Everything Else

Altitude Adjustment: Hawks at Avalanche Preview/Ball Dropping

By December 31, 2015 1373

 vs. 

PUCK DROP: 7pm Central

TV/RADIO: CSN, WGN Radio

COMIN DOWN THE MOUNTAIN: Mile High Hockey, Anthrax Jones Twitter Feed (if you’re really into punishing yourself)

Avalanche Stats

Avalanche War On Ice

The Hawks will close out 2015 at altitude, taking on an Avalanche team that’s probably been their biggest headache over the past few years. Strangely, the Hawks have done much better in Denver than they have at home against the Avs. They won two of three there last year, and the one they lost was the last game of the year where half the team didn’t play and the Hawks certainly didn’t think it mattered in any way. Contrast that to losing both home games against the Avs last year, the first one this year, and two of three the year before that.

Everything Else

Killed By Death: Hawks 7 – Yotes 5

By December 29, 2015 1325

Box Score

Event Summary

War On Ice

Natural Stat Trick

Well that got a little silly.

I don’t know that the Hawks played particularly well tonight, but they played well enough to let some awful Yotes goaltending (Anders Lindback is 6-7 and yet can’t see over or around a screen?) and cash in on some abstract officiating from Dan O’Hochuli (credit McClure on that one) before the Yotes could cash in on the same abstract officiating. They certainly turned off in the 3rd letting Arizona back into it, and the penalty kill gave up the cross ice pass far too easily. How checked in they were is up for debate. Feel like we’ll be having that debate a few times before the season is over.

Everything Else

Hurricanrana: Canes at Hawks Preview/Belt-Loosening

By December 27, 2015 1225

 vs, 

PUCK DROP: 6pm Central

TV/RADIO: WGN for both

HERE COMES THE STORY: Canes Country

The Hawks come out of the Christmas break, a day after most teams, with a pretty soft landing in catching the Carolina Hurricanes on the second of a back-to-back. They’ll be fully healthy as well, with Marian Hossa coming back from the auto-body shop to buff the dents out of his cyborg exterior and will suit up tonight.

Everything Else

I’m Contributing To The System, The Break Down Scheme: Hawks at Stars Preview/Stocking Stuffer

By December 22, 2015 1232

 vs. 

PUCK DROP: 7:30pm Central

TV/RADIO: CSN, WGN Radio

THEY’VE GOT A WALL INSIDE THEIR HEAD: Defending Big D

Stars Stats

Stars War On Ice

Here it comes.

The storylines are going to drip off this one, more so that most regular season games. First, you have the Hawks getting their first look at the West’s best so far, the Dallas Stars. They will certainly have had this one circled in the DFW area. Second, the first regular season reunion between the Hawks, Patrick Sharp, and Johnny Oduya. Third, you have two of the best lines in hockey, the one of Seguin-Benn-Guest Star (Get it?) and the SuperPAK line for the Hawks. It certainly has a lot going for it for a game still in the first half of the season.

(And none of it will keep me from going to see Star Wars tonight, but that’s not why you called).

Everything Else

I See You’ve Constructed A New Light Sabre: Hawks at Sabres Preview/Cantina Fight

By December 19, 2015 1142

 vs. 

PUCK DROP: High Noon Central

TV/RADIO: WGN for both, SportsNet up dere in da Nort

BUFFALO? WHY DON’T YOU JUST SLEEP IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR?: Die By The Blade

Sabres Stats

Sabres War On Ice

Isn’t it too early in the year for a noon start? I guess it doesn’t matter, as that’s when they’re going to drop the puck.

Anyway, the Hawks will get their first look at one of the two Wonder Kids of this year’s draft. They won’t see McJesus until next season now due to his busted collarbone, but barring injury they’ll get to see Jack Eichel over the next few weeks.

Everything Else

‘Elo Kiddies – Oilers vs Hawks Preview, Encounter On Ord Mantell

By December 17, 2015 1264

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Game Time: 7:30PM
TV/Radio: CSN, WGN-AM 720
Tikkanese Interpreters: Oilers Nation, Copper ‘n’ Blue

With all of the talks of streaks around these parts recently, one that flew under the radar is the six game winning streak tonight’s vistors the Edmonton Oilers only had snapped on Tuesday at MSG. And in an absolute kitty-litter-covering-kindergartner-vomit-on-astroturf-carpeting Pacific Division, that’s been enough to actually have the Oilers in the playoff conversation. And all without their most recent franchise cornerstone Conor McDavid.

Everything Else

This Used To Mean Something, This Used To Be Important: Canucks at Hawks Preview/Gould Burial

By December 13, 2015 1303

 vs. 

PUCK DROP: 6pm Central

TV/RADIO: WGN for both locally, Sportsnet for the hosers

WHISTLER REFUGEES: Nucks Misconduct, Canucks Army

Canucks Stats

Canucks War On Ice

The Hawks continue this homestand against the trash of the Western Conference, the Preds were the only surefire playoff team on it and that wasn’t even technically part of the homestand, against what used to be their tastiest rival the Vancouver Canucks. Now? Just a bunch of has beens, whosits, and weird twins.

Everything Else

Never Tear Us Apart – Jets vs Hawks Preview, Eviction Notice

By December 11, 2015 1345

 vs 

Game Time: 7:30PM
TV/Radio: CSN, WGN-AM 720
Anti-Manifesto: Arctic Ice Hockey

For the second time in five days, the Winnipeg Jets will visit the United Center to take on the Hawks on the heels of a back to back. Only this time, the Hawks will be coming off a playing a game last night as well, and that term is used loosely.

Everything Else

I Wish I Was In Dixie, Hooray! Hooray!: Hawks at Predators Preview/Sandwich Building

By December 10, 2015 1138

 vs. 

PUCK DROP: 7pm

TV/RADIO: CSN, WGN Radio

GIMME GIMME GIMME THE HONKY TONK BLUES: On The Forecheck

Predators Stats

Predators War On Ice

The ol’ home and home. This used to be a staple of the NHL schedule when you had to play everyone in your division 12 times or whatever it was back in the day. They were usually on Saturday and Sunday nights, and the Sunday nights at the Old Stadium against either the North Stars or Leafs generally became something our Lord Jim Ross would describe as “Looks like a Saturday night on a payday weekend in Muskogee!” Why yes, I do have a requirement of how many times I use that phrase per season. And yes, I did go the long way round to get to it today. And I don’t care!

Everything Else

Not A Good Day To Be A Bad Guy: Preds 1 – Hawks 4

By December 9, 2015 1495

Box Score

Event Summary

War On Ice

Natural Stat Trick

One or two more and this could a habit! Anyway, sorry for the delayed wrap. A flat tire cost me the urge to do it last night. I need that Bond auto-inflate tire from Tomorrow Never Dies. Or all of them. All those cars probably had that feature. Anyway…

The Hawks once again got a win with their do-it-all second line merely adding an empty-netter, though they were the best on line on the ice for either team most of the night. Unlike Sunday’s win though, this one is thoroughly pinned on Corey Crawford, who might have had his best game of the year. And not only that, he made it look easy at times. Without him, this probably looks a lot different.

The Hawks got goals from other lines as well, if you can believe that, to keep the spiraling Preds… well, in a spiral. Downwards. Though it is possible to spiral upwards. But we rarely use that term for that motion. Whatever. Let’s get to it: