Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks were sued yesterday by a season ticketholder who claims the team violated the Consumer Fraud Act by failing to give full refunds to fans after the NHL lockout. Darryl Taggart claims that at the time the Blackhawks were selling season tickets, team officials knew reaching a collective bargaining agreement with players was unlikely. The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, contends the Blackhawks have not refunded the $1,000 premium paid by season ticketholders in the "club section.

Doug Gilmour scored two third-period goals, and goaltender Mike Vernon stopped 21 shots last night to help the Calgary Flames defeat the Los Angeles Kings, 5-2, and take a 3-0 lead in the Smythe Division final. Calgary can sweep the Kings tomorrow night, when the best-of-seven series resumes at the Forum. After Los Angeles closed to within 2-1 on Tom Laidlaw's goal 47 seconds into the final period, Gilmour - who won Game 1 with an overtime goal - made it 3-1 with 6 minutes, 16 seconds to go when he backhanded a shot past Los Angeles goalie Kelly Hrudey.

Say it ain't so, Joe He may not be Joltin' personality-wise, but Joe knows how to make an electrifying fashion statement. Rays manager Joe Maddon proved he was ahead of his time in hoodie-gate when MLB relented. We've had the Elmer Fudd hat, the Elvis Costello/Kurt Rambis X-ray specs. Somehow it all made him seem more cool. But now he has committed the Mother of all Faux Pas. The Rays wore Blackhawks jerseys on their flight to Toronto for Monday's game. Maddon received a replica of Chicago forward John Madden's uniform.

THE CHICAGO Blackhawks used a strong start against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday to keep their strong start to the season on a roll. Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews each had a goal and an assist to help the Blackhawks beat the visiting Kings, 3-2, extending their season-opening points streak to 15 games. Patrick Sharp also scored for the Blackhawks (12-0-3), who matched the 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers for the second-longest, season-opening points streak in NHL history. Chicago is one away from the tying the league record set by Anaheim in 2006-07 and will try to match the mark on Tuesday when it hosts Vancouver.

Call them the Chicago Clutchhawks. Including the first two Finals escapes against the Flyers, Chicago has won 10 straight playoff games in which it was tied or separated by one goal during the third period. "No matter what situation we're in, we're not going to get overwhelmed," Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said. Flyers left winger/agitator Dan Carcillo, who took an ill-advised early penalty Monday but recovered and played well is his Finals debut, has become Public Enemy No. 1 in Chicago.

COREY CRAWFORD came away with the shutout in this one, not Brian Elliott. Chicago's goalie stopped 30 shots and Bryan Bickell and Marian Hossa scored to lead the visiting Blackhawks to a 2-0 win over the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, ending Elliott's bid for a fourth straight shutout. "I felt good today, but I think the main thing is everyone is playing well," Crawford said after his third shutout of the season. "We need everyone to play well every night and so far this year it's been pretty much that for every game.

Chicago's Tony Armonte did a nice job working himself free in the slot before slipping the game-winning shot through the legs of Calgary goalie Trevor Kidd in overtime. But Armonte insisted fancy footwork didn't get the puck in the net. That perfect pass from teammate Jeremy Roenick did. "Jeremy's one of the best passers in the game and it's a pleasure to play with him," Amonte said as the Blackhawks defeated host Calgary last night, 4-3. "We worked hard tonight and it's a great victory.

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville was faced with a dilemma as he pondered what to do about his goaltending situation in early March. Chicago was set to resume NHL regular-season play following a 2-week break for the Winter Olympics. Was it time to return No. 1 goalie Cristobal Huet to the nets? Or should he stick with the less-tested, but promising rookie Antti Niemi? Niemi had played well in four straight victories heading into the layoff and that seemed reason enough for Quenneville to stick with the kid. "Niemi's won and we don't want to change much of that," Quenneville said at the time.

The Chicago Blackhawks found that Felix Potvin wasn't invincible after all. Shut out when Potvin made 42 saves in Game 2 Tuesday night, the Blackhawks didn't let frustration get them down. Instead, Gary Suter scored twice and Chris Chelios added a shorthanded goal in a 3-2 victory last night that cut host Toronto's lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series. "We kept telling ourselves, 'Keep shooting, keep shooting, and eventually we'll get some lucky goals,' and tonight we got three of them," Suter said.

