Patrick Sharp is a happy man: Daily Herald
Daniel Carcillo is not: Comcast Chicago
I really hate both of these men, even if this happened: Puck Daddy
Edmonton’s new barn has been approved: CBC
Not your familiar Frozen Four: Globe and Mail
Realignment Chatter: Cheer the Anthem
So Sharp will travel to Minny, but Bolland won’t (CSN)
PowerPlay Spark? (Chicago Tribune)
Big Goals: (Daily Herald)
The Message from the most powerful man in Canada: (TSN)
Brooklyn is calling: (Backhand Shelf)
Thanks for the clarification: (Kukla)
This is a good sign: (CBC)
St. Louis won in Beer Pong:(NHL)
No lead was safe: (Comcast Chicago)
Q is happy: (Daily Herald)
It shall be Crow: (SunTimes)
Monty working his way back: (Chicago Tribune)
Frolik is adaptable: (Comcast Chicago)
Sid’s jaw is jacked, not his brain: (TSN)
The Next,Next One is already running things: (Globe and Mail)
Jagr is confident: (CBC)
So basically Dave Nonis has the same opinion of Mike Gillis as we do: (The Province)
at 
Game Time: 7:30PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, NHLN (US), WGN-AM 720
Dawn of the Dead: Anaheim Calling, Battle of California
Since the last time these two teams met, both teams have managed to go a combined 1-5 with Anaheim carrying a four game losing streak into the United Center. The Ducks lost both back-to-back sets with the Red Wings and Sharks, respectively, looking pretty awful in the process.
It’s just about time to clock out for the weekend, and things will be quiet here until Monday when the Hawks take on the Kings on the west side. Now’s as good a time as any to stop and assess some things.
The easy storyline to this one tonight is that the Hawks were pissed off about having their streak to end all streaks snapped at this place and wanted to make up for it. That’s lazy. To me, all we saw tonight was the road team simply outclassing the home team, and doing what it does to a defensive unit that is in now way equipped to handle them. Oh, and apparently someone decided to remind Jonathan Toews that Erik Johnson was drafted ahead of him, and he proceeded to make EJ’s mom embarrassed she gave birth to such a clod. Jordan Staal better thank his lucky stars that Toews won’t get to him next year, I guess.
And in the end, it runs out a routine victory. While it’s over the last place team in the conference, you can’t help but be utterly delighted by the effort, the movement, and the creativity at times. It’s a comparison I’ve drawn before, but there were moments where the Hawks were so far ahead and away from the Avs tonight it looked like USSR ’78 out there. Or what I assume that would have looked like. Just cycles, passes, and chances created that Colorado was helpless to do anything about.
Well it’s over now. But I can breathe somehow.
I think those are important words to remember. I don’t get the impression anyone is really anyone is losing their shit right now, but just in case. Nothing of any real importance was lost tonight. 45 out of 50 points would be telescopically ahead of “acceptable.” What happens in June will still define what’s gone on so far as special or trivia.
Moreover, if this is what makes the Avs season, let them have it. We have bigger fish to fry. There was a time when they used to. It’s obvious they don’t know. The laugh at the end will be more satisfying. And though I’m no mathematician, I’m pretty sure if the Hawks win 21 of every 25 games in regulation from here on out, we’ll have smiles on our face.
Also, we didn’t learn anything tonight we didn’t already know. Or see anything we hadn’t seen. Or get something we didn’t suspect might be coming.
vs 
Game Time: 7:30PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, NHL Network (US), WGN-AM 720
Those Damned Blue Collar Tweekers: Fear The Fin, Battle of California
For the third time in seventeen days and the second in a week, the Hawks and Sharks will square off, once again on suspect United Center ice. In this abbreviated season, this will close out the season series with the Teal in relatively brief fashion. And ordinarily one would think that it still isn’t ending nearly soon enough for the Sharks given how the first two games have gone. But tonight they have an opportunity to be the proverbial turd in the punchbowl while still clawing their way back into contention for a division once again no one but Anaheim seems particularly interested in winning.
vs
Game Time: 7:30PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, WGN-AM 720
The Stickiest of the Icky: Nucks Misconduct
As the season and the homestand soldier on, tonight’s game will mark both the median point of 7 straight at home for the Hawks as well as an even third of the season as a whole. And tonight’s tilt against the Canucks features all of the usual build-up associated with games between these two teams, but with a little extra spice added in tonight for good measure.
A quick note. You all seem to be caught off guard with the multiple posts recently. I know, it’s weird. But we’re going to keep doing it, so be prepared. Comment on all of them.
Right, to the blue line. There is no surer unit than the Hawks top pairing. There’s no speculation, there’s no controversy, and it remains the envy of a lot of teams in the league. At least there’s one thing we can all count on. So the only thing we have to figure out is how to tweak it.
