Preview: NHL
Crow-Less:Chicago Tribune
TV Money: TSN
That won’t help attendance in the desert: ESPN
Maple Leaf Projections:TSN
This headline explains so many things: Globe and Mail
And by that I sort of mean that Scott Clemmensen happened. Not that he was truly awful, though I’m sure he’d like goals #3 and #4 back. But we all knew that with the Panthers coming in after playing last night and rolling out their backup, journeyman goalie that the Hawks would only have to be locked in for so long to build a lead they couldn’t possibly punt. They kind of tried to, but only half-assed their cough-up effort (in the same way they half-assed some of their breakouts) and when bothered were able to slip away again.
The night was overshadowed by Corey Crawford’s injury, and then the Vaudevillian display that would have come if Antti Raanta hadn’t gotten up from being run by Jimmy Hayes (marking the first time that Hayes aggressively went to the net at the United Center). Whether it ends up being long-term or not, we’ll just have to wait. But we better hope not.
I haven’t actually bothered to look up the stats… but if memory serves me right, the Hawks tend to actually be pretty damn great when it comes to the second leg of back-to-backs. Like we saw on recent circus trip, when the Hawks should have been on their last breath, they actually ended up playing one of their most complete games.
So coming on the second game in as many days, I almost expected them to come out with their hair on fire and get close to a DLR. It’s just what happens. Only this time, not so much. We’ve seen some sloppy games but this might have been one of the worst we’ve seen for the year. The fact that it came from two of the top teams in the West, and therefore the top of the league, makes it that much more disappointing. If the Hawks shit the bed against the Oilers, we don’t get too upset. They aren’t really going to be a threat. The Ducks though, they could be a problem. As we wrote in the preview, we expected a back and forth exciting game. We didn’t get it. Both teams were garbage and the Ducks won in the silliest part of the game. Moving on…
vs 
Game Time: 7:00PM
TV/Radio: CSN, NHLN-US, WGN-AM 720
Lords of Dogtown: Anaheim Calling, Battle of California
As Sam pointed out earlier today, even two game losing streaks have been a rarity over the last nearly two years for the Blackhawks. Rarer still are the three gamers, with two of them being at home. But just because the odds are against it happening tonight does not mean that tonight doesn’t pose a real challenge on West Madison, this time in the form of the visiting and sometimes mighty Anaheim Ducks.
It’s funny that in previous years when the Blackhawks went out west during the Circus trip and we talked about the Hawks leaving a trail of scorched Earth in their path. Yet after the most successful Circus trip in franchise history, this just doesn’t hold the same gravitas or excitement as those previous trips. Maybe it’s because we all know what waits at the end of the rainbow is the real treasure. Or maybe its because the Hawks are such efficient killers now that the beatings aren’t nearly as sexy as they once were.
Either way, the trip ends with Hawks winning 6 of 7 and actually increasing their lead in the ever-competitive Central Division.
Hawk and Rally: Chicago Tribune
Gamesheet: Blackhawks.Com
Advanced Metrics: Extraskater
Atleast he is self-aware: NJ.com
Arrogance leads to downfall: Globe and Mail
Remember to pace yourself!!!!!!!!!!
at 
Game Time: 9:00PM Central
TV/Radio: WGN Ch. 9, TSN, WGN-AM 720
The Rotten Head of Harvey Hound: Flames Nation, Matchsticks and Gasoline
The dreaded Circus Trip now rounds the turn and begins what will be the final stretch of 7 games away from West Madison, now heading ironically southbound to Calgary. When these two teams last faced off, the Flames walked away from the United Center with their first win in 10 tries. But things have remained predictably bad for Alberta’s other basement dweller.
Week 8 brought 3 more games for the IceHogs with one coming at home against Abbotsford and two coming on the road against Charlotte. Unfortunately—or fortunately depending on how you look at it–for Rockford, they were only able to pick up one win.
The IceHogs had 2 more games this weekend; these were the first two games since the Hawks traded forward Jimmy Hayes and defenseman Dylan Olsen to the Florida Panthers organization on November 14th.
vs
Game Time: 6:00PM Central
TV/Radio: WGN Ch. 9, WGN-AM 720
Pirates of Silicon Valley: Fear The Fin
It’s become somewhat of an annual occurrence over the last 5 or so seasons, where the first meeting of the year between the Blackhawksand Sharks, normally around this time in November, is viewed as a barometer of one another’s success and potential in advancing through the Western Conference. Both have been conference Finalists at least twice in that time, and based on the early returns this season, there’s no reason why it couldn’t happen again for either squad.
