Everything Else

Let’s Talk About Names, Baby

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Even in a serious post I’m not going to miss a chance to quote Salt N’ Pepa. I’m sure you understand.

There’s been an issue at play for a while now, one that I’ve either ignored or scoffed at. Neither of those approaches is correct, and that’s what I aim to correct here now. The furor over Evander Kane these past couple days, probably something worthy of its own discussion sometime, has once again highlighted the problem of racism in hockey and its coverage. And not for the first time this season, the discussion has turned to the name and logo of this blog and publication. It’s time we have that discussion.

Everything Else

Let’s Get To The Bottom

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No, that’s not a plea to suddenly tank for Eichel or McDavid (I’m totally putting together a Seabrook & Sharp trade for that in June. HA!). But it’s probably time to try and dig a little deeper to see what is plaguing the Hawks of late.

Before we go any farther, it’s important to note this isn’t anything we haven’t seen before. You only have to go back one year. On Jan. 1, 2014 the Hawks were 28-7-7. They went 6-3-7 to the corresponding date of today one year ago, and actually didn’t get too much better from there. They went 12-11-1 the rest of the way. That wasn’t the first time the Hawks roared through December and then kind of just floated through the rest of the season. They’re just not going to put an 82-game sprint together, even though that’s what they’re coach seems hellbent on wanting.

But we’re here, and we’ve got nothing better to do.

Everything Else

I Don’t Understand How A Heart Is A Spade: Hawks 0 – Sha-arks 2

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I’m relieved I waited until this afternoon to wrap this one up. The anger last night, slightly booze-fueled, was more than it should have been. That’s what happens when you toss away the first game on the trip yourself, because when you just lose one with nothing majorly wrong and you’re suddenly 1-2 on a tough trip things get amplified.

Most of my anger last night was directed at Joakim Nordstrom which is simply wrong and useless. But it felt good at the time I guess. It’s a symptom of perhaps a larger problem, but we’ll get to that in a minute.

There was a lot of angst directed at the Hawks’ sloppiness and that’s not to be dismissed, but going back over the game this morning there’s a pretty good reason why the Hawks had a tough time finding each other and it wasn’t just because it was the second game in two nights, or looking forward to Vegas.

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Got Me A Radio Ain’t Got No Speakers: Hawks at Ducks Preview/Pregame Thread/Remote Control Marathon

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 vs. draft_lens1960363module9273829photo_1209145008daffy-duck-donald-duck

FACEOFF: 9pm Central

TV/RADIO: WGN for both here in the 606, various Sportsnets for those in the Provinces

GOTTA FIND A ROOM BUT RUNNIN’ OUTTA MONEY: Anaheim Calling, Battle of California

The Hawks continue their California swing tonight with the first half of a back-to-back in Orange County and then up to Silicon Valley, which is weird because you’d think you’d schedule the back-to-back like they did in November with the two Southern California teams but WHATEVER. At least the Hawks will catch the Ducks on the second half of their back-to-back in the same arenas. Have I said “back-to-back” enough? You want some more? No? Ok then.

Everything Else

It’s Hard To Leave When You Can’t Find The Door: Hawks 2 – Pens 2 (Hawks win paper football)

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Box Score

Event Summary

War On Ice

Natural Stat Trick

So I guess closing with a flourish isn’t on the cards, huh?

The Hawks got the two points, and that’s probably all that matters with the Hawks in something of a rut this month (though I don’t know if all teams would consider a 5-5 record this month a rut, but such are the standards round these parts). But against a Pens team stripped of Letang, Malkin, Hornqvist and Maatta, you’d like something a little better than pinned back for at least the last 30 of the game, coughing up a two-goal lead that really should have been the platform to close this one out easily. That’s how it’s going right now.

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Halfway Point: Chicago’s Shot Suppression

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Chicago has been known as a puck possession team for quite a while now and rightly so. Over the last several seasons, they have proven to be one of the better and at times the best puck possession team in the league. Possession is important for obvious reasons. When you have the puck more, you have more chances to score. Possession metrics are also important for less obvious reasons. Shot suppression is very important to team success. I’ve used the graph below before, but it’s worth adding again here.

07-14 FF FA SCF LABEL

Everything Else

How Can You Have Any Pudding If You Don’t Eat Your Meat?: Avs 2 – Hawks 0

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Box Score

Event Summary

War On Ice

Natural Stat Trick

I would guess that a lot of times, you sign on here after a game expect us to reveal some nuanced view of the game or point out something you may have missed that led to the result or to at least dig deeper than what you’ll get in the mainstream. Tonight is not one of those nights.

This one’s on me and McClure. McClure in the preview and me on the front page of the Indian didn’t spare any words shitting on Varlamov, and then pointing out that probably set us up for a 45-save shutout. Well, reverse the numbers there and that’s what we got. Pat and Eddie can bitch about that bitch Annette Frontpresence all they want, but when you toss 54 shots on net you’re not going to have someone in front for all of them. I’m sure when the shot charts to this one are available, the Hawks will have as many from in close as they have in any other game.

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It’s Hard To Explain: Blackhawks 5 – Stars 4 (OT)

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Box Score
Event Summary
War On Ice

You’ll have to help me out here. I’m not actually sure if this was a fantastic back and forth game played by two teams that very likely could meet up in the playoffs… or if this was a somewhat sloppy affair full of bad turnovers, odd goaltending and plenty of odd-man breaks by two teams that very likely could meet up in the playoffs.

As is now their wont to do – the Hawks let the opposing team take the first goal of the night as Saad was stripped of the puck just past the blue line. Seguin would have a shot kicked away by Crawford… unfortunately that kick went right to Jamie Benn who put it into a wide open net. From there – we got a ping pong match of a game. Dallas took the lead 4 times and gave it up 4 times. Of course, that also stat also would look bad for the Hawks if it wasn’t for Keith’s beauty of a pass to Sharp in OT. It’s also why I’m leaning towards calling this an exciting yet sloppy game.

Lets hash it out more after the jump

Everything Else

You’d Prefer An Astronaut – Stars vs Hawks, Preview, Pregame Thread, Lock De-Icing

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220px-Minnesota_North_Stars_Logo_1967-1974 vs oldschool

Game Time: 7:00PM Central
TV/Radio: NBCSN, WGN-AM 720
The Great Southern Trendkill: Defending Big D

Now that the pomp and circumstance of the Winter Classic is behind everyone, the Hawks can get back to the matter of actually pursuing titles that matter, such as the division, conference, and engravings in sterling silver. That begins tonight with the Stars visiting the snowy west side for their second of three trips this season.

Everything Else

2015’s First Roadwatch And Project Rescue

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Just a couple things to announce on this Friday that feels like a Monday but isn’t. We haven’t done one of these in a while so it’s time. A week from today, January 9th, we’re crawling out to A.J. Hudsons, 3801 N. Ashland here in Chicago. It’s for the game against the Oilers, so it should be an enjoyable enough event as we won’t really have to pay that much attention to the game after the 1st period, one should think. And yes, Hudson’s does double as my Liverpool FC bar in the mornings so you can some see where I cry often enough. And Trumer Pils is the beer special all month. If you’ve had it you know.

Second, our friends at Project Rescue Chicago are having their annual Freezin’ For A Reason Fundraiser for their rescue shelter. As you know, it is blog policy here that dogs are far more enjoyable than people, and we want to help. Please go to their event page and donate to help the cause. These are the people who trained my nutcase dog PJ, who’ll be recognizable to any of you who read the Indian regularly from the editorial page. So please help them out, they’re good folks.