Everything Else

Moving Like A Tortoise Full Of Rigor Mortis: Blackhawks 1 – Wild 2

By Matthew Killion 1444 0

Box Score
Event Summary
Extra Skater

With only 31.2 seconds left on the clock, Patrick Kane fired a puck over the shoulder of Kuemper. It was the first and only time the Hawks found the back of the net tonight and was also just about the only thing that you can put down as a positive for the night. With Kane’s goal, his first Dec 28th, the Hawks avoided being shut out for the first time since a loss to the Kings on Feb 25th back in 2012.

Funny that Sam’s opening paragraph of the preview today was filled with such guarded optimisim (“they might not need top gear or anything resembling it to get past a crumbling Minnesota team”) because nothing resembling top gear was even approached until a last minute flurry to save their ass. The Hawks took lazy stupid penalties, couldn’t be bothered to adapt their plan of attack and couldn’t get a second chance to save their lives.

And in the end, it still has all the stink of a mid-January game that no one will remember in a few weeks after the Olympic hullaballoo dies down. If the Hawks continue to play like this, the rest of the season is going to be a long maddening stretch… but there’s no reason to think it’s anything more than a blip as the Hawks look forward to the ride home for their last game at the UC until March 4th.

Everything Else

Play For Today: Bruins At Blackhawks – Preview/Pre-Game Thread/Bloody Mary Bar

By Matthew Killion 1153 0

Bruins_Eastern_Conference  @ oldschool

Game Time: 11:30AM Central. Wait… that can’t be right, can it?
TV/Radio: NBC or NHLN-CA/WGN720
Still Smarting: Days Of Y’Orr, Stanley Cup of Chowder

Despite the whiskey and beer haze, the memories of June 24th are still fresh in my mind as I hope they are in yours. It doesn’t hurt to go back and watch this video every few weeks like I find myself doing when I need a smile (probably should turn down your speakers). That win was in way so much more fun because of the polar opposite types of endings – a come from behind knockout punch against a subtle confusing delayed celebration. Either way, it was a special night to remember no matter how many brain cells I killed.

You’d hope it remains the same for the players too. Sure there are subtractions and additions on both benches but for the most part, the cores have remained the same on each side and the bewilderment had to have turned to disappointment and anger on the Boston side. Though the games were entertaining and physical, it lacked the sideshow drama and ill-will that built up against the series like we saw in Philly (Chris Pronger).

So at a completely unnatural time for hockey, we’ll get to see not only the always entertaining Original 6 match up, but the a Stanley Cup re-match that also features 3 of the last 4 winners of the chalice. Get yer coffee and bacon ready.

Everything Else

We Comb Our Hair Like Maurice Richard: Blackhawks 1 – Canadiens 2 (OT)

By Matthew Killion 1180 0

Box Score
Event Summary
Extra Skater

Flat, bored, slow, disinterested… whatever you want to call it, the Hawks simply weren’t in this one pretty much from the national anthems (and I really love hearing “Oh, Canada” sung in French). Taking two back-to-back penalties for tripping Daniel Briere leading to pretty much a full four minutes short handed throws off the entire game, especially since Q had hit the blender to try and spark a team that has hit a slump in the last few games. Instead of settling in with their new teammates, they were running around on the kill and saw the Habs outshoot the Hawks 10-7 in the first.

Things didn’t improve in the later frames as the Hawks gave up 12 shots in each frame without breaking double digits for themselves. This wastes a pretty phenomenal effort from Crawford as he returned to his hometown and stood on his head. It’s not terribly often that you’ll see the losing goalie get a higher star than the winner in a low scoring game.

Everything Else

Like A Doll’s Eyes: Sharks 2 – Blackhawks 2 (Sharks Win Dance Marathon)

By Matthew Killion 1266 0

Box Score
Event Summary
Extra Skater

For the fourth time in a row, the Blackhawks have dropped a game that goes all the way to a shootout. If that really upsets you, sorry. I still just can’t get too worked up about it. The only detriment to this game is that it ruins an otherwise solid performance from Crawford. In the second game of his return to the team, Crow put up a 40 save performance but wasn’t able to stop either shooter in the skills competition. So it goes on this frigid night.

Everything Else

Freezin For A Reason – Raising Money To Help Project Rescue

By Matthew Killion 1451 0

imageEvery once in a while, we like to try to do something good through this site. It seems more often than not, it involves me doing something physically challenging or painful. This time is no different.

If you’ve read the actual Committed Indian program or checked our twitter feed. You’ve probably seen us talking about Project Rescue.  Project Rescue is a great non-profit working to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome abandoned dogs in the Chicago area and beyond. And if you didn’t know this, the TOS are all huge dog nerds… not sure about Fifth Feather, I feel like he may be more of a cat guy. The picture above is myself and my own rescue dog Jackson, who I’ve had for close to 7 and a half years now. I’m always looking for ways to help rescue organizations so when I saw Project Rescue was running their annual fundraiser Freezin For A Reason, I thought it was a great way to get involved.

The long story short version (or TL;DR, in the parlance of our times) – I try and raise money, I jump in Lake Michigan next Saturday, I can’t feel my arms for a few hours, you laugh at me, this organization gets more money to help dogs in need. If you’ve got the means and the desire, you can help me raise money at my fundraising page. Any little bit will help. I’ll post a recap after the event once I regain feeling in my extremities. Thanks in advance!

 

Everything Else

And Here Come The Pretzels: Blackhawks 5 – Devils 3

By Matthew Killion 1252 0

Box Score
Event Summary
Extra Skater

This kind of explosion in the third period is exactly what makes this team so much damn fun to watch. While there were chances on both sides of the ice in the first, it remained a pretty even and quiet game. There were shifts where both teams threatened but neither goalie or defense was going to give anything up. So after the first remained scoreless with relatively few shots and the second period ended tied at one it seemed like it could end up being a “next goal wins” scenario. Then the third started and the goals flooded in 3 of them in about 4 minutes. It was a blink and you’ll miss it scene. When the Hawks can smell blood in the water, they can usually capitalize. It’s just where they left off last year when they scored those two goals in 17 seconds. It doesn’t happen every game (like most games against the Blues this year unfortunately) but the Hawks can make good teams look very silly and they can make mediocre teams look worse. While the Devils were able to claw their way back into this one. After Hossa’s wrister you could easily have put it in the books.

Everything Else

Gonna Raise Hell: Blackhawks At Blues – Preview/Pre-Game Thread/Sock Hop

By Matthew Killion 1173 0

 oldschool  @  bluestrumpet_jersey

Game Time: 7:00PM Central
TV/Radio: WGN/WGN-AM 720
Don’t Go There, Tis A Silly Place: St. Louis Game Time

Although the Hawks have dropped both games against the Blues this year, the games have actually been pretty even affairs. The first was a loss in a last minute collapse and about a week later it took a shootout to determine a winner. Either one could likely have gone either way, a bad pinch from #7 or one extra deke determined who got 4 points. Now the Hawks return to St. Louis for the first time since early October in the middle leg of an intense three game swing for themselves.