vs 
Game Time: 7:30PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, WGN-AM 720
Carnivorous Vulgaris: Five For Howling
Since the calendar turned to 2015, the Hawks have now gone a sub-par 3-5, which in Conference III has been enough to drop the Hawks tied for third with the Jets and four points back of second place St. Louis. Even if any of the other teams in the division weren’t winning any and every game they played, this would still be an unacceptable record, particularly with the Hawks not playing on home ice until February 9th after tonight. And though the bottom appears to have finally fallen out on Dave Tippett’s Coyotes this season, the Hawks aren’t currently playing well enough to count any game as a given.
Chicago Blackhawks defensive prospect Stephen Johns missed nearly seven weeks of action following a concussion suffered back in Rockford November 26. Johns made his return to the lineup this past weekend for the IceHogs. It was fitting that he came back against the team he last played against.
Johns skated with Klas Dahlbeck Friday night against the Iowa Wild and Saturday in Chicago. The Hogs won both games and Johns showed he hasn’t lost his taste for contact.
Defense optional: Blackhawks
5 things: CSN
It was too good to be true: ESPN Chicago Jordan
Jordan rules?: PD
Kings raise another banner: TSN
Buffalol: PHT
Whenever the Hawks hit a rough patch these days, a big debate rages whether it’s just midseason boredom/malaise/market correction, or genuine flaws being exposed that need addressing. The answer is almost always both, and tonight was a pretty prime example of all of that.
vs 
Game Time: 5:00PM Central
TV/Radio: WGN, WGN-AM 720
Larry Hagman’s Liver: Defending Big D
With even a slight dip in production since the calendar turned to 2015, the Hawks now find themselves situated in third place in the mongoose fight that is Conference III. Fortunately, thanks to nearly a week off, the Hawks now have a game in hand on the second place Blues. That games played ledger will get evened tonight against the visiting Dallas Stars.
I’m going to give it to your straight here. If, some day in the foreseeable future, the Blackhawks suddenly become a bad team who stinks at hockey and fights all the time, I’ll probably end up a terrible meathead fan who constantly fights with people on Twitter. Luckily, today is not that day. While all of social media calls for a lifetime ban from the NHL for Dan Carcillo, I think we have some other things to concern ourselves with.
