Will Blues keep Blackhawks fans out?
OK, let’s see if this works.
On Wednesday, the Blackhawks pay their first visit to St. Louis, where over the summer the Blues instituted a ticket policy designed to keep Hawks fans out of the Scottrade Center.
Fans with a Chicago-area ZIP code weren’t allowed to buy single-game tickets for Hawks games. If you wanted a ticket to see the Hawks, you needed to buy either a full or partial season-ticket package.
It’s a Wednesday and not a Saturday, a night when Hawks fans are known to pack rival buildings, so the full effect of the policy might not be seen.
“I guess it’s almost flattering to our fans, I would say,” said winger Brandon Bollig, who happens to be a native of the St. Louis area. “It’s kind of funny that would happen. It’s no secret we have a really big fan base that follows us everywhere and they’re pretty crazy.
“I don’t know how our fans feel about it, but I think it’s flattering that they want to keep them out that badly.”
The Hawks play in St. Louis only twice, the next time being Saturday, Dec. 28. That will be the big test whether the Blues’ cheesy gimmick works.
The Nashville Predators are the other team that has a policy in place to keep Hawks fans out of their building.
Learning on the job:Rookie winger Joakim Nordstrom has been in the ice for 2 of the 4 power-play goals allowed by the Hawks in two games, but coach Joel Quenneville isn#146;t blaming the new guy.Quenneville said it#146;s a case of learning the ropes as Nordstrom goes along.#147;Whether it#146;s him or anybody, you don#146;t want to be scored on,#148; Quenneville said. #147;With him it#146;s a learning process of how we want to move together and what#146;s expected of him. We expect him to learn and get better every game.#148;The Hawks let the Capitals score 3 power-play goals on opening night before surrendering 1 to Tampa Bay.#147;It was tough to measure last game; they got a fortunate bounce and it was our net,#148; Quenneville said. #147;We#146;ll try to get it right. That#146;s something we expect to be a big part of our team. You win games when you get the job done in those areas.#147;We#146;ve had a slow start in that area, but I still like our overall team game. The PK is an area we want to get some confidence in and take away that hesitation.#148;Power up:The Hawks are 2-for-9 on the power play in their two games and on the uptick, according to Joel Quenneville.#147;I liked our power play,#148; he said. #147;I thought it was even better the second game. I know we scored a funny goal, but at the same time I thought we were doing a lot more effective things as far as motion, movement, different looks and more of a shot process. I think that opened things up.#148;Bryan Bickell says it#146;s still early to be in a panic over the power play.#147;We#146;ve tinkered with a couple things from last year,#148; he said. #147;I didn#146;t play much on the power play last year, so it#146;s a chance for me to move in front. We just need to play with confidence and go from there.#148;