The Morning After: Brutal Loss For Blackhawks

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Mar 15, 2010 3:00PM

Blackhawks Lose Game, Campbell
It was a brutal Sunday for the Blackhawks. Not only did they lose the game to the Washington Caps 4-3 in overtime, but they may have lost Brain Campbell for the year. With less than eight minutes left in the first period, Caps star Alex Ovechkin checked Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell from behind, sending him hard into the boards.

The hit cost Ovechkin the rest of the game as he was given a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct. But the hit might prove more costly for Campbell, who is done for the year with a broken clavicle and ribs, according to sources. As for the game, the 'Hawks got a pair of Jonathan Toews goals in the first to build a 2-0 lead. The lead stretched to 3-0 after a John Madden tip-in in the second. But even that lead wasn't safe as the 'Hawks suffered a monumental collapse in the third, giving up three goals in a 2:16 stretch, allowing the Caps to tie the game and force overtime where the Caps scored a little over three minutes in to clinch a victory away from the 'Hawks. Antti Niemi made 26 saves in goal for the 'Hawks but also gave up all four goals over the final 20+ minutes of ice time. The 'Hawks will try to regroup as they head out on a three-game West Coast road trip, beginning Wednesday night in Anaheim (9 p.m., WGN).

College Basketball
You've seen the bracket so you know the only area team that got into the Big Dance was Notre Dame, who pulled a No. 6 seed in the South bracket. But there will still be some post-season action for other area teams. Illinois pulled a No. 1 seed on one side of the NIT bracket. They'll be joined by Northwestern, who was given a No. 7 seed on the other side. Check out the entire NIT bracket here [PDF].

Spring Training
The Sox (4-6) scored four in the ninth to play the Reds to a 5-5 tie while the Cubs (8-4) edged the Angels 8-7.