Hawks beat the Sabres 6-2 last night to go back to the top of the division.With Sharp injured they needed someone to step up and it's been 2 rookies Shaw and Hayes that have been scoring the goals needed to replace Sharps goals.

Chicago continue going up and down the division as they move back to the top 1 day after slipping to 3rd.The next 2 months are going to be good with the Hawks,Red Wings and the Blues battling for the top spot with Nashville not far behind.

The all-star game break has come a the right time for the Hawks as Toews has joined Sharp on the injured list.There's now just 3 points from 1st to 4th place in the division.

The Hawks got their injured players back last night but lost to the Canucks in OT.Down to 6th in the Conference now but not likely to drop out of the playoffs as they're well ahead of the 9th place team.

6 defeats in a row now for the Blackhawks,they need to start winning soon as the lead over the 9th place team is down to 7 points.

After losing 9 in a row Chicago have finally won a game.They scored 4 in the 1st period and held on to beat the Rangers 4-2

They also came from behind last night to beat the Wings 2-1.

Great game last night between Vancouver and Detroit with the Canucks winning in the shootout ending the Wings 23 game home winning streak.

Boston Bruins add Brain Rolston and Mike Mottau from the New York Islanders in exchange for Marc Cantin and Yanick Riendeau and also get Greg Zanon from Minnesota Wild with Steve Kampfer going to the Wild

No real big names were traded on deadline day.Rick Nash nearly went to the Rangers but Columbus decided to keep him.

Boston Bruins sign Marty Turco on a 1 year deal but has to clear waivers

The Hawks beat the Blues in a tough comeback from behind win in a S/O. Hawks still a bit hit and miss without Toews & Montador Toews is listed as day to day with a concussion related injury but back skating and possible may play against the Stars Friday.

Montador back skating but no time scale for his return. Hjalmarsson left the ice against the Blues and didnt return. Carcillo & Lepisto out indefinitley.

Brandon Bollig has his 4th straight fight and his 5th in 7 games

since joining up with the Hawks as a replacement for John Scott after he was traded to the Rangers.

Emery & Crawford both need to up their performances or we may have a short run in the play offs. Need to improve on this in the close season, maybe would have been a better decision to have offered Niemi a deal after winning the Cup.

Toews had a setback and now not playing against the Stars tonight,after what happened to Crosby there's no use in rushing him back if he's not 100% recovered.

Even though the N/M's have been better recently it's clear to me that a the end of the season a new N/M is the #1 need if the Hawks want to challenge for the cup again and not just scrape into the playoffs like the last couple of years.

Big win for the Hawks in Dallas downing the Stars 4-1. Bolland scoring 10 seconds into the game then Sharp 98 secs later.

Toews not likely to be risked for rest of regular season I would have thought

Netminding has been the problem since winning the cup for me as been too inconsistent but difficult to get a Stella no.1 when already tight on the cap even after shedding after the cup wining season
Think coach Q & Bowman will try to address this during this close season ad seemed to be trying last close season but unable to get anyone to fit within the cap & took chance with Emery

Boston Bruins re-sign forward Shawn Thornton to a two-year contract extension through the 2013-14 season

Boston thrash the Leafs 8-0

Great start to the rangers v devils game 3 fights straight from the face off. Then they had to clear the blood off the ice before the game could start, old time hockey is alive & well. Rangers went on to win 4-2

Hawks follow up their win against the Caps with a cruise against Columbus 5-1 again getting out to a quick lead in the 1st period.

Now only 2pts behind the Wings which is a huge achievement after the run off 9 straight losses, hopefully we are now rid of our wobble and heading into the play offs with good form.

Next up the Canucks tonight so will be a good test of our credentials for a good run in the play offs, still need improvement between the pipes though.

News on Toews is that he is back skating again after a set back, so hopefully he will be back soon and raring to go. Nick Leddy possibly injured last night after a hit as didnt return although Quenneville seemed to indicate it was precautionary why he didnt return with the game won.

Apparently both coaches were also 'having words' with each other before the face off aswell.I'd love these two to be matched up in the playoffs,now that would be worth watching



As for the Hawks it looks like they're running into some form at the right time while Nashville and Detroit are struggling.The Red Wings are not the same team without Lidstrom but he's due back from injury soon.

Hawks win 2-1 in O/T against the Nucks in a tough game. Hostilities have been cranked up abit after this game with a few incidents as well as Duncan Keith getting hit with a shoulder to the head by Daniel Sedin then Keith retaliating later in the period with an elbow which saw Sedin leave the game.

Seems to be setting up a war of play off match up should both teams no doubt meet in the play offs.

Hawks now level on pts with Nashville and 1pt behind Detroit who lost to the Rangers in O/T.

Bruins beat the Kings 4-2

Bruins beat the Ducks 3-2

It's the end of the regular season and the playoff matchups are set.

East
NYR/Ottawa
Boston/Washington
Pittsburgh/Philadelphia
Florida/NJD

I'm predicting Rangers,Boston,Pittsburgh and New Jersey to got through to the next round

West

Vancouver/LA
ST Louis/San Jose
Phoenix/Chicago
Nashville/Detroit

Vancouver,Detriot,San Jose and Chicago are my picks to go through in the West.

I'm gonna go with NYR, Philly, Panthers & Boston from the East and Canucks, Blues, Hawks & Nashville for the West.

Some are just too close to call and can go either way.

Lets go Bruins