The Chicago Blackhawks gave fans their money's worth at last night's home opener, edging the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in a dramatic nine-round shoot-out win. The Blackhawks got on the board first thanks to a power play goal from Cam Barker. The Avalanche, however, bounced back in the second period with the next two goals to take a 2-1 edge. From there, the two teams exchanged goals as a total of five goals were scored in the second, ending with the teams tied at 3-3 (the 'Hawks got goals from Andrew Ladd and Duncan Keith). After a scoreless third period and overtime period, the teams moved to a shoot-out. The two teams extended the shoot-out to a ninth frame, the longest shoot-out in Blackhawks' history, when a goal by Andrew Ladd gave the 'Hawks a 4-3 shoot-out edge and a 4-3 win. Cristobal Huet stopped 16 of 19 shots he faced in regulation and overtime and came through with some key saves in the shoot-out, stopping 6 of 9 shots. The Blackhawks next welcome Calgary to town on Monday (7 p.m., VS). more ›

Kramer and Newman couldn't make it work, but crooks in Ohio and Michigan can. Michigan police officers have busted a crime ring that transports and sells out-of-state, non-redeemable cans and turns them in for that sweet, sweet 10 cent payoff. The 13 crooks were arrested with $500,000 in cash. That's...a lot of cans. The 67-count warrant was a part of Operation Can Scam that busted two smuggling rings based in Ohio and Michigan. Investigators allege... more ›

All ready for the CTA charley-foxtrot tomorrow, Chicago? Us neither. more ›

The Big Ten Men's Basketball Conference Tournament rolls into town on Thursday for what will be the last one hosted in Chicago until at least 2012. On Thursday, the tournament will kick off its seventh run at the United Center. Our friends in Indianapolis, not satisfied with their Super Bowl trophy earned by beating the Chicago Bears, have also outbid Chicago to host the annual Big Ten tournament from 2008 through 2012. The tournament kicks... more ›

In a week where Wisconsin earned its first ever #1 ranking for Men's Basketball and then quickly tossed it aside, losing to the Spartans of Michigan State, the next night it is the Illini who are getting all the press. more ›

The Big Ten Season wraps up this weekend, and after Saturday's 100th meeting between Norhtwestern and Illinois, one team will have earned its second Big Ten win of the season and moved out of the basement of the Big Ten. The two teams meet on Saturday in Evanston at noon. more ›

We’ve always considered the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana a trusted source for some good, old-fashioned college partying fun. However, CollegeHumor.com seems to disagree. A new “power ranking” issued yesterday by the site, popular with largely male undergrads, provided an index of the 50 most “fun” universities across the nation. U. of I. managed to pull in a semi-disappointing 18th place, apparently upsetting some students. As quoted in the Sun-Times, Jason Webber, a vice president of... more ›