2 points are 2 points: Blackhawks
Rolling 7: CSN (autoplay)
They’ve come along way since Alpo et al: Trib
Give it a watch: PHT
Despite this being the final meeting of the season between the Hawks and Predators, I find it highly unlikely this is the last time we see these two teams play each other. Just like the previous three meetings, the game was decided on the slimmest of margins. A 3-0 Preds lead became a 3-3 tie, then a 4-3 Preds lead and finally a 4-4 tie. And what happened in between? Well, that’s kind of why you’re here, no?
vs 
Game Time: 7:30PM
TV/Radio: CSN, SN-1, SNP, WGN-AM 720
Dollywood: On The Forecheck, III Communication
While the tradition of the Boxing Day game at the UC has now been lost to the new collective bargaining agreement, and the Hawks have already played once since the Christmas holiday, tonight’s game still has the the look and feel of a game on the 26th despite being on the 29th. It remains to be seen if the crowd will be as raucous, but with two of the top teams in the league going at it for Conference III supremacy nearing the halfway point of the season, there should be plenty to get fired up for anyway.
As we feared, the odd travel schedule left the Hawks somewhat off their game. It wasn’t the prettiest or cleanest game from either side. Luckily, that side is way worse than this one, and the Hawks didn’t need to pull out the glossy stuff to pretty easily see this out. God I love it when the Avs suck.
Let’s not waste any time…
vs. 
FACEOFF: 8pm
TV/RADIO: CSN, WGN
NAME THEM GEORGE: Mile High Hockey
Once again, the Hawks and Avs will meet the day after Boxing Day, this time reversing venues and playing in The Pop Can in Denver. The Hawks will hope it goes a little better for them than it did the Avs last year, where DLR was called in from the pen in the 2nd period.
I’ve provided the usual stat pages, but this one doesn’t need much analyzing. I feel it would be somewhat callous to blame the Hawks simply not being at the races in the 1st period on everything they’ve been through the past few days, but I don’t think it’s incorrect either. Considering there’s a three day break after this one, and teams rarely get three days off during an NHL season–the All-Star break is pretty much it–combined with the emotional roller coaster of the past four days, the Hawks can be forgiven for just coughing up a hairball tonight. Especially when you have their record over the past month, which is 13-3-1. That’ll do.
