Faxes from Uncle Dale

Recent Posts

  • Angry At Numbers

    Angry At Numbers

    Thought it was a good time to do an off-day Angry At Numbers.

    40.9, 59.1

    These are Marcus Kruger’s Corsi percentages in Game 1 and Game 2. I’m not sure they actually signify anything at all, other than in Game 1 Kruger was dealing with Mikko Koivu for most of it and in Game 2 that switched to Mikael Granlund. I assume this will be something Minnesota will notice and they will try and get Koivu out against him again in Game 3. Though this could be a result of the Hawks sitting back for a lot of Game 1 and no so much in the second game. Just a juxtaposition. Kruger has also struggled at the dot this series, winning 30% in Game 1 and only 45% in Game 2. Considering the amount of times he starts shifts in the defensive zone, it’s a small worry.

    1.50, .951

    Corey Crawford’s goals-against average and save-percentage during this six game win streak. Also, the Hawks hadn’t won as many as six in a row since the end of November.

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  • Beard Of The Day – May 5th – Demián Bichir

    demian bichirAs a country, the United States is pretty terrible for the manner in which it “celebrates” Cinco De Mayo, which originated as a holiday to commemorate Mexico’s defeat of the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862. So rather than obnoxiously pounding Coronas (which suck anyway, Pacifico or even Tecate are better) and donning sombreros, we’ll pay tribute in our own way to one of Mexico’s true national treasures, actor Demián Bichir and his immaculate beard.

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  • Morning Links 5/5/14

    4-1: Blackhawks

    Wild stars dimming: PHT

    Let’s just label every page on his calendar April: CSN

    2 for 20: ESPN Chicago

    Uh, that’s a, that’s no good: PD

  • Somebody To Shove: Wild 1 – Hawks 4 (Hawks Lead 2-0)

    Somebody To Shove: Wild 1 – Hawks 4 (Hawks Lead 2-0)

    Box Score

    Event Summary

    Extra Skater

    I doubt you’ll see a more h0-hum game in the second round of the playoffs than this afternoon’s. It’s clear that the Wild haven’t completely caught the attention of the Hawks’ faithful yet, and they haven’t caused the Hawks to think that they have to pull out the full arsenal. At least not yet. And the Hawks still lead this series 2-0 heading back to St. Paul.

    The Hawks exerted a lot of control in the 1st period, without using it to strangle the Wild. They held them to two shots while only managed seven themselves, though they the attempts were 12-4. While the 2nd shows the Wild got 13 shots, half of those were piled in during a power play and almost all of them came on one goalmouth scramble. The 2nd wasn’t really any looser than the 1st, and came capped off with a Brandon Saad laster into the top corner right after a power play after the Wild didn’t fully deal with a cross-ice pass from Bickell.

    While the Hawks weren’t as aggressive in the 3rd, it didn’t feel like they were completely turtling. The Wild got one goal off a really well-worked rush from Erik Haula and Cody McCormick (what?) but after that the Hawks soaked up whatever pressure there was and waited for a chance to seal it. They got two. Hossa hit the crossbar. Bickell didn’t. After the Wild goal they only managed six more shot attempts and it was pretty easily seen out.

    Shall we? We shall.

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  • Wild At Hawks – Game 2 – Third Period Thread

    Then the sun disintegrates
    Between a wall of clouds
    I summer where I winter at
    No one is allowed there

  • Wild At Hawks – Game 2 – Second Period Thread

    Getting drunk on the beach
    Or playing in a band
    And getting out of school
    Meant getting out of hand

  • Wild At Hawks – Game 2 – First Period Thread

    I guess I better think up a way to spend my time
    Just when I’m ready to sit inside, it’s summertime
    Should I go swimming or get a friend to hang around
    It’s back to summer, it’s back to basics, hang around

  • Oh No Lets Go: Wild At Blackhawks – Game 2 – Preview/Pre-Game Thread/Netflix Marathon

    wildthings vs oldschool

    Game Time: 2:00PM Central
    TV/Radio: NBC, RDS, TSN/WGN720
    Hootenanny: Hockey Wilderness

    Game 1 was far from perfect. There was yet another two goal lead that vanished and some glaring holes were once again visible. The Hawks are capable of pulling away from a team in a hurry (just watch whenever Kaner decides to freak the fuck out) but they’ve also shown they are more than willing to let other teams right back into games. I would be more concerned with this trait if it didn’t seem to be a league-wide thing this year. It seems every game has had its share of blown two-goal leads. Not sure of the reason for it but at least it makes for some pretty exciting, heart attack inducing hockey.

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  • Beard Of The Day – May 4th – Vincent Van Gogh

    self-portrait-1889-1.jpg!Blog

     

    Perhaps the best known of all post-Impresionalist painters, Van Gogh was born in the Netherlands and quickly developed a love for drawing. He wouldn’t actually being to paint until his late 20’s. Once he began though, he became a prolific painter, producing more than a 2,000 pieces in just over a decade.

    Like many artists, Van Gogh struggled mightily in life and at the time of his death, very few people were familiar with his work. His work was began was dark earth tones like in The Potato Eaters but a move to the south of France would influence him to use the bright vivid colors he would become best known for. Van Gogh also knew he had a pretty solid beard and would use himself for subject matter often.

  • Look Me In the Eye and Tell Me, Are You Satisfied? Game 1: Blackhawks 5, Wild 2

    Look Me In the Eye and Tell Me, Are You Satisfied? Game 1: Blackhawks 5, Wild 2

    Extra Skater

    Box Score

    Event Summary

    I have no scientific research to back this up, but I don’t recall a team that ever took 6 games to wrap up a series then proceeded to have nearly a week off in the playoffs. But that’s what the Blackhawks were given after their arduous series with the St. Louis Blues. Coming into Friday’s Game 1, the tried and true narrative of Rust vs. Rest was on full display for all to see.

    The conclusion drawn: Meh, who knows.

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