Everything Else

City on Fire: Blackhawks 2, Blues 0

By 1326

Box Score

Event Summary

War on Ice

Natural Stat Trick

It’s hard to remember the last time the Blues had zero push in a divisional game against the Blackhawks in January. Add in the bonus that a regulation win for the Blues would’ve cut the Hawks lead on the Central to two points and you almost expected the play of St. Louis to mirror their piss and vinegar stench.

Instead, after a first period that was heavily tilted towards the Blues and in which Corey Crawford said no, that was pretty much it. The Hawks grabbed the lead late in the second after they dominated possession for the majority of the period and in the third, the Blues never really had much sustained pressure.

So perhaps the Blues are learning to dial it back in the regular season. Or as McClure said, perhaps they’ve learned they’re never getting out of the division or conference with their current roster.

Either way, another one down and now a comfortable six point divisional lead on the Blues after back to back regulation losses. An excellent palette cleanser from the weekend.

Everything Else

The Layover – Blues vs Hawks Preview, Cameo Appearance

By 1307

bluestrumpet_jersey vs evil empire

Game Time: 6:00PM Central
TV/Radio: WGN Ch. 9, NHL Network, TVAS, WGN-AM 720
Army Corps Of Engineers Got It Right: SLGT

After a three game southern mini-road trip, the Hawks return home for a brief one-night stand at the UC before heading back down to Carolina prior to the All Star break. It will also be the Hawks’ last home game for two straight weeks, with four straight away from the west side spanning either side of the break. Their guests for tonight’s one off will be the anthropomorphic carbunkles from West East St. Louis, the Blues.

Everything Else

Another Lonely Night Stare at the TV Screen: Panthers 4, Blackhawks 0

By 1210

Box Score

Event Summary

War on Ice

Natural Stat Trick

Who knew the nightlife in Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg has grown so intense that it could put a bunch of grown men on their ass for two straight days. A night after the Hawks iced 10 forwards and were continuously bailed out by Corey Crawford, they tried playing with 12 forwards this time. This time Scott Darling was in net and he wasn’t in the mood to comply.

This game was so important that the USA Today didn’t even bother to send a photographer so that’s why we’re sans picture today. Things just aren’t the same, I know. Sadly, this does prove the old saying “If a USA Today photographer wasn’t there to document it, did it really happen?” to be false. It did happen.

You’ve waited long enough, let’s get to it.

Everything Else

No Guarantees Or Safe Places – Hawks at Panthers Preview, Snowbird Flight

By 1376

evil empire at panthro panther

Game Time: 6:30PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, WGN-AM 720
Pete The Puma: Litter Box Cats

Now that the winning streak is a thing of the past, halted at 12 games last night in Tampa, the Hawks have to regroup quickly to complete the road leg of the Florida two-step tonight in Sunrise against the Panthers, who were recent owners of a 12 game win streak that vaulted them to the top of their division as well.

Everything Else

When You Come Undone: Hawks 1 – Lightning 2

By 1255

Box Score

Event Summary

War On Ice

This harkened back to some other games. The tenets of was made the Hawks 12-game win streak were not in evidence tonight. And while it was only a one-goal game, this was as badly as the Hawks have been outplayed in a long while. Other teams had done it for a period or two during this streak, but for a whole game you’d have to go back to the loss to the Canes. The Bolts are basically the realized version of what the Canes would like to be. A high-tempo team with a couple puck-moving d-men, a band of quick, skilled forwards who play with speed at both ends. The Hawks were nowhere near tonight.

What had gotten them to this point? Let’s go through the checklist:

Everything Else

Dancing At The Zombie Zoo: Hawks at Lightning Preview/Early Bird Special

By 1291

250px-Ozymandias vs. Metallica Ride The Lightning

PUCK DROP: 6:30pm Central

TV/RADIO: CSN, WGN Radio

CRASH BEFORE MY EYES: Raw Charge

Lightning Stats

Lightning War On Ice

The Hawks return to the scene of the latest crime, where they took Games 1 and 5 of last season’s Final. This would have been circled on the Bolts’ calendar before the season even started. It’s doubly so with this being the two hottest teams in the league, as Tampa has won six in a row to match the back half of the Hawks’ 12-gamer. It had been something of a train wreck of a season for the Lightning until this streak. But the winning hasn’t stopped the drama.

Everything Else

Wow, Patrick Sharp Must’ve Been So Unmovable: Hawks acquire Sekac

By 1718

Interesting move this morning, as the Hawks traded CatButt to Anaheim for Jiri Sekac.

There isn’t much to tell about Sekac. I know that Habs fans last season were not pleased that the Canadiens gave up on him so quickly and he looked to be another sacrificed at Michel Therrien’s altar of “GRITSANDPAPERFAAAAART.” But Sekac never quite fit in with the Ducks either, and you sort of start to wonder how many more chances he has left.

He’s got good wheels and decent skill, so he would seem a perfect fit with the Hawks. But then he would have with the Ducks too, though maybe they couldn’t look beyond his size which isn’t much at a mere 6-0 and 185. Sekac put up seven goals and 16 points in 50 games in Montreal last year, and a further seven points in 19 games with the Ducks. He’s certainly capable of providing secondary scoring. He was carrying a 54% share so far this season, +2.9% of the Ducks’ team rate.

While everyone was falling over themselves about CatButt in October, anyone who had watched him play before this year (so basically only a few fans and no Hawks media) knew water would seek its own level. For the most part he’d lost his bowling ball game over the past couple months, though there was something of a revival the past couple games with Dr. Rasmussen and Panik At The Disco. But he is what he is.

Everything Else

A Simple Plan: Hawks 4 – Preds 1

By 1510

Box Score

Event Summary

War On Ice

Sorry for the delayed wrap. My insomnia got the best of me again and I was going to write this last night before my forehead nearly landed on the laptop.

I don’t think there’s much to draw from this one other than how the two goalies are playing. It was a pretty even 1st period, with the Preds certainly having the upper hand in the first 10 minutes and the Hawks the last 10. The Hawks benefitted from a good bounce to get their goal, but you see how the Preds can get caught trying to play at their skin-peeling pace. 1-0 is certainly no huge advantage.

And then Rinne gives up that goal to Panik, and he might have been screened by Barret Jenkem and his terrible gap but it was not a goal that should have gone in. Sure, the Preds quickly got back within one but the way Crawford is playing you’re just not going to make up two goals on him right now. The Preds didn’t, and once Panarin found Kane for a breakaway this one was basically over. And Rinne wasn’t bad for sure, but he’s giving up the goal he can’t right now. Crow isn’t.

Let’s to it: