Everything Else

Angry At Numbers

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Thought it was a good time to do an off-day Angry At Numbers.

40.9, 59.1

These are Marcus Kruger’s Corsi percentages in Game 1 and Game 2. I’m not sure they actually signify anything at all, other than in Game 1 Kruger was dealing with Mikko Koivu for most of it and in Game 2 that switched to Mikael Granlund. I assume this will be something Minnesota will notice and they will try and get Koivu out against him again in Game 3. Though this could be a result of the Hawks sitting back for a lot of Game 1 and no so much in the second game. Just a juxtaposition. Kruger has also struggled at the dot this series, winning 30% in Game 1 and only 45% in Game 2. Considering the amount of times he starts shifts in the defensive zone, it’s a small worry.

1.50, .951

Corey Crawford’s goals-against average and save-percentage during this six game win streak. Also, the Hawks hadn’t won as many as six in a row since the end of November.

Everything Else

New Day Rising – Game 1 – Wild vs Hawks Preview, Pregame Thread, Acupuncturist Appointment

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wildthings vs oldschool

Game Time: 8:30PM Central
TV/Radio: NBCSN, TSN (Anglo), RDS (Franco), WGN-AM 720
Reintroducing: Hockey Wilderness

For the second time this playoff season, the inevitable playoff matchup between the Blackhawks and the Colorado Avalanche has failed to happen, this time not only because of the Blues’ incompetence, but because of the math finally catching up to the Avs in the form of the Minnesota Wild. The result is now a rematch of last season’s first round few could have predicted happening at all, let alone in the second round.

Everything Else

I’m A Bad Motherfucker And You Know This: Blues 1 – Hawks 5 (Hawks win series 4-2)

By 1142 0

Box Score

Event Summary

Extra Skater

All series long, we kept saying and thinking that at some point the Hawks were going to grab this by the scruff, play their game, and wipe the Blues right out of the equation. We saw flashes of it. The first 38 minutes of Game 4, but that was undone by 15 minutes of pissing down their leg. There were moments in Game 5, but that was undone by surges by the Blues. Then you started to worry that the Hawks didn’t have it in the holster any more, that something was missing.

And then the 3rd period happened.

Everything Else

I'm A Bad Motherfucker And You Know This: Blues 1 – Hawks 5 (Hawks win series 4-2)

By 1131 0

Box Score

Event Summary

Extra Skater

All series long, we kept saying and thinking that at some point the Hawks were going to grab this by the scruff, play their game, and wipe the Blues right out of the equation. We saw flashes of it. The first 38 minutes of Game 4, but that was undone by 15 minutes of pissing down their leg. There were moments in Game 5, but that was undone by surges by the Blues. Then you started to worry that the Hawks didn’t have it in the holster any more, that something was missing.

And then the 3rd period happened.

Everything Else

The Sound Of Science: Blues At Hawks – Preview/Pre-Game Thread/Flea Circus

By 1281 0

bluestrumpet_jersey @AltLogo

Game Time: 8:30PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, Channel Formerly known as Vs, CBC/87.7FM
Schlafly Drinkers: SLGT

Here we are coming off the Blues best game of the series and the Hawks worst but yet we also saw the Hawks eek out a win, largely on the back of one Corey Crawford. After just barely getting a desperately needed win, there are still plenty of questions up in the air. Fels did a great job of covering most of them surrounding line up changes and other ideas in his post yesterday. There were some glaring and some minor issues we saw on Monday night so the question now is, will Q do anything to address them?

The answer, of course, is no. No he won’t.

Everything Else

Bitter Divisions – Game 3 – Blues vs Hawks Preview, Pregame Thread, Brush Fire

By 1442 0

bluestrumpet_jersey vs AltLogo

Game Time: 7:30PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, CNBC, CBC (Angl0), RDSI (Franco), WGN-AM 720
Moral High Ground From Below Sea Level: SLGT

With the series now turning north and back to the west side tonight, the Hawks find themselves in an unfortunately familiar spot, down two games to an opponent, something that has happened each of the last three playoff years. And this go-around might be the most rancorous yet.

Everything Else

Was She Asking For It? Was She Asking Nice?: Hawks 3 – Blues 4 (3OT)

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Box Score

Game Summary

Extra Skater

Well that feels like drunk sex, no? All that labor and you’re exhausted and it isn’t even really that fun but you’re supposed to be there and then you don’t even get the conclusion. Just an odd look and an admission you should probably both go to sleep.

The thing is, the Hawks could have gotten away with it in Game 1. In fact, they probably should have gotten away with it. Because they weren’t terribly good. Their passing was awful, their changes for the last two periods were simply abhorrent (which is not something we’ve seen a lot of in the Quenneville era) and for regulation they basically just looked off. And that’s being kind. Yet still, when you have the lead in  playoff game with less than five to go, you have to see that out. The Hawks cost themselves a game and 42 extra minutes of hockey by not doing so. And they got there by letting a team up off the mat, which actually has been something of a pattern at times.

Everything Else

Trouble In River City – Game 1 – Hawks at Blues Preview, Pregame Thread, Zip Line Adventure

By 1420 0

oldschool at Imo's St. Louis

Game Time: 7:00PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, NBCSN, CBC (Anglo), RDS2 (Franco), WGN-AM 720
Mung: St. Louis Game Time

When the new playoff format was announced under the plans for realignment, even dating back to the first iteration of the plan nearly two years ago, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that the Hawks and Blues would collide in the playoffs on an annual basis. In fact, creating and amplifying that kind of rivalry was basically the point of the new format. However, it’s unlikely that anyone had this series pegged for the first round, including these two teams themselves.