Everything Else

Looking For Ol’ Sukie Jones: Hawks at Flames Preview, Pregame Thread, Rugby Meeting

By Matthew Killion 1150 0

@  http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120522234126/mugen/images/1/16/TorchLee.gif

Game Time: 9:00PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN down here, CBC up there/ WGN-AM 720
Burn Motherfucker Burn: Flames Nation

The past few years haven’t been kind to the Flames. For a time, it seemed the Flames were only just finding a center for Iginla away from getting to the promised land. Then calls to start tearing the team apart (and usually rebuild around Iggy.. sometimes trade him) became more frequent. Sadly, the Flames are never quite bad enough to really justify a total re-build but certainly never good enough to actually have anyone take them seriously.

This year, things may finally be different though – They’ve got just a single win in 5 games and were most recently seen getting kicked in the dick in only 3 minutes by an Avalanche team that isn’t really scaring anyone. Could this year finally be the one where the Flames pull the plug and trade their captain? Does anyone still want him? Does everyone realize Iggy’s full name is Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla?

Oh wait, of course it isn’t because their GM, Jay Feaster, puts detergent in his oatmeal everyday.

Everything Else

Screaming at a wall: Blackhawks 1 – Canucks 1 (Canucks Win Pepsi Challenge)

By Matthew Killion 1164 0

Ahh yes, the late game wrap the next morning. What a fun time these things are. The Blackhawks kept up their impressive point streak to start off the season but for the second time in a row.. fell in the skills competition.

For all the hype we may put on these games, this one turned out to be a pretty lackluster affair. There were plenty of runs on Keith (too be expected and pretty understandable), strong play from both goalies, lots of awful power plays and then a silly little shootout

Everything Else

The Old Flame: Hawks at Canucks Preview, Pregame Thread, Late Night Document Shredding Session

By Sam Fels 1140 0

vs. 

FACEOFF: 9pm Central

TV/RADIO: CSN, WGN Radio 720, and TSN for the hosers

SEARCHING IN VAIN FOR MEANING: Nucks Misconduct, Pass It To Bulis

Oh right. These guys. How could I forget?

I think it’s just me, but some of the heat of what had been and might still be the league’s best rivalry has gone out a bit. Might have something to do with the last three season meetings coming after somewhat passionate playoff meetings, and this one doesn’t. Maybe it’s partly to do with both teams coming off first-round exits in last year’s playoffs, and no longer is the target to get past each other but everything is just more focused inward and what each team has to do to go farther. Maybe the rise of genuine threats in St. Louis and L.A. has spread the ire for both sets of fans a little thinner.

Though reading Nucks Misconduct today, I’m guessing they don’t feel the same.

Everything Else

Gold Soundz

By Fifth Feather 1814 0

We are utterly delighted to announce that The Fifth Feather is joining our team. As you probably already know, The Feather has been maybe the smartest Hawks blog going for a while now, and we’re lucky that that level of hockey intellect and snark will be part of our dysfunctional family. Don’t worry, he won’t be making our twitter feed any more schizo, as he will still be found @fifthfeather. And for all you other Hawks blogs, if you’re worried that we will systematically add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own to make an all-powerful species, we will. Resistance if futile. -Fels

So this is what the other side smells like. I can see why I’ve been away for so long.  Anyways, let’s get to it.  You’ve all waited long enough.

–Patrick Kane is looking more and more like a basketball player in hockey equipment after every game this season.  What I mean by that is his ability to slow down the play, handle the puck, and maneuver his way around the ice is very point guard-esque.  His assist on Hossa’s OT winner in Dallas should’ve been on an Ahmad Rashad-narrated highlight reel.  (Is Ahmad Rashad still alive?  Is he still roaming NBA sidelines?  These are questions I need to know answers to. Also, let’s put “Inside Stuff” back on the air while we’re at it.  That show was great.)

