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Game Time: 7:00PM Central
TV/Radio: WGN, 97.9 The Loop
Glorified Trailer Park: St. Louis Game Time
Thus ends the 48 game prelude to the portion of the hockey season that truly matters. And there are fewer ways more satisfying that how the Hawks are doing so today, by sauntering down I-55 with a troop of kids to take on the Blues in a game that means nothing to the Hawks, and quite a bit to the Blues.
With the West now officially all sewn up — the Hawks will start at least the first three series on West Madison — let’s take a look at who is going to show up here for Game 1 on April 30 or May 1 (or later maybe, these schedules can get silly).
There are up to six teams that could land in the 8th seed, and they break evenly into two groups of three. One group being the longshots to end up in 8th, either being unlikely to fall there or unlikely to climb there. And the other are the three who are likely to be there. The first group contains St. Louis, Minnesota, and Phoenix. The second group is Detroit, Columbus, and Dallas.
Let’s look at each, and see what would be the best matchup (as if I’m going to pretend it’s not Dallas).
It’s almost comical at this point.
The script is for all intents and purposes set in stone. Every game down in the glorified trailer park west of the Mississippi the Blues will spend the better part of the first period running around looking to decapitate anything with an Indian head on the sweater. The Hawks then weather the storm and use their speed and skill to grab a lead, and then allow the Blues to helplessly flail trying to claw their way back onto the scoreboard before the inevitable dagger, only to resume the extra curricular bullshit.
The Hawks make it easy these days. Whatever happens, it all seems to be on a recurring theme. So at least I don’t have to come up with something, which we know I suck at. And they are to wit:
-Once again, a 3rd period lead goes poof. Thankfully, the Blues were happy to give it back. This time, it wasn’t a systematic failure , but an individual mistake leading to Cracknell’s equalizer (was it Bolland or Rozsival who whiffed on the shot at the point? Live I thought it was Bolland, and the replays don’t pick up that early.) But the thing is, in the 3rd period, it’s always SOMETHING. Be it an individual mistake, a bad goal, a bad bounce, systematic breakdown….whatever. Enough of it has happened that it certainly can’t be filed under “Shit happens.”
vs
Game Time: 7:30PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, WGN-AM 720
I’ll Be Deep In The Cold, Cold Ground Before I Recognize Missourah: SLGT
Now that the trading deadline has passed, the season enters into what is generally regarded as the home stretch. Much to the dismay of many in Blackhawks Nation, GM Stan Bowman by and large maintained the status quo on West Madison. However the same can not be said for tonight’s divisional opponent, the always cantankerous and rarely smart St. Louis Blues.
I wonder who he replaces: CSN Chicago
Stan decided not to bring in new faces: ESPN Chicago
Though plenty of guys changed places: TSN
Hopefully the Hawks will put the Blues through their paces: Blackhawks
Maybe it is time to shorten the races: SI
Last night at the UC: Trib The Bright One Suburbia They Read Down There?
Hawks upgrade at 4th line center: SI
He’s been what for how long now: The paper from closest to the sun
Stan may stand: ESPN or CSN (auto play)
JayBo to STL, so now another reason to hope they miss the playoffs: TSN
Buffalo is having a fire sale: PD
This is who my team plays in the playoffs, so I should have both sets of fans listening: CBS
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Game Time: 7:00PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, WGN-AM 720
Imo’s Pizza Is Fucking Terrible: St. Louis Game Time
After two and a half weeks camped out on West Madison, the Blackhawks will once again take their traveling circus, white sweaters in tow, on the road. That particular road tonight is about 350 miles of I-55 down to the glorified outdoor flea market of St. Louis.
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
