Faxes from Uncle Dale

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  • Stale Leftovers – Hurricanes 2, Hawks 1

    Stale Leftovers – Hurricanes 2, Hawks 1

    Box Score
    Event Summary
    War on Ice

    For the second straight game, the Hawks were damn near shut out by a team who had played the night before after having one or more days off themselves. They were outplayed, and none of the scoring chances came when anything in the game was in question. They made a struggling goaltender look positively heroic. They looked slow, old, and stupid. This is what happens to a one-line team when that one line isn’t scoring and half of the defensemen on the ice arguably should not even be in the NHL. This dislikeable group isn’t doing a goddamn thing as presently constituted. What a waste of fucking time.

  • Hurricanrana: Canes at Hawks Preview/Belt-Loosening

    Hurricane Carter vs, 250px-Ozymandias

    PUCK DROP: 6pm Central

    TV/RADIO: WGN for both

    HERE COMES THE STORY: Canes Country

    The Hawks come out of the Christmas break, a day after most teams, with a pretty soft landing in catching the Carolina Hurricanes on the second of a back-to-back. They’ll be fully healthy as well, with Marian Hossa coming back from the auto-body shop to buff the dents out of his cyborg exterior and will suit up tonight.

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  • Weather Changes Moods: Stars 4, Blackhawks 0

    Weather Changes Moods: Stars 4, Blackhawks 0

    Box Score

    Event Summary

    War on Ice

    Natural Stat Trick

    After all the important games the Blackhawks have played over the seven seasons, it’s increasingly harder to put much significance on regular season games. Tonight’s game in Dallas was a little different. Not only were the Hawks getting their first look at the Central Division leading Stars but also their first look at Patrick Sharp and Johnny Oduya in the green and white.

    In fact, the only regular season game that had a slightly similar feel since the first Cup was hoisted was when the Hawks went down to Atlanta in 2010-2011 when they played Andrew Ladd, Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Sopel and Ben Eager for the first time.

    So you had a feeling both teams would be slightly more engaged than usual. And they were.

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  • I’m Contributing To The System, The Break Down Scheme: Hawks at Stars Preview/Stocking Stuffer

    250px-Ozymandias vs. Bowie Starman

    PUCK DROP: 7:30pm Central

    TV/RADIO: CSN, WGN Radio

    THEY’VE GOT A WALL INSIDE THEIR HEAD: Defending Big D

    Stars Stats

    Stars War On Ice

    Here it comes.

    The storylines are going to drip off this one, more so that most regular season games. First, you have the Hawks getting their first look at the West’s best so far, the Dallas Stars. They will certainly have had this one circled in the DFW area. Second, the first regular season reunion between the Hawks, Patrick Sharp, and Johnny Oduya. Third, you have two of the best lines in hockey, the one of Seguin-Benn-Guest Star (Get it?) and the SuperPAK line for the Hawks. It certainly has a lot going for it for a game still in the first half of the season.

    (And none of it will keep me from going to see Star Wars tonight, but that’s not why you called).

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  • Morning Links 12.22.2015

    So wait, the sky isn’t falling? USA Today

    Reunited and it may not feel good:CSN

    He says that now:DMN

    This would help:Blackhawk Up

    Artemi not happy:LGH

  • High On The Hog: Fighting Fading In Rockford?

    High On The Hog: Fighting Fading In Rockford?

    The Rockford IceHogs have had their share of brawlers in the franchise’s eight-plus seasons as the Hawks AHL affiliate. As professional hockey has seen fighting on the decline, however, the Hogs have followed suit.

    Jake Dowell took on Joel Edmundsen in Rockford’s loss to Chicago Saturday night. It was the 17th fighting major assessed to the IceHogs, who picked up three of four points this weekend to stay on top of the Central Division, in 28 games this season. It’s also the second-lowest total for this stage of a season for the franchise.

    This got me to thinking; at its current pace, how would Rockford wind up compared to past seasons? Which IceHogs gloves have hit the ice most often? How often do the Hogs scrap, and how do they fare in games when they dance?

    If these questions have been keeping you up at night, here’s some food for thought. If you detest fighting and don’t want to know about the dark side of the IceHogs, tough luck. You’ll have to close your eyes until you scroll to the recaps.

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  • Morning Links 12.21.2015

    Captain Clutch:CSN

    I hate this phrase:NHL

    Better than a vault:NO

    Big day for a fellow Bohemian:NJ

    All teams want for Christmas:USA Today

  • Won’t You Ride My White Horse?: Sharks 3 – Hawks 3 (Hawks Win Sketchfest)

    Won’t You Ride My White Horse?: Sharks 3 – Hawks 3 (Hawks Win Sketchfest)

    Box Score

    Event Summary

    War On Ice

    Natural Stat Trick

    They’re certainly racking up the goalie wins. After a very even first period that ended a deserved 2-2, and a quite simply dull 2nd period that ever so slowly turned to the Sharks, capped off by Pavelski’s goal where their top line got to run around the merry-go-round that is the Hawks’ 3rd pairing, Corey Crawford held his team in the 3rd period where they were outshot 11-5, out-attempted 21-10, and basically simply outplayed. But thanks to Crow, they had time for Shaw to make Paul Martin look like a clown for the second time in the game, forcing both teams into the bull-riding show where one bad change let Kane and Toews in. That basically only ever has one ending.

    The performances this weekend, and for most of the season, haven’t matched the results. But in the Suicide Squad Central Division the Hawks won’t care because they’ll need all the points they can get. There will be time enough to improve the roster and hence the performances, and to have it on a higher platform would be beneficial.

    On to it.
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  • Ashtray Monument – Sharks vs Hawks Preview, Series-A VC Funding

    salsa shark vs evil empire

    Game Time: 6:00PM
    TV/Radio: CSN, WGN-AM 720
    Steve Jobs Was A Irretrievable Piece of Shit: Fear The Fin

    Twenty-seven hours (give or take with time zone changes) after whatever the hell that was yesterday afternoon in Buffalo, the Hawks have turned back around for a home game tonight against the San Jose Sharks and whatever it is they’re trying to accomplish.

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  • Rat Tailed Jimmy is a Second Hand Hood: Blackhawks 2, Sabres 2 (Hawks win tickle fight 1-0)

    Rat Tailed Jimmy is a Second Hand Hood: Blackhawks 2, Sabres 2 (Hawks win tickle fight 1-0)

    Box Score

    Event Summary

    War on Ice

    Natural Stat Trick

    Ah, yes. The old Saturday matinee. Much like the Thursday Night NFL matchup, you never really know what you’re going to get. In this afternoon’s matchup, it was a 56 minute snoozefest where even the mouthpieces of the Blackhawks brand (the broadcast booth) took turns saying how boring the game was.

    Once Ryan O’Reilly scored his obligatory goal against the Hawks with less than 4 minutes in regulation, it seemed like the pace of play was a little more focused. The Hawks drew three straight penalties and then Patrick Kane scored his obligatory goal in Buffalo.

    It’s almost like we’ve seen all this before. (more…)