Tonight: Blackhawks
Seeger feels at home: ESPN CHI
Marquee improvement: CSN
In case you didn’t understand the term “shitshow”: PHT
Speaking of which: AIH
Recent Posts
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Angry At Numbers 12/16
I know Mondays are usually reserved for Sugar Pile, but I feel like doing this today. Maybe I’m just feeling nerdy. Maybe I don’t like to be confined by rules (evidence: Kills and my latest Twitter fight over a DLR game), maybe I like to keep you all guessing. Anyway, let’s get to it.
24.3, 2.0
That’s Jeremy Morin’s Corsi/60 minutes, and penalties drawn per 60 minutes, and both lead the team. Obviously there are caveats here and it all seems silly now that he’s been sent down. But it’s worth discussing how this roster is being shaped. Morin’s rate is propped up by not playing all that much (especially the penalties drawn number), but it’s obvious that when Morin is out there he’s highly active. He is buoyed by playing mostly with Brandon Saad, who has been a possession-monster from the time he stepped on the ice last year. However, neither’s Corsi % change significantly when they’re apart, and hold right around 60%
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Morning Links 12.16.13
Unexpectedly Expected:Cheer The Anthem
Cooling the red hot Kings: Chicago Tribune
The suspension litmus test:The Globe and Mail
I figured “Do you know who I am?” is up next: Tsn
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We Are the Sons of No One – Blackhawks 3, Kings 1
One night after a fairly lethargic outing against one of the league’s weaker outfits, the Hawks came home against the hottest team in the league and wrapped up the outcome within 15 minutes.
The Kings came in not allowing a first period goal in 18 games as well as not allowing more than two goals in that span. That streak is now ovah. Hossa, Versteeg and Sharp all potted goals and that was all the Hawks needed.
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Third Period Thread – Kings vs Hawks
Do you know your place in the big parade? Are you fear and shame?
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Second Period Thread – Kings vs Hawks
You can play with the big boys or you can tell them what to do.
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First Period Thread – Kings vs Hawks
There’s the image of a man who commands a high opinion, but he hides his hatred with a sheepish grin.
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Wolves In Wolves' Clothing – Kings vs Hawks Preview, Pregame Thread, Eye-Witness Testimony
vs 
Game Time: 6:00PM Central
TV/Radio: WGN Ch. 9, WGN-AM 720
Kids Of The Blackhole: The Royal Half, Jewels From The Crown, Battle of CaliforniaIn the six-ish months since last season’s Western Conference Finalists last met, not a lot has changed. Both teams are in the thick of things in a ridiculously competitive and re-aligned western conference, with the Kings performing their usual puttering act through the first half of the season despite excellent underlying possession metrics. However, the men manning the cages tonight are a far cry from what anyone would have envisioned early last June.
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Wolves In Wolves’ Clothing – Kings vs Hawks Preview, Pregame Thread, Eye-Witness Testimony
vs Game Time: 6:00PM Central
TV/Radio: WGN Ch. 9, WGN-AM 720
Kids Of The Blackhole: The Royal Half, Jewels From The Crown, Battle of CaliforniaIn the six-ish months since last season’s Western Conference Finalists last met, not a lot has changed. Both teams are in the thick of things in a ridiculously competitive and re-aligned western conference, with the Kings performing their usual puttering act through the first half of the season despite excellent underlying possession metrics. However, the men manning the cages tonight are a far cry from what anyone would have envisioned early last June.
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The Bear Eats You: Blackhawks 3 – Maple Leafs 7
Box Score
Event Summary
Extra Skater
Shift Charts??This one wasn’t too enjoyable, was it? The Leafs had been in a freefall and their week had them playing some of the top teams in the league in Boston, LA, St. Louis, Chicago and the Pens on Monday. They had lost every game so far coming into tonight. In the first, the Leafs managed some good possession shifts (shockingly) and took advantage of the second penalty from Chicago of the night, a stupid trip in front the net from Shaw. The Hawks would equalize on a power play of their own when a crossing pass from Kane deflected off Phaneuf and snuck in.
In the second, the wheels just came off. The Leafs put 14 shots on net and 4 of them found their way past Raanta, chasing him for the third. We won’t go through all of them on an individual basis since it was disaster and we’ve all get better things to do on this Saturday night. Sam wrote in the preview it would take something unpredictable for the Leafs to pull one out. I’d say 7 goals on 32 shots is pretty unpredictable from a team that averages 2.74 and 27 (third worse in the league). This sucks but lets move on and get ready for the Kings tomorrow.