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It Wasn't A Pretty Picture – Anaheim's Special Teams And The Rest

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Time to clean up our preview of the Hawks’ Western Conference Final opponent the Anaheim Ducks.

Special Teams

Now this is where things could go a bit sideways for the Hawks, and clearly the biggest flashing red light. Just like the Hawks did last round, the Hawks will face the team heading into it with the playoffs’ hottest power play, as the Ducks are clicking at 31% in two rounds. Both Winnipeg and Calgary had middling kills during the season, but it’s not like the Hawks’ can claim much else from about March on.

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California Uber Alles – Conference Final vs. Anaheim Preview: The Crease And The Blue Line

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The Conference Final is where it feels like the warm up acts are off and the headliner has taken the stage It’s serious now, maybe because you’re halfway home and each successive win brings you closer to the end than the beginning (which I guess is always true but now you’re over the line). There’s only one game per night, usually, so you have the attention of the whole hockey world throughout the series. Even though this is the fifth time in the last seven years the Hawks have gotten this far, there’s still a tinge or an uptick in the excitement when they do. And for the fourth straight trip, they’ll be heading back to Cali.

What will they find when they get there? Today we start to find out…

Everything Else

Got Me A Radio Ain't Got No Speakers: Hawks at Ducks Preview/Pregame Thread/Remote Control Marathon

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 vs. draft_lens1960363module9273829photo_1209145008daffy-duck-donald-duck

FACEOFF: 9pm Central

TV/RADIO: WGN for both here in the 606, various Sportsnets for those in the Provinces

GOTTA FIND A ROOM BUT RUNNIN’ OUTTA MONEY: Anaheim Calling, Battle of California

The Hawks continue their California swing tonight with the first half of a back-to-back in Orange County and then up to Silicon Valley, which is weird because you’d think you’d schedule the back-to-back like they did in November with the two Southern California teams but WHATEVER. At least the Hawks will catch the Ducks on the second half of their back-to-back in the same arenas. Have I said “back-to-back” enough? You want some more? No? Ok then.

Everything Else

Got Me A Radio Ain’t Got No Speakers: Hawks at Ducks Preview/Pregame Thread/Remote Control Marathon

By 1134 0

 vs. draft_lens1960363module9273829photo_1209145008daffy-duck-donald-duck

FACEOFF: 9pm Central

TV/RADIO: WGN for both here in the 606, various Sportsnets for those in the Provinces

GOTTA FIND A ROOM BUT RUNNIN’ OUTTA MONEY: Anaheim Calling, Battle of California

The Hawks continue their California swing tonight with the first half of a back-to-back in Orange County and then up to Silicon Valley, which is weird because you’d think you’d schedule the back-to-back like they did in November with the two Southern California teams but WHATEVER. At least the Hawks will catch the Ducks on the second half of their back-to-back in the same arenas. Have I said “back-to-back” enough? You want some more? No? Ok then.

Everything Else

California Uber Alles: Hawks at Ducks Preview/Pregame Thread/Family Spa Day

By 1146 0

Hawk Wrestler vs. howard_the_duck

FACEOFF: 3pm Central

TV/RADIO: WGN for both

CONSEQUENCES SCHMONSEQUENCES AS LONG AS I’M RICH: Anaheim Calling, Battle of California

After taking a break from it last season, the Hawks return to their usual Black Friday matinee at one of the biggest hives of scum and villainy in the world, Honda Center in Orange County (at least for me personally). In the past, these games have been something of a looney bin. The last two times it happened, in ’12 and ’11, the Hawks managed goal-explosions in the 3rd period to win. That would be all right this time, as the Ducks remain something of a bogey team for the Hawks, beating them only twice in the past seven meetings.

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Someone's Gonna Pay: Ducks 1 – Hawks 0

By 1119 0

Box Score

Event Summary

War On Ice

It seems like a recurring dream, where the Hawks fling rubber like monkey feces at an opposing goalie for 60 straight minutes, and yet can’t seem to make any twine ripple. Yet this one feels like the first time a goalie really had to channel Houdini to get out of some of the jams the Hawks put him in, as John Gibson was excellent. Throw in a couple posts rang as well, and you get yet another frustrating night. Still, there’s hardly much to complain about, as the Hawks were just a shade better than the Ducks everywhere but in goal (and they weren’t much worse there either).

Everything Else

Someone’s Gonna Pay: Ducks 1 – Hawks 0

By 1209 0

Box Score

Event Summary

War On Ice

It seems like a recurring dream, where the Hawks fling rubber like monkey feces at an opposing goalie for 60 straight minutes, and yet can’t seem to make any twine ripple. Yet this one feels like the first time a goalie really had to channel Houdini to get out of some of the jams the Hawks put him in, as John Gibson was excellent. Throw in a couple posts rang as well, and you get yet another frustrating night. Still, there’s hardly much to complain about, as the Hawks were just a shade better than the Ducks everywhere but in goal (and they weren’t much worse there either).

Everything Else

Sick Of California Songs: Kings-Ducks Game 7 Primer

By 1215 0

King Jerry Lawler vs. draft_lens1960363module9273829photo_1209145008daffy-duck-donald-duck

FACEOFF: 8pm Central

TV: NBCSN

WHY DID I MOVE TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA?: The Royal Half, Battle of Cali, Anaheim Calling

We’ll give this one the full treatment as the winner will be the Hawks’ final step in the Western conference.

The first thing to know about tonight’s decider is that Bruce Boudreau’s record in Game 7s at home is not impressive. In fact, it’s total sewage. In 2008 Boudreau’s Caps, which were just a barely mediocre team that got hot enough to win a terrible division, lost to the Flyers in overtime (cue a Cristobal Huet stick-breaking tantrum). In 2009, the Caps made it to the second round to face the Penguins that had the NHL at its most tumescent, and they even got a Game 7 out of it. And at Verizon Center Semyon Varlamov melted down and this game was over before you could finish your first beer. The following year, the Caps fired 50+ shots at Jaro Halak, from everywhere and anywhere and in such a panicked fashion it felt like the hockey version of a teenage boy trying to bang an exotic dancer, so frantic and panicked that it was. Again, the Caps went home. They’ve never recovered from that loss as an organization. But Gabby brought this act out west with him, with the Ducks barfing up last year’s first round decider to Babcock’s Wings. So yeah, there’s some history here.

Everything Else

Confirmation Bias: Blackhawks 2 – Ducks 0

By Matthew Killion 1360 0

Box Score
Event Summary
Extra Skater

There’s something about this team. Even when they’re not very good (the last few weeks) they can still manage to outplay other teams seemingly at will. Few of us would believe that the Hawks are playing at their highest level right now and we’ve got plenty to complain about.. and even if we don’t, we’ll at least make some shit up.. but they still have somehow won 8 out of 10 possible points so far on the road trip with only a single game remaining before the break.

Everything Else

Someone Gonna Step To You, Snoop Dog?: Hawks at Ducks Preview/Pregame Thread/Running Out Of Salt

By Sam Fels 1263 0

Hawk Wrestler vs. howard_the_duck

FACEOFF: 9pm Central

TV/RADIO: WGN for both

CAN ANYONE UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS DUCK IS SAYING?: Anaheim Calling, Battle of Cali

WHERE WE’LL BE: The Globe Pub, Irving and Damen

It’s almost here now, the Olympic Break. The Hawks only have two road games left before adjourning to different tropical climes (including Sochi) for a couple of weeks. But these are not games where they can keep the bus running, as tonight sees the top two Western teams go at it and Friday the Hawks will deal with a Coyotes team scrapping for the last playoff spot in the West. Any loss of focus will see the Hawks swiftly cut down.