Gamesheet: NHL
Advanced Metrics: Extra Skater
I disagree with the lede: Chicago Tribune
Toews and Keith and maybe Crawford to get the Call on January 7th: TSN
Great One gets paid: Sportsnet.ca
vs 
Game Time: 7:00PM
TV/Radio: CSN, NBCSN (Yanks), TSN2 (Hosers), WGN-AM 72
Texan Book Of The Dead: Defending Big D
After what can be considered a successful stretch by all non-meatball, bloodlust accounts, the Blackhawks will return home after a 6-1 Circus Trip, with the only blemish coming in the opener away from home against the deplorable Avalanche. Tonight they’ll kick off a month wherein 9 of the next 14 games will be on home ice, starting tonight with the Stars. Who says you can’t ever really come home for the holidays?
vs
Game Time: 7:00PM
TV/Radio: CSN, NBCSN (Yanks), TSN2 (Hosers), WGN-AM 72
Texan Book Of The Dead: Defending Big D
After what can be considered a successful stretch by all non-meatball, bloodlust accounts, the Blackhawks will return home after a 6-1 Circus Trip, with the only blemish coming in the opener away from home against the deplorable Avalanche. Tonight they’ll kick off a month wherein 9 of the next 14 games will be on home ice, starting tonight with the Stars. Who says you can’t ever really come home for the holidays?
Saturday’s Gamesheet: NHL.com
Advanced Metrics: Extraskater.com
Exclamation Point: Chicago Tribune
Tragic: TSN
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.
With the Hawks doing a rare Friday-Saturday night double, we’re going to combine our wrap and preview on the pivot. Hopefully we don’t pull a muscle.
There’s not too much to say about last night’s “win.” Though the Hawks have gotten smacked by Colorado and Nashville recently, yesterday’s game certainly felt like the sloppiest they’ve played. I waited for the Hawks to be able to connect on three straight passes at any point. I’m still waiting. Two seemed a struggle. Luckily for the Hawks, the Stars weren’t any better. Everything was kind of frantic and chances basically came out of whatever team was able to rugby-scrum their way toward the other team’s net. This game would have caused Herb Brooks to break out his “monkeys humping a football” line.
With the Hawks doing a rare Friday-Saturday night double, we’re going to combine our wrap and preview on the pivot. Hopefully we don’t pull a muscle.
There’s not too much to say about last night’s “win.” Though the Hawks have gotten smacked by Colorado and Nashville recently, yesterday’s game certainly felt like the sloppiest they’ve played. I waited for the Hawks to be able to connect on three straight passes at any point. I’m still waiting. Two seemed a struggle. Luckily for the Hawks, the Stars weren’t any better. Everything was kind of frantic and chances basically came out of whatever team was able to rugby-scrum their way toward the other team’s net. This game would have caused Herb Brooks to break out his “monkeys humping a football” line.
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.
Usually this space is dedicated to parsing out some statistics at the individual level to help make sense of this goofy ass sport. However, given that this is the first real opportunity to assess things at the 24 game mark, which some may recall as being relatively significant last year.
