Hawks head to the swingling: CSN Chicago (auto play)
Slow down buddy, now I’m remember why I don’t miss him on the beat: ESPN Chicago
The Craw gets some love: Sporting News
As does Bicks: ESPN
Bolly went overboard: TSN
StanBo still looking forward: Trib
To those who laughed when I said I wanted the Pens: NHL
Do we really need all these games?: SI
Or the ability to see: Sportsnet
Feel free to make “shank” and “redemption” puns in the comments: Puck Daddy
Nice little break today from the playoffs with some other news happening. So let’s look at it.
The Hawks today signed Antti Raanta, the MVP of the Finnish Elite League season and playoffs. Raanta was pursued by a lot of NHL teams, with Minnesota, Edmonton, and Columbus mentioned as the hottest after him.
Raanta’s numbers this year in Finland are pretty eye-popping. He has a .943 save-percentage in the regular season, and .955 in the playoffs. His goals-against was 1.85 in the season and then a ridiculous 1.33 in the playoffs. Raanta then backstopped Finland in the World Championships, and he was excellent there as well with a save-percentage .928.
“You gotta hear this one song, it’ll change your life, I swear”
Yes, perhaps the most ridiculous line from one of the more self-indulgently obnoxious movies of recent memory (Garden State) was about the band of today’s beard- lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter James Mercer of The Shins. And though the statement is hyperbole uttered by a kiddie-pool depth character in the movie, the sentiment certainly isn’t far off base, as the consistently bearded Mercer has been putting out some of this generation’s finest pop for over a decade.
Fishwraps: Trib Times Herald LAT
So much for that: Puck Daddy
I wonder if this will get the meatballs off his back: CSN (auto play)
Speaking of which the goalie report card: TSN
Quit playing with your dingy: PHT
Hawks are a well tuned machine right now: ESPN
LeBrun’s not the only evil empire writer who thinks so: ESPN Chicago
If my life is ever this sad, I give you permission to kill me: Deadspin
In all the visions I’ve had of this series in my own mind, not one of them contained Jonathan Quick getting pulled from a game. Hasn’t happened in the playoffs since 2010 (that’s nice symmetry), and though I don’t think it marks some sort of landmark or sea change more than just a quirky note, it does feel good. But then again, this is why The Fifth Feather is simply a manly man among just men, because he said the floodgates would open at some point if the Hawks maintained this kind of pressure. He knows so much, and is so handsome. He really doesn’t belong on this planet.
It’s a funny old game though, because it was the reverse of Game 1’s 1st period in that it ended with a false scoreline. While the Hawks were up 2-0, they really didn’t deserve to be based on balance of play. Just like the Kings had no business being up 1-0 after 20 in Game 1. But thanks to a couple handy saves from Crow, some wayward finishing from the Kings, and utter ruthlessness from the Hawks, they were already halfway home. To me, a two goal lead is nearing the horizon for this Kings team (especially without Richards), and a three-goal one requires a team from NASA. They just don’t generate that much.
Once again, the Hawks speed didn’t have an answer from L.A., and now they face all the questions going into Game 3.
Bullets after the jump.
If you’ve got a vision, then I don’t want to see. If you’ve got a notion, Don’t waste it on me. If you’ve got the answer, then I don’t want to know.
Lean on me while I lean on you, if we destroy each other we might save a life or two. A little sun, a little shine separates us both by forever and a day.
Look at me while I look at you, seeing eye to eye we can never do. You try to tell me what is right, I may not know a lot but I know one thing…
vs 
Game Time: 7:00PM Central
TV/Radio: NBCSN, CBC (Anglo), RDS (Franco), WGN-AM 720
Spirit In Black: The Royal Half, Jewels From The Crown, Battle of Cali
Thanks to Mick and Keith and their 10th and 11th full blood transfusions between the two of them, the Hawks and Kings will play their second game of the Western Conference Final about 24 hours on the nose after game 1 concluded. Whether or not that gives either team an advantage is debatable, but I’m sure both would have preferred a day off in between.
Every so often, there are times when a writer/director/producer can’t help but make something incredible. Everything they touch pretty much turns out great. Right now, Joss Whedon is one of those persons. Whedon got his first break when his screenplay for Buffy The Vampire Slayer was turned into a movie. However, the film wasn’t exactly what Whedon had in mind as the studio turned it far more into a broad comedy than the subversive twist on the horror movie concept Whedon intended. Not fully dismayed by the results, Whedon has gone on to a career full of critically acclaimed work that never rose above cult status before recently really breaking into the mainstream.
