I was bored, and while we wait to see if all the Hawks make it out of Vegas alive before heading to San Jose today, I thought it would be a good idea to see how the schedules shake out for the Hawks and Blues who will duke it out for the Central. Also for the Ducks, as all three teams will dance for the #1 seed in the West. It’s uncertain as to whether these things actually matter. After all, the #1 seed could end up in a very annoying and punchy series with the Canucks that should be a pretty easy victory but could take a toll, whereas the #2 could end up with a much easier (travel-wise and other) Minnesota date, whatever the Hawks record against the Wild may be. Of course, once the Coyotes overtake the Canucks and Vancouver slips out of the playoffs and OH MY GOD THAT COULD TOTALLY HAPPEN AND I’LL DIE LAUGHING AND THEY MIGHT SINK INTO THE PACIFIC AND I HAVE TO STOP NOW I’M GOING INTO SHOCK…
Oh Really? CSN Autoplay
I’m thinking 88 might get an “A” today: USAHOCKEY
Five years in Denver: TSN
This would be insane: ESPN
Diving into the crazyness that was Ben Scrivens 59 save night: Extra Skater
Stretched in the Dungeon: HockeeNight
Couldn’t keep up in the Stampede: Chicago Tribune
Pirri knew what it took: Suntimes
Fears about Sochi: New York Times
How the Glowpuck revolutinized how you watch Sports: Slate
Well, it’s gone from just doldrums or boredom to officially a slump. And while the little things that have added up to a loss the past couple weeks have changed from game to game, the overriding theme has been the Hawks just don’t have much jump or zazz. That extra spice that usually carries the Hawks through just isn’t there right now.
It comes in a few forms. Usually it’s the lack of movement in anything or cutting corners. You would lose count if you went back through tonight’s game and counted the amount of times a Hawk just skated past a puck-carrying Flame and took one wave with his stick instead of stopping and trying to actually pick the puck. Against a shot-blocking heavy team, you have to move yourself and the puck quickly to open up lanes. The Hawks repeatedly stood still and then tried a shot. That’s not going to work.
It shows itself in not being above your man or between him and the puck before it gets there. Sharp getting beaten to the net for the OT winner after Leddy chased to the board is just one example. You see it in Hawks not moving toward their d-men to help or on breakouts and instead wait for the puck to come to them. It’s the hope plays with too-fancy passes instead of working to score that result in turnovers.
All of it has the Hawks looking like a Spinal Tap show right now. Sure, there’s flashes of brilliance and good production, but just enough is being cocked up to fuck over the whole thing.
Is it chronic or just a passing virus? I don’t know, I don’t think it’s the former. But the Hawks are in 2nd place now, and the volume on this trip is about to go way up. If the Hawks can’t rummage around and find a couple more bullets in the pocket (because that’s where you keep your bullets?) we could easily be looking at a repeat of 2012’s Trail of Tears.
Don’t know when I’ll be back again…Actually it’s March 6th: Cheer The Anthem
“Stay away from Itchy, kids”: Hockee Night:
Collapse: Chicago Tribune AutoPlay
3 in 20: Chicago Suntimes
SoCal Saturday Night: The Globe and Mail
There’s not much going on today as we roll through into a roadtrip and then the break. So I thought it might be time to delve into a little fantasy. And this year, a trade for the Hawks might be true fantasy. First, they may have already made their “deadline” deal by acquiring Kris Versteeg. That gobbled up a lot of cap space. They still have some, but not a lot. Second, it’s hard to figure out where exactly the Hawks would look to shore up. Certainly not on defense, at least I don’t think so. But what the hell?
I’m going to assume the Hawks aren’t going to move much of anything off the current roster. You occasionally hear Brent Seabrook’s name get mentioned by some loon, but we know that’s not going to happen. Johnny Oduya’s current bout of what-the-fuck might get his name thrown about, especially as the Hawks are pretty jonesin’ to open up a spot for Stephen Johns. But tossing him into a playoff chase and then playoffs is beyond the realm of possibility. So we’ll work as if that won’t happen.
According to Cap Geek, the Hawks will have about $1.1 in space at the deadline, meaning they can acquire someone who makes $5 mildo over the entire year. At least I think so. It’s hard to figure with Khabibulin’s LTIR. That doesn’t get banked exactly. So if someone wants to clear this up for me in the comments, please do.
I couldn’t resist after I saw the recap title..
Panic Zone? Chicago Tribune
Something like that: Cheer The Anthem
Approach to Danger: SunTimes
Parental Discretion Iz Advised:ESPN
LA is the place: TSN
Box Score
Event Summary
Extra Skater
With only 31.2 seconds left on the clock, Patrick Kane fired a puck over the shoulder of Kuemper. It was the first and only time the Hawks found the back of the net tonight and was also just about the only thing that you can put down as a positive for the night. With Kane’s goal, his first Dec 28th, the Hawks avoided being shut out for the first time since a loss to the Kings on Feb 25th back in 2012.
Funny that Sam’s opening paragraph of the preview today was filled with such guarded optimisim (“they might not need top gear or anything resembling it to get past a crumbling Minnesota team”) because nothing resembling top gear was even approached until a last minute flurry to save their ass. The Hawks took lazy stupid penalties, couldn’t be bothered to adapt their plan of attack and couldn’t get a second chance to save their lives.
And in the end, it still has all the stink of a mid-January game that no one will remember in a few weeks after the Olympic hullaballoo dies down. If the Hawks continue to play like this, the rest of the season is going to be a long maddening stretch… but there’s no reason to think it’s anything more than a blip as the Hawks look forward to the ride home for their last game at the UC until March 4th.
vs 
FACEOFF: 7pm Central
TV/RADIO: CSN, WGN Radio
WILDSIDE, WILDSIDE: Hockey Wilderness
No time to fret or rest, as the Hawks will turn it right around tonight to take on the Minnesota Wild. Whatever complaints there were about yesterday’s effort can be quickly solved, and the Hawks usually do that in both the second of a back-to-back as well as after a rather tame effort. Generally, they haven’t doubled up the half-hearted outings. And even if they do, they might not need top gear or anything resembling it to get past a crumbling Minnesota team.
Well that sucks: HockeeNight
Wings win Beer Pong: Chicago Tribune
Class: TSN
Smashville’s MO doesn’t change: SN Autoplay
Well parts of this are correct: Yahoo
So this happened: Toronto Sun
