Everything Else

Fearful Symmetry – Kings vs Hawks Preview, Pregame Thread, Empty Resolutions

By Matt McClure 1209 0

centerpiece-king vs oldschool

Game Time: 7:00PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, NBCSN, TSN2, WGN-AM 720
Deeez Nuuuts: The Royal Half, Jewels From The Crown, Battle of California

It’s fitting that the Hawks should close out the calendar year of 2013 against whom they began it on January 19th, when they made a defiant statement shortly after the Kings’ overdue banner ceremony. Since then, the Hawks ripped through the Kings in the Western Conference Final on their way to a banner ceremony of their own. And though the teams tend to take considerably different routes during the regular season, it seems as though they’re once again on a collision course to meet in the spring. But they’ll need to resolve matters on a frigid Chicago night first.

Everything Else

Wolves In Wolves’ Clothing – Kings vs Hawks Preview, Pregame Thread, Eye-Witness Testimony

By Matt McClure 1098 0

centerpiece-king vs oldschool

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 California

In 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

By 1109 0

centerpiece-king vs oldschool

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 California

In 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.

Everything Else

To Another Abyss – Game 3 – Hawks at Kings Preview, Pregame Thread, Script Punch-Up

By Matt McClure 1207 0

AltLogo at centerpiece-king

Game Time: 8:00PM Central
TV/Radio: NBCSN, TSN (Anglo), RDS (Franco), The Loop 97.9 FM
All I Wanted Was A Pepsi: The Royal Half, Jewels From the Crown, Battle of Cali

And now the scene shifts westward with the Hawks taking a 2-0 series lead onto Figueroa Ave. Sunday’s Game 2 loomed large at the time, as the Kings have yet to lose on home ice this post season, and have won 14 straight at Staples. Based on that, this series is still far from over, as it could very well be tied heading into the weekend. Had the Kings taken one on United Center ice, this could very quickly have looked like an imminent 3-1 hole for the second straight series. But that, they say, is why they play the games.

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Storm In My House – Game 2 – Kings vs Hawks Preview, Pregame Thread, Table Read

By Matt McClure 1121 0

centerpiece-king vs AltLogo

Game Time: 7:00PM Central
TV/Radio: NBCSN, CBC (Anglo), RDS (Franco), WGN-AM 720
Spirit In Black: The Royal Half, Jewels From The Crown, Battle of Cali

Thanks to Mick and Keith and their 10th and 11th full blood transfusions between the two of them, the Hawks and Kings will play their second game of the Western Conference Final about 24 hours on the nose after game 1 concluded. Whether or not that gives either team an advantage is debatable, but I’m sure both would have preferred a day off in between.

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The Next Episode – Game 1 – Kings vs Hawks Preview, Pregame Thread, Casting Call

By Matt McClure 1252 0

centerpiece-king vs AltLogo

Game Time: 4:00PM Central
TV/Radio: NBCSN, CBC (Anglo), RDS (Franco), WGN-AM 720, The Loop 97.9FM
Mommy’s Little Monster: The Royal Half, Jewels From The Crown, Battle of Cali

In the next of a series of seemingly preordained matchups in the West, the Kings and Blackhawks will meet for the first time since 1974 in the post season for the right to ignore the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl. Both of these teams have been on similar trajectories after bottoming out in the middle of the previous decade, and already have their names etched in silver recently (as you might have heard). And though this is the first meeting between these iterations of these two teams of consequence, it hardly feels like it will be the last.

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Wolves In Wolves’ Clothing – The LA Kings Special Teams

By Matt McClure 1185 0

For the last two straight seasons, the Stanley Cup champion has been able to emerge with the chalice in spite of the fact that their respective power plays bordered on abominable. In 2011, the Bruins were able to withstand having an only 11.4% conversion rate on the advantage, and last year’s Kings were only marginally better at 12.8%, both historically bad percentages. And unfortunately for the Blackhawks, this year’s Kings don’t appear to be tempting fate by trying the same method that had worked the previous two seasons.

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Wolves In Wolves' Clothing – The LA Kings Special Teams

By 1181 0

For the last two straight seasons, the Stanley Cup champion has been able to emerge with the chalice in spite of the fact that their respective power plays bordered on abominable. In 2011, the Bruins were able to withstand having an only 11.4% conversion rate on the advantage, and last year’s Kings were only marginally better at 12.8%, both historically bad percentages. And unfortunately for the Blackhawks, this year’s Kings don’t appear to be tempting fate by trying the same method that had worked the previous two seasons.

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Morning Links 5/31/13

By Joe DeTolve 1276 0

Everyone is tired: LA Times/Chicago Tribune

Composure is key: Comcast

Western Conference Finals by the numbers: HockeeNight

A “Regular” Dog apparently is a good luck charm: PuckDaddy

A Tender subject: ESPN Chicago

Ready for more moments: Verdi

He is capable: Daily Herald

One day I will sit down and teach myself advanced metrics: Puck Prospectus

While his analysis has gotten better lest we forget his track record:The Hockey Writers

The two league system which must exist:Winnipeg Sun