Everything Else

Everybody Had To Pay And Pay: Hawks at Wild Preview/Pregame Thread/Shiva For Lou

By Sam Fels 1128 0

Hawk Wrestler vs. EW_Ygritte_promo_shoot_a

FACEOFF: 7pm Central

TV/RADIO: CSN, WGN Radio 720

BEYOND THE WALL: Hockey Wilderness

Ah, the old divisional back-to-back. Back before a lot of you became fans (no judgement, honestly), this used to be a staple of the hockey season. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, it felt like the Hawks and Leafs did this on Saturday and Sunday nights at least 15 times a season. That’s why those Norris Division games turned into such bar brawls, because these guys got so sick of each other. Not sure we’re there yet with the Wild.

Everything Else

Kneel Down Ye Sinners To Streetwise Religion: Wild 5 – Hawks 3

By Sam Fels 1168 0

I’m going to attempt this at this hour because I basically want to have nothing to do tomorrow. I think it’s apt, because a lot of Hawks played the game tonight in the same fashion. I find it funny that Joel Quenneville bitched so much about the effort against St. Louis, when tonight is a game he could completely lose it over and I really wouldn’t have a problem with it. Let’s see if we can’t suss it out.

Everything Else

Where Have All The Good (3rd Period) Times Gone? Or Have They?

By Sam Fels 1582 0

Last night added to the theme that the Hawks are having serious 3rd period woes. They once again coughed up a two-goal lead to a team they shouldn’t be coughing up a two-goal lead too, and needed the shootout to bail them out again. Some have begun to really worry, while some have brushed it off as just October kinks and natural hiccups as the Hawks slowly move through the gears early in the year. But I wanted to go through these so-called collapses and see if we can’t get to the nuts and bolts and find out if it’s a trend or something more unlucky or detailed than that.

Let’s throw out the opener against the Caps, as that was more due to the lethal Washington power play (which is looking more and more like the only time they care). Essentially, we’re talking about home to Tampa, at St. Louis, at Carolina, and last night. Now, four games doesn’t really signal a trend totally, but it’s what we’ve got.

Everything Else

Sunshine, Sweet Love My Labor: Hawks 2 – Panthers 2 (Hawks Win Clog Dancing Competition)

By Sam Fels 1152 0

Looks like the South Florida sun got to them. Or maybe it was the moms preventing them from hitting South Beach. Whatever it was, it was kind of a sleepy effort from the Hawks, though they were in control for most of it. Once again, the Hawks moseyed out to a two-goal lead which put the game on the precipice. But once again, they didn’t quite push it over the edge, which allowed a bounce and/or a mistake to let the opposition tie the game. From there the Hawks coasted to a shootout, where Patrick Sharp discovered the Panthers didn’t have any video on his move in Carolina to end it.

Yet another October two points. Let’s move on.

Everything Else

That’s America’s Wang: Hawks at Panthers Preview/Pregame Thread/Bone Fishing Charter

By Sam Fels 1304 0

AltLogo_medium vs. sexpanther_web

FACEOFF: 6:30pm Central
TV/RADIO: CSN, WGN Radio 720am
CAT SCRATCH FEVER: Litter Box Cats, Panther Parkway

There probably are few Hawks fans who aren’t a little pissy that the Hawks do the Florida swing in October instead of January or February when we could really use it. Thankfully (not thankfully), the temps here have dropped quickly and thoroughly enough to make us all want to go to Florida now. Well, not actually. Nothing makes me want to go to Florida. That place is batshit crazy. This is why you should follow the twitter feed @FloridaMan. Then you’ll know.

Everything Else

Atop The Sugar Pile 10/21

By Sam Fels 1400 0

That time again. Put the week that was in a tidy little bow. Or wrap the box that we’re putting the week that was in a tidy little bow. Well, not the actual box, just a ribbon turned into a bow on top of it. Whatever, you get it.

Let’s do it.

The Dizzying Highs

Brandon Pirri – Yeah, I’m totally going to forward my agenda here. But three points in two games is a football in the groin. Pirri’s game certainly has its flaws. You can see him thinking instead of reacting in the defensive zone. His skating, while improved, is balky when he needs to turn from offense to defense or vice versa. He gets very wide when doing that.

But there are clear pluses too, and it’s weird that when the coaches are complaining about lack of offense and yet here’s a player who provides that. I’m sure Patrick Sharp looked longingly at that no-look through the legs pass off the boards that Pirri made to Nordstrom and wondered what he might do with such a thing.

I don’t think Pirri is a long-term answer. I don’t even know if he’s a short-term one. But I know it’s worth a look. Play him with Sharp and Hossa, who’ll flatten out some of his defensive problems. How bad could it actually be?

Everything Else

Dead Leafs On The Dirty Ground: Leafs 1 – Hawks 3

By Sam Fels 1260 0

There is a certain satisfaction in this matchup and coming out clearly on the better end of it–though the talent gap played a huge part. But here you have the possession-conscious Hawks and the possession-dismissive Leafs, and look what happened. The Hawks pretty much rolled them, even though it was a tie game for about half the occasion. It’s like a vision of where the sport was and where it is and where it’s going. Or maybe I’m just feeling like reading too deeply into things, because fuck me this Commodore Perry IPA is good.

After a pretty nondescript 1st period, the Hawks slowly exerted more and more authoritah’ over proceedings and eventually choked the Leafs out in a Million Dollar Dream. Oh sure, there were a couple moments in the 3rd, but not the onslaught the Hawks had been seeing at times this season (a malady that did affect them early last year as well, but was covered up by OT and shootout wins instead of losses).

Let’s get to bulletin’!