Everything Else

I Wish I Was Special: Hawks 3 – Stars 2 (OT)

By Sam Fels 1522 0

The Hawks special teams save the day. I’ll now take a break while you try and shake the cobwebs from the embolism you’ll have had reading that.

No….not yet…..

Ready?….

Ok, now we go. The Hawks weren’t great for the first half of the game, and what moments they did conjure were stopped, dropped, and rolled by an inspired Kari Lehtonen (no doubt motivated by McClure’s reminder in the preview that he usually steals one from the Hawks once per season. I’m contagious, apparently). And while they improved in the last 30 to claw back a two-goal deficit, it was their power play that got them there. Along with two important and pretty dominant kills. Isn’t that a welcome change?

Our world famous bullets:

Everything Else

Hot Start In Old Town: Blackhawks 3 – Blues 2

By Matthew Killion 1428 0

Toews-face… Already in mid-season form

 

After two games on the road, both home openers for other teams, it was was finally time for the Blackhawks to have the chance to make the other team sit around as they go through awkward introductions. Once the game got started though – it was pretty apparent which team had played the night before and which had at least one day rest. The Blues, coming off a victory in Music City that required a skills competition, came out of the gate looking flat and the Blackhawks were swarming. Throughout the first, the Blackhawks had multiple chances that were some of the best we’ve seen so far. Unfortunately, either they hesitated a bit too long and lost the opportunity or they ended up on the stick of Bickell. Whatever it was, the shots simply didn’t go in until the Hawks found themselves on a 3-on-0 and even that required a nifty bit of passing between Sharp and Kane before Kane was able to put a nice move on Elliott for the Hawks first score of the game. It was some nifty work… but part of me thinks a 3-on-0 ought to have been a hell of a lot easier.

From there – things took a bit of a different turn

Everything Else

Opening With The Meat: Blues v. Hawks Preview, Pregame Thread, My Dinner With Andre Viewing Party

By Sam Fels 1341 0

FACEOFF: 7:30pm
TV/RADIO: CSN, WGN Radio
YOUR VILLAGE IDIOT: St. Louis Gametime (not as fun as it used to be)

Before I get to the game tonight, as I should do every year I want address everyone’s questions about where to get The Committed Indian if you’re going to the game. More people have been asking than usual. We are stationed basically at every corner of the United Center, or as close as we can be. I man Madison St. outside Gate 3. We have another one by the bus stop on Madison outside Gate 2, and that’s Scott. On the south side of the arena, Sarah is stationed at Damen and Monroe, because we can’t be inside the UC parking lots. Flip that around, and you’ll find Hamish at Wood and Monroe to cover the Southeast corner. In addition, we usually have Adam on the corner of Madison and Wood. Most of the time, we have Glenn on the corner of Madison and Damen, though that’s the spot we can’t always cover. Glenn is also Sarah’s husband, so don’t say anything weird to her or I’ll be forced to sick him on you and you don’t want that. So it’s pretty easy to find us if you’re looking for us. We’ll be the hypothermia victims tonight.

And if you’re not going, you can always just get it online from this site. I’ll tweet when it’s posted if you just want to get that game’s. Ok, enough of that.

Everything Else

Morning Links 1/22/13

By Ken Oda 1225 0

So Stan what did you think of Ray’s performance in PHX: ESPNChi

That aside, they’re off to a good start: CSN (autoplay)

But really, its a bit early to say they’re this good: CST

A staged debate over staged fighting: PHT

Speaking of bad behavior a look at the ol’ snow job: TSN

Brunner is even dirtier however: PD

Twitter reaction to doppelganger hijinks: SN

Everything Else

Hawks Acquire Karlsson

By Sam Fels 1342 0

No, not that Karlsson, silly.

For a 7th round pick, the Hawks have picked up former Flames backup Henrik Karlsson. What it means, I can’t tell you. But I don’t think it’s simply because of Carter Hutton’s upcoming suspension in the AHL, as the Hogs had already called up Kent Simpson to back up Alec Richards for that. At least I think. It could be that Stan saw what we all saw last night from Emery, and thinks it’s something more than just rustiness and lack of games in the past eight months.

What Karlsson brings is a big frame, which the Hawks seem to like as it probably means he’s in his crease and his defenders know where he’ll be. That doesn’t mean he’s going to stop the puck while everyone knows where he is, however. Karlsson has only had 26 appearances the past two seasons in the Flames continuing attempts to turn Mikka Kiprusoff into flubber. In that limited sample he’s got a .905 SV% and a 2.79 GAA. His performance two years ago in 17 appearances of .908 and 2.58 would probably just clear the acceptable hurdle considering what kind of dog-breath he was playing behind in Calgary.

But it doesn’t look like Karlsson has played anywhere this season, and would face the same sharpness issues as Emery. Guess someone is going to have to explain this one to us.

Update: Karlsson has been assigned to The Rock, but not clear if he’s there to get in shape to replace Emery or to just fill in for Hutton while he’s on “leave.”