Kane officially cleared: BHTV
Richards too: ESPN Chicago
Really?: CSN
Hawks feeling good: NHL
Mapping the West: TSN
Probably not a good sign: SI
Cap magic: PHT
Category: Everything Else
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The Best Bad Idea We Have – Nashville Predators Playoff Preview: Goalie And Defense
Well, it’s time to get in up to the elbow on everything yellow that comes with the three stars of Tennessee. We’re going to name it that because there were simply no good matchups for the Hawks to find. Had they even won the division that would still mean Minnesota, otherwise known as the West’s best team since January. Or it could have meant the Jets, a team with three wins at the United Center this season and perhaps will have the hardest arena to play in anywhere in these playoffs. The Blues? Probably on paper (which doesn’t include what’s in between their ears) the most solid team out there. So yeah, no good solutions.
So while the Predators are far from anything resembling easy, and have just as good of a chance of winning this series as the Hawks do, it’s probably the one you’d choose for least painful. So let’s get to it. As the Preds are built from the net out, that’s how we’ll comb it.
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High On The Hog: Goaltending Makes The Difference
The Rockford IceHogs have been at or near the top of the AHL’s Western Conference throughout the season due in a large part to their play between the pipes. Just how good have the Hogs been in net this season? It has been a season for the ages in terms of proficiency in the crease.
Through 73 games this season, Rockford has surrendered 173 goals. That total is good for a tie for third in the AHL. Along with Utica and Grand Rapids, the IceHogs are tops in the Western Conference.
So who is manning the net for Rockford in the playoffs? Head coach Ted Dent doesn’t know. At least, he didn’t…
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Who’s Your John Druce?
As is tradition around these parts before the playoffs, we ask you Who Is Your John Druce?
For those who don’t know, John Druce was a middling third-liner, only cracking 20 goals once in his career in the late 80s and early 90s. However, in the ’90 playoffs he exploded for 14 goals in 15 games, becoming the term for a player who shockingly becomes a playoff hero.
So who is it for this year? I hesitate to put Bryan Bickell on this list who has made something of a career of being a Baby Druce the past four years. Brandon Saad is already a star, so he can’t be on the list. But we’ll do our best. Who’s your John Druce?
Who’s Your John Druce? -
Who's Your John Druce?
As is tradition around these parts before the playoffs, we ask you Who Is Your John Druce?
For those who don’t know, John Druce was a middling third-liner, only cracking 20 goals once in his career in the late 80s and early 90s. However, in the ’90 playoffs he exploded for 14 goals in 15 games, becoming the term for a player who shockingly becomes a playoff hero.
So who is it for this year? I hesitate to put Bryan Bickell on this list who has made something of a career of being a Baby Druce the past four years. Brandon Saad is already a star, so he can’t be on the list. But we’ll do our best. Who’s your John Druce?
Who’s Your John Druce? -
Well, We’re Waiting – Avs 3, Hawks 2
Box Score
Event Summary
War On IceThat game happened and it didn’t matter. Michael Paliotta was mostly fine. It’ll be Nashville later on in the week.
Also, the Hawks somehow managed to allow the fewest goals in the league for the season for the second time in three years. Enjoy that fact while pissing your pants being scared of Pekka Rinne.
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Well, We're Waiting – Avs 3, Hawks 2
Box Score
Event Summary
War On IceThat game happened and it didn’t matter. Michael Paliotta was mostly fine. It’ll be Nashville later on in the week.
Also, the Hawks somehow managed to allow the fewest goals in the league for the season for the second time in three years. Enjoy that fact while pissing your pants being scared of Pekka Rinne.
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One More Special Message To Go: Hawks at Avs Preview/Gamethread/Hornet’s Nest Burning
vs. 
FACEOFF: 8pm
TV/RADIO: WGN for both
ALTITUDE AND ATTITUDE: Mile High Hockey
I’m writing this as the Wild-Blues goes on and fully admit by the time you get to read this the result of that game will have rendered this one meaningless. If the Wild don’t claim both points, the Hawks will open at Nashville next week for Game 1, and I guess you could argue that’s what they’ve been angling for anyway. Or not. I don’t know. It’s probably the best of a bad bunch of matchups.