Everything Else

We’re Going Out On That Dirty Boulevard – CI Roadwatch for Hawks-Blues at Bottom Lounge

By Sam Fels 1150 0

We’re coming out again. You know what that means.

Kick off your weekend early this Thursday night by joining up upstairs at Bottom Lounge for what is shaping up to be a pretty massive Hawks-Blues tilt. Bottom Lounge is at 1375 w. Lake, and the new Morgan St. stop on the Pink line won’t leave you very far from it at all. So knock off work and head on over to get ready to watch the Hawks topple the humanized boogers that are the Blues (credit to Slaky for that one).

Oh, and the pinball is free on Thursdays at BL, so your intermission entertainment is also taken care of.

Everything Else

History Now, Footnote Later: Sharks 1 – Hawks 2

By Sam Fels 1282 0

So there it is. The Hawks officially have the longest points-streak (or unbeaten streak) to start a season in NHL history. This one isn’t even tainted by the NHL’s new-ish format (mostly), as the Hawks haven’t lost in OT even. Under the old system — y’know, one that made sense — the Hawks would just have three ties to go with their 14 wins.

It’s cool to say now. I guess I’m glad it happened. But in a few months, it’ll either be a nugget that goes along with something we’ll remember much more fondly and distinctly, or it’ll be a marker for what could and probably should have been. It’s a record that is designed to be buried by what comes after it. After all, can you name who has the most wins to start an MLB season? You can’t. It’s the ’82 Braves and ’87 Brewers. And I had to look that up, because neither went on to win anything.

Everything Else

Nice Catch, Hayes: Canucks 3 – Hawks 3 (Hawks win nerf basketball)

By Sam Fels 1417 0

Boy, there’s a lot to get to here, so let’s just jump into the bullets, shall we?

-Let’s get to the most pressing issue. Why the fuck can’t the United Center spell, “Lightning?” It has a fucking T you dummards!

Ok, now that’s out of the way…

-Where to start? We’ve spent some time bemoaning the Hawks habit of sitting on leads, or doing their best to blow them, or straight up blowing them. It didn’t feel like that tonight, and I recognize how stupid that sentence sounds now. But the Hawks weren’t under siege until a Rozsival penalty, where both Toews and Saad went to block a shot and didn’t. Then it’s just a one goal game and all it takes is a puck squirting out of a board battle and one shot.

The Hawks did manage 13 3rd period shots. They pressed, they forechecked. Where they got themselves in trouble was straight up declining two 3rd period power plays that could have ended it. Instead of stepping on the throat, the Hawks played with their food. That was a problem last year and has been this year, where the Hawks just use a 3rd period PP with a lead to run the clock instead of cutting the jugular. They should stop that.

Everything Else

Cleaned And Gutted: Sharks 1 – Hawks 4

By Sam Fels 1471 0

You know how I get. It’s not the blowouts or the last second wins that get me excited about the long term prospects of this team. Though I do enjoy the exhilaration of those, or the immediate release of jubilation, it’s the games where you exhibit a superiority that portend to what you might do in the future. At least in my eyes it is.

Tonight was one of those nights. Though the Sharks are probably no longer a conference power, they are not a conference also-ran either. And the Hawks simply outclassed them tonight. Out. Classed. It’s a term we haven’t been able to use very much the past two seasons, if at all. But outclassing means that at no point did you think San Jose could get the best of the Hawks with everything being equal. Every time the Hawks threw out a line or unit, it was better than what they faced. And tonight, it was.

Sure, this Sharks team is in a tailspin, but they never looked a threat. And the Hawks coasted. Let’s see why.

Everything Else

They’ve Got Prospects, They’re Bonafide. What’re You?

By Sam Fels 1806 0

Time for our weekly jaunt around the world to see what the Hawks system is looking like.

You know, let’s go in reverse this time. We’ll start in Europe. Teuvo Teravainen didn’t scratch in two games for Jokerit. He’s at 12-13-25 in 33 games.

I can’t seem to figure out where Maxim Shalunov is these days, so I’m just going to not care until he does or doesn’t make it to Rockford next year.

Joe Gleason and Nick Mattson were a combined +5, and Mattson had a goal and an assist in one of the two games for North Dakota against UNO.

Paul Phillips was a -3 in two games for Denver

Everything Else

That’s The Way That One Went: Ducks 2 – Hawks 2 (Ducks win fart-lighting contest)

By Sam Fels 1671 0

Sometimes, you tie.

This is my point with shootouts. Tonight was probably as even as you get, with both teams carrying some play and each benefiting for being harmed by a couple bounces here and there. But because we have to flip a coin to see who wins, the Hawks don’t get as many points as the Ducks. That’s how that goes.

The big point will be the Hawks power play, and that’s a valid one. Aside from Leddy’s goal, the Hawks barely threatened on the rest. And the gremlins from last year are creeping into it. Right now, it has about as much movement as a goth dance party, and that has to stop. It also wouldn’t hurt to try and create off the rush more than it is. Just because it’s a power play doesn’t mean you have to set up a system if something else is there.

Everything Else

Atop The Sugar Pile – 2/11

By Sam Fels 1211 0

Yep, it’s back. And won’t this one be fun? Let’s kick this pig!

The Dizzying Highs

Samoans Do The Humpty Hump – There’s little I can add to what Patrick Kane is doing. There are few sights in hockey more exciting than when Kaner is feeling it and unafraid to try anything. Literally anything could happen. It’s complete anarchy. Spin-o-rama pass right on the tape through three defenders? Sure, why not? Dance two or three checkers into a fucking hole? Check. Egregious turnover in own zone? Might happen! Only Tomas Vanek’s insane game in Boston is keeping Kane from atop the charts in points and goals, and good for him for being honest about wanting to win the scoring title. Just like when Derrek Rose admitted he wanted to win MVP, and then went ahead and did it. They both know that if they accomplish these individual goals, it will be good for the team.