hits. One thing about last night that was a big surprise is that Lady Gaga did not come away with a big win as she also had a big year just as Swift did. Gaga did take home two awards for dance album but nothing that big. Gaga hit the road with a bunch of sold out shows around the US and a few of her songs also hit number one throughout the year. But the person that must be the happiest after last night has to be Beyonce taking home 6 trophies throughout the night. Check out a list of some more of the winners below.
Song of the Year
* Beyoncé – “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)”
Lady Gaga – “Poker Face”
Maxwell – “Pretty Wings”
Kings of Leon – “Use Somebody”
Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me”
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
* Black Eyed Peas – “I Gotta Feeling”
Bon Jovi – “We Weren’t Born to Follow”
The Fray – “Never Say Never”
Daryl Hall & John Oates – “Sara Smile”
MGMT – “Kids”
Best Rap Solo Performance
* Jay-Z – “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)”
Drake – “Best I Ever Had”
Eminem – “Beautiful”
Kid Cudi – “Day ‘N’ Nite”
Mos Def – “Casa Bey”
Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
* Lady Antebellum – “I Run To You”
Brooks & Dunn – “Cowgirls Don’t Cry”
Zac Brown Band – “Chicken Fried”
Rascal Flatts – “Here Comes Goodbye”
Sugarland – “It Happens”
Best Rock Album
* Green Day – 21st Century Breakdown
AC/DC – Black Ice
Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood – Live From Madison Square Garden
Dave Matthews Band – Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King
U2 – No Line on the Horizon
Best Country Album
* Fearless – Taylor Swift
The Foundation – Zac Brown Band
Twang – George Strait
Defying Gravity – Keith Urban
Call Me Crazy – Lee Ann Womack
Best New Artist
* Zac Brown Band
Keri Hilson
MGMT
Silversun Pickups
The Ting Tings
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
* Beyoncé – “Halo”
Adele – “Hometown Glory”
Katy Perry – “Hot N Cold”
Pink – “Sober”
Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me”
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
* Jason Mraz – “Make It Mine”
John Legend – “This Time”
Maxwell – “Love You”
Seal – “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”
Stevie Wonder – “All About the Love Again”
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
* Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat – “Lucky”
Rosanne Cash & Bruce Springsteen – “Sea of Heartbreak”
Ciara & Justin Timberlake – “Love Sex Magic”
Willie Nelson & Norah Jones – “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”
Taylor Swift & Colbie Caillat – “Breathe”
Best Pop Vocal Album
* Black Eyed Peas – The E.N.D.
Colbie Caillat – Breakthrough
Kelly Clarkson – All I Ever Wanted
The Fray – The Fray
Pink – Funhouse
Best Dance Recording
* Lady Gaga – “Poker Face”
Black Eyed Peas – “Boom Boom Pow”
David Guetta & Kelly Rowland – “When Love Takes Over”
Madonna – “Celebration”
Britney Spears – “Womanizer”
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
* Beyoncé – “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)”
Melanie Fiona – “It Kills Me”
Lalah Hathaway – “That Was Then”
Ledisi – “Goin’ Thru Changes”
Jazmine Sullivan – “Lions, Tigers & Bears”
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
* Maxwell – “Pretty Wings”
Anthony Hamilton – “The Point of It All”
Musiq Soulchild – “Sobeautiful”
Pleasure P – “Under”
Charlie Wilson – “There Goes My Baby”
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
* Jamie Foxx & T-Pain – “Blame It”
India.Arie & Musiq Soulchild – “Chocolate High”
Musiq Soulchild & Mary J. Blige – “Ifuleave”
Robert Randolph & The Clark Sisters – “Higher Ground”
Calvin Richardson & Ann Nesby – “Love Has Finally Come At Last”
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
* Beyoncé – “At Last”
Anthony Hamilton – “Soul Music”
Boney James & Quinn – “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight”
Ann Nesby – “Sow Love”
Calvin Richardson – “Woman Gotta Have It”