Gustav Nyquist and Drew Miller scored 31 seconds apart midway through the second period and Pavel Datsyuk restored a two-goal lead in the third to help the host Detroit Red Wings beat the Chicago Blackhawks, 3-1, Monday night to take a two-games-to-one lead in the second-round series. Patrick Kane scored 4 minutes, 35 seconds into the third period to pull Chicago within one. The Blackhawks celebrated as if they tied the game about a minute later, but Andrew Shaw's goal was waved off because he was in the crease.

THE YOUNG Detroit Red Wings have made the mighty Chicago Blackhawks look vulnerable, beating them two straight times to gain an advantage in their last playoff matchup as Western Conference rivals. Gustav Nyquist and Drew Miller scored 31 seconds apart midway through the second period and Pavel Datsyuk restored a two-goal lead in the third to help Detroit beat visiting Chicago, 3-1, last night and take a 2-1 lead in the second-round series. As good as the Red Wings have looked - scoring six straight goals to earn momentum in the series - their hard-driving coach isn't ready to celebrate.

Damien Brunner and Brendan Smith scored in the second period and the Detroit Red Wings beat the host Chicago Blackhawks, 4-1, Saturday in Game 2 to even their Western Conference semifinal series. It was a strong response by the Red Wings after Chicago handled them easily in the series opener, 4-1. Just as the Blackhawks did in Game 1, Detroit took control in the second period and put the game away in the third. Now, the Red Wings have a chance to take the lead when this series between Original Six rivals shifts to Detroit for Game 3 on Monday.

IF THE Chicago Blackhawks-Detroit Red Wings rivalry is about to undergo a transformation, the Blackhawks want to have the final say. They got the first word. Johnny Oduya and Marcus Kruger scored in the third period, Corey Crawford made 20 saves and the Blackhawks beat the visiting Wings, 4-1, in the opener of their second-round Western Conference playoff series last night. Detroit moves to the Eastern Conference next season. "As happy as we are about going to the Eastern Conference, we are going to be giving up something that's pretty special," Wings forward Justin Abdelkader said.

Bryan Bickell scored in overtime on a two-on-one rush, and the Chicago Blackhawks started the playoffs on a winning note after dominating the regular season, beating the visiting Minnesota Wild, 2-1, on Tuesday night. Corey Crawford settled down after allowing a weak goal in the opening minutes. Marian Hossa also scored, and the Blackhawks took the early lead in this first-round series. Game 2 is Friday at the United Center. Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom was a late scratch because of a leg injury.

COREY CRAWFORD came away with the shutout in this one, not Brian Elliott. Chicago's goalie stopped 30 shots and Bryan Bickell and Marian Hossa scored to lead the visiting Blackhawks to a 2-0 win over the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, ending Elliott's bid for a fourth straight shutout. "I felt good today, but I think the main thing is everyone is playing well," Crawford said after his third shutout of the season. "We need everyone to play well every night and so far this year it's been pretty much that for every game.

CHICAGO - For all the history the Chicago Blackhawks created with their remarkable start this NHL season, it was a relative newcomer and former Flyer, goalie Ray Emery, who played a central role. It's also Emery, 15-1-0 with a 1.90 goals-against average, who is at the top of his game as the Blackhawks, in first place in the Western Conference, gird for the playoffs. On Tuesday, Emery made his third straight start, stopped 20 shots, and earned his third shutout of the season with a 1-0 win over the Minnesota Wild.

In less than two minutes, the Chicago Blackhawks did all the damage they needed to do. And then they just kept scoring. The Blackhawks scored three goals during a span of 1 minute, 39 seconds early in the first period and Brandon Saad and Dave Bolland finished with two goals apiece in Chicago's 7-1 rout of the host Detroit Red Wings on Sunday - Gordie Howe's 85th birthday. Howe was on hand at Joe Louis Arena signing autographs. Ted Lindsay and Alex Delvecchio - Howe's fellow members on the famed "Production Line" - were also in attendance, and the Red Wings wore jerseys with his retired No. 9 during warm-ups.

SAM GAGNER scored two of Edmonton's four goals in the first period and the visiting Oilers beat Chicago, 6-5, on Sunday night, sending the Blackhawks to their second straight loss after their record-breaking, 21-0-3 start. Ryan Whitney and Taylor Hall each had a goal and an assist for Edmonton, which snapped a five-game losing streak. Captain Shawn Horcoff also scored as the Oilers went 3-for-4 on the power play. Chicago set an NHL record by recording at least one point in the first 24 games.