We figured with the weather getting warmer we should probably air ourselves out a bit. Gettin’ kinda rank and all. So Thursday night, we’ll be at A.J. Hudson’s (Ashland and Grace) for the Hawks-Blues game. They’ll have a Niklas Hjalmarsson signed jersey to raffle off, I’ll have some of our shirts, and other shenanigans. With HockeeNight having their usual rabble-rouse to close the season on Saturday, you could have yourself quite the weekend. Hope to see you there.
Box Score
Event Summary
War On Ice
Yes, this is frustrating. It’s made even moreso because the of the Blues factor. It always has been and always will be. But there are still bigger things at stake considering what actually took place tonight, so let the river rats enjoy the two points for now.
Hey all, it’s a quiet Saturday night in Hawks-ville so allow me. In case you don’t know, in line with our gameday hockey program I also write a digital weekly about the Cubs called The Ivy Drip. It comes out every Monday or Tuesday during the baseball season, and our season preview issue is done. And you can have it for free. If you like it, please consider signing up for the season. It’s only $35.
April 5th Ivy Drip (Season Preview)
Sign up for a season subscription here:
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Game Time: 7:30PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, WGN-AM 720
I Was A Teenage Anarchist: Nucks Misconduct, Canucks Army
The mantra around these parts has been that for the most part the Hawks regular season is largely immaterial until the calendar shifts to April. And now that it has, the Hawks now find themselves still in a highly actionable position within the context of the Western Conference playoff picture all things considered. There are six key games left, five of which are against teams currently situated within the West’s top 8, starting tonight with a familiar acquaintance in Vancouver.
And just like that, all is right in the Hawks world. For those among us obsessed with the 60 minute effort, you could make a case that tonight was your night. The Hawks, without their most dynamic offensive player, fired 40 shots on net against the team with the best shot suppression in the league.
The Hawks never trailed in this one and if it weren’t for a pretty awful goal let in by LEMONT NATIVE Scott Darling, he could have had back to back shutouts.
Let’s move right along.
I’m almost positive I’ve used this title before. If not, then there’s no lack of opportunity that we could have over the past 7 or 8 years. Just when things look as bleak as possible, the Hawks somehow find a way to get the job done. If we’ve learned anything from this Hawks’ core, it’s going to take a very special effort to drive the nail through their coffin.
Tonight, the Jets were not nearly good enough to do it even as the Hawks didn’t get one bounce through the first 30 minutes.
Let’s go.
I’ll give you the normal intro to a wrap here, but it won’t be the normal wrap. And before I go any farther, I know there are some who think I’m always negative for the sake of it. That’s fine, I like to think I’m just realistic. And what I’m about to write I’ve only done so once in the seven years we’ve been doing this. It was also after a late-season loss at home to a Jackets team the Hawks had no business losing to. And they laughed that off and the prospect that they could miss the playoffs, except for Brian Campbell, until they did actually miss the playoffs in 2011 and had a Minnesota Wild team save them at the last possible moment. So don’t think I take it lightly.
The 2014-2015 Chicago Blackhawks are finished.
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FACEOFF: 7pm Central
TV/RADIO: NBCSN, SPORTSNET UP THERE, WGN RADIO 720
MY BLUE HEAVEN: Blue Shirt Banter, The Hockey Rodent
After a satisfying win last night, the Hawks get about five minutes to enjoy it before they focus on the task at hand tonight. Because the New York Rangers on Broadway are going to require the A-game if the Hawks want to continue collecting points that they’re going to need.
This is such a strange team at the moment. The Hawks were certainly the better team in the 1st period as the Islanders basically treated getting out of their zone like Joe Walsh treated getting out of a party and Michal Neuvirth handed them two goals. From there, the game pivoted on the five minute major stemming from possibly Andrew Shaw’s dumbest moment in the NHL (and that’s saying something). The Hawks killed off a major with only one shot against, and you knew from there the Hawks would find another goal and basically end this as a contest. Hossa was able to one-time a very rolling puck into the top corner and… ballgame.
What makes them so strange is they still gave up 39 shots. While they never looked truly in danger, the Islanders without two of their best possession drivers were able to press and press. Was it because the Hawks were up early and could just play Cover-2 for the last 30? Was it because they were defensively deficient? Honestly, I have no idea.
What I do know is that Corey Crawford is the best Hawk right now, and it isn’t even close. Let’s get to it:
The Two Obs
-We knew that it was only a matter of time before the first line popped off. It only took Kris Versteeg not being there to turn pucks over at the blue line for it to get there. They were a combined +37 in Corsi with score adjusted. While Fifth Feather rightly wondered if there was something wrong with Toews the past couple games, when faced with another premier center tonight Toews swallowed Tavares whole and spit out only most of his bones. Give him something to prove, and Toews will get into you up to the elbow.
-Crawford created some of his own problems tonight with some slightly wonky rebound control, but obviously made up for it on his own. Name a goalie playing better right now not named Devan Dubnyk. You can’t do it.
-I really have enjoyed watching this Islanders team all year, and not just because their jerseys are the balls. There’s no bigger Nick Leddy fan than me, but when this game was still in the balance they looked completely lost without him and no team should count on him that much. The turnovers in their own zone felt like a bit.
-Once again, Kimmo Timonen’s possession numbers are ugly, But I see a slow arc up, though I’ll admit it might be because I want to. Timonen wants to play the game the Hawks need. That is, high pressure at both blue lines. Pinching to keep attacks going in the offensive zone, not giving up the Hawks’ line easily in the hopes of turning around play quickly. It’s his natural instinct. Right now, he just doesn’t always get there in time to do so, though that ratio is starting to lean in the right direction. I hope it gets there.
-Doesn’t Kris Versteeg look better when he’s playing 4th liners? When he’s not turning pucks over at his own line, that is.
-I think it’s somewhat odd that Antoine Vermette hasn’t been used on any special teams. During a five minute kill, the Hawks stuck to Kruger, Saad, Hossa, and Toews, and only Desjardins and Versteeg got a shift during it. Vermette has been killing penalties his whole career. Then again, when things have gone this smoothly with what Q knows, I get it.
-We worry and are paranoid, but after Shaw was ejected the right wing to take most of his shifts was Teuvo Teravainen. Q loves this kid, he’s not even hiding it any more, and we should trust his handling of him from now on.
-The Hawks sit four points back of the Preds, but have three games in hand. It’s gone from loosely in their hands to tightly. That’s the nearest target. Those games in hand are in April, but tomorrow is a good start. The Hawks have been piss poor (by their standards) on the 2nd of back-to-backs this season, and tomorrow sees them taking on the best the East has to offer. We’ll know where the recovery is when it’s over, methinks.
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Game Time: 7:30PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, WGN-AM 720
The Adventures of Young Billy Joel: Lighthouse Hockey
Ahh St. Patrick’s Day. That wonderful holiday where everyone’s a little bit Irish except for the Jig Asshole and the Dropkick Murphys (both of whom are guaranteed to make an appearance tonight at the UC), and white people are allowed to drunkenly piss and vomit and fight with impunity all over major metropolitan across the country. So bust out the Chinese knockoff green Hawks jersey and order an Irish Car Bomb the way a native born Irishman would, and get on down to West Madison for the Hawks and the (not emerald) Isle.
