He misses his buddy:ST
Its the only way:CSN
Normally I would make fun of this but I know one & love one named Bort:CB
IIHF rules afoot (Gruesome) PD
1.8 % chance:Grantland
vs. 
FACEOFF: 6:30pm Central
TV/RADIO: WGN, City (whatever that is) Up There, WGN Radio 720
JETSETTER MUSIC LETTER: Arctic Ice Hockey
We’re all a little weary of the Hawks embarking on a new dawn, or in need of a wakeup call, or promising that this time they mean it. It’s all coming out again this morning, but this time it’s real, right? It had better be, because the Hawks schedule combined with the fact they now sit in 4th in the division requires all systems to be operational. We’ll pardon you if you choose to watch Wrestlemania instead.
I guess we should just give up on the idea that the Hawks will ever win a regular season game in Philadelphia. They haven’t done so since the Clinton administration (I guess I’m legally obligated to indicate “THE FIRST Clinton administration now). We all would make the trade of that for the one win they got there in June ’10, but really could have used this one as it was one of the games in hand the Hawks had on everyone they’re competing with in the division (and that green and red blob in the rearview isn’t going away). But thanks to another first period where they couldn’t have looked less bothered and a couple nifty tips in the 2nd, it wasn’t to be.
Not exactly how you draw it up, morons.
The Hawks got two points in just about the most unconvincing fashion tonight, giving up 44 shots to the Hurricanes (who to be fair, put up 38 in Minnesota not too long ago). And when the Hawks give up that many shots, you know something is structurally or fundamentally wrong.
Tonight, and for the second night in a row, the Hawks decisions with and management of the puck was a few zip codes away from suck. I lost count of how many times in the neutral zone they chose the wrong pass or option, or how many times they simply whiffed on either making or receiving a pass. And it was everyone. Even Toews looked like he was trying to juggle chainsaws on quaaludes at the other blue line tonight.
When the Hawks are this careless and sloppy with the puck, it basically tears down their whole defensive game. Because that is built on them standing up at their own blue line with furious back pressure forcing teams to make plays and decisions a whole lot quicker than they want to. But when the puck is just turned over, they can’t do that because their forwards get caught and beat up the ice, and hence the defense have to sink back and guard against giving up a 4-on-1 or something. They have no support from the forwards so can’t get aggressive. And that’s how they get trapped in their own zone.
We don’t need to wait around to analyze this one. In a way, this was a good thing. I, and possibly others, possibly the Hawks themselves, had let Wednesday’s win fill our head with dreams and we had to have them all. As my compatriot McClure quickly pointed out, there is no such thing as an important win before April. The Hawks found that out with authority tonight in Texas. Everything that was good in New York was bad tonight.
While the record without Patrick Kane could still be considered gaudy, you’re still talking about a team that’s managed 22 goals in those 10 games. That’s simply not good enough. It’s been shutout three times. It seems when the top line doesn’t binge, they’re not going to score more than two (Sharks meltdowns not withstanding). And each line has its issues, and we’ll get to that in a moment.
vs. 
FACEOFF: 7pm Central
TV/RADIO: NBCSN, SPORTSNET UP THERE, WGN RADIO 720
MY BLUE HEAVEN: Blue Shirt Banter, The Hockey Rodent
After a satisfying win last night, the Hawks get about five minutes to enjoy it before they focus on the task at hand tonight. Because the New York Rangers on Broadway are going to require the A-game if the Hawks want to continue collecting points that they’re going to need.
vs. 
FACEOFF: 7pm Central
TV/RADIO: NBCSN, SPORTSNET UP THERE, WGN RADIO 720
MY BLUE HEAVEN: Blue Shirt Banter, The Hockey Rodent
After a satisfying win last night, the Hawks get about five minutes to enjoy it before they focus on the task at hand tonight. Because the New York Rangers on Broadway are going to require the A-game if the Hawks want to continue collecting points that they’re going to need.