Everything Else

And Just Like That….It's Gone: Hawks 2 – Wild 2 (Wild win runway walk-off 2-1)

By 1080 0

Well, I guess you can’t win them all. Maybe you can win all the ones you don’t tie. Let’s see if that can be done.

But after all is said and done (and before they make me run), there isn’t too much to get upset about. Which is weird, because just about the time I was going to start getting itchy about how the Hawks were getting pressed into waffles at even-strength in the 2nd period, one penalty kill turned it around and the Wild were chasing shadows. The 17-6 shot-difference in the last two stanzas would be evidence of that.

Still, all that possession and territorial advantage didn’t lead to a barrage of chances, which I guess is a little worrying. But not all that much. I suppose it could be argued that the Hawks got better as the Wild got more tired, having played last night and in their 3rd game in four nights. But the Hawks will find that a lot this season, as well as the reverse.

In the end, the width of the crossbar kept the Hawks from extending the shootout where they might have won it. Or might not have. It’s a fucking shootout. Just flip a coin and be done with it.

Everything Else

And Just Like That….It’s Gone: Hawks 2 – Wild 2 (Wild win runway walk-off 2-1)

By Sam Fels 1168 0

Well, I guess you can’t win them all. Maybe you can win all the ones you don’t tie. Let’s see if that can be done.

But after all is said and done (and before they make me run), there isn’t too much to get upset about. Which is weird, because just about the time I was going to start getting itchy about how the Hawks were getting pressed into waffles at even-strength in the 2nd period, one penalty kill turned it around and the Wild were chasing shadows. The 17-6 shot-difference in the last two stanzas would be evidence of that.

Still, all that possession and territorial advantage didn’t lead to a barrage of chances, which I guess is a little worrying. But not all that much. I suppose it could be argued that the Hawks got better as the Wild got more tired, having played last night and in their 3rd game in four nights. But the Hawks will find that a lot this season, as well as the reverse.

In the end, the width of the crossbar kept the Hawks from extending the shootout where they might have won it. Or might not have. It’s a fucking shootout. Just flip a coin and be done with it.

Everything Else

Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me: Blackhawks At Wild – Preview/Pre-Game Thread/301 Countdown

By Matthew Killion 1262 0

@  The Wild

Game Time: 7:00PM Central
TV/Radio: The Artists Formerly Known As Versus, WGN-AM 720
Hey Big Spender: Hockey Wilderness

I’m not going to say that the insanely loose pocketbooks of the Wild led to the lockout that almost cost us the season… but I will say that it added at least 3 months to it. I always look for arbitrary or petty reasons to hate other teams but I’ve never really had a reason to hate the Wild (they’re still no North Stars) but I’m going to go ahead and have one now.

Either that or Cal Clutterbuck’s facial hair… that’s a good enough reason too.

Everything Else

We’re All Wrong All The Kids Are Right

By Sam Fels 1438 0

Time again to spin around the continent to find out how the Hawks deeper in the pipeline got along this past week.

Let’s start with the apple of pretty much everyone’s eye, Phillip Danault. Apparently, this trade to Moncton has gone down quite well with him, as he’s racked up 15 points in eight games since joining up. In three games this past weekend he collected five assists. That helped Moncton go 3-0. Though it won’t help them catch Halifax in their division, who are a silly 39-5-2, but it helps when you have Nathan McKinnon, Jonathan Drouin, and Stefan Fournier.

Everything Else

We're All Wrong All The Kids Are Right

By 1102 0

Time again to spin around the continent to find out how the Hawks deeper in the pipeline got along this past week.

Let’s start with the apple of pretty much everyone’s eye, Phillip Danault. Apparently, this trade to Moncton has gone down quite well with him, as he’s racked up 15 points in eight games since joining up. In three games this past weekend he collected five assists. That helped Moncton go 3-0. Though it won’t help them catch Halifax in their division, who are a silly 39-5-2, but it helps when you have Nathan McKinnon, Jonathan Drouin, and Stefan Fournier.