Once again, our boy at HockeyProspectus.com Robert Vollman has dropped some knowledge on us:
Some quick notes on this. The ones in red(ish) are those in the negative for shot differentials when they’re on the ice. Blue is those in the positive. The size is obviously how big the difference is.
So what do we learn?
Looks like Monty is headed to Rock Vegas: Chicago Tribune Third Man In
Tired?? Comcast
Trading Iggy is delicate: Puck Daddy
Hockey is apparently dangerous: The Globe and Mail
Gretzky wants visors: Sportsnet.Ca
30 Thoughts: CBC
Beer Pong to end real hockey games!PuckDaddy
Best Gifs of the first half: Backhand Shelf
First half awards: TSN
One of the pleasures of a 29 game point streak was the lack of hockey cliches used to describe the Hawks poor play. Flat, lifeless, fatigued, blah, blah, blah. Well no more. After a Edmonton 4 goal first period, all the cliches are back in full force. Luckily, you won’t find that here. Rather, let’s break down the first 4 goals to help show why the Hawks were down four after 20 minutes.
Hossa, Shaw and Montador will travel to Denver: (Blackhawks)
Defense: (Comcast)
Revenge of the stat nerds: (Puck Daddy)
Signed, Sealed and Delivered: (TSN)
So no one gets hurt: (The Globe and Mail)
Doesn’t really do anything:(CBC)
No Regrets: (Third Man IN)
Need to know basis: (ESPN)
Jesus Christ…Retire dude: (TSN)
vs 
Game Time: 7:00PM Central
TV/Radio: NBCSN, TSN2 (Canada), WGN-AM 720
Trust Fund Hippies: Mile High Hockey, JibbleScribbits
Believe it or not, tonight already marks the halfway point of this abbreviated NHL campaign (Thanks Don and Gary!). Fittingly, tonight’s opponent, the Colorado Avalanche, is the last one the Hawks have yet to face so far in the intra-conference only schedule.
@
Game Time: 7:30PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, WGN-AM 720
Bear? Wolf? River? Trees? Sun?: Hockey Wilderness
The Wild come into this game with a feather in their cap that few others can make so far this season. They’ve taken two points from the Chicago Blackhawks. Sure, they had to do it via the skills competition but at this point, I would imagine most teams would consider that a pretty decent bragging point. We’ll have to get used to seeing these new North Stars since they’ll be division mates coming up next year. It could get interesting, seeing as how the two fan bases already have a healthy history of mutual dislike stemming back from before the North Stars became just the Stars. At least more of a rivalry than the Hawks have with the Avs anyway…
The Wild stumbled out of the gate a bit after making a big splash in the off-season but seem to have found their footing as of late as they’re now sitting just two points behind Northwest leading Vancouver and are 6-3-1 in their last 10. Of course, that’s one against the Oilers, two against the Flames and one against the Flames. I’m only impressed by the win against the Wings, seeing as how we’ve seen how much they can actually play when they feel like it.
@
Game Time: 7:30PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, WGN-AM 720
Bear? Wolf? River? Trees? Sun?: Hockey Wilderness
The Wild come into this game with a feather in their cap that few others can make so far this season. They’ve taken two points from the Chicago Blackhawks. Sure, they had to do it via the skills competition but at this point, I would imagine most teams would consider that a pretty decent bragging point. We’ll have to get used to seeing these new North Stars since they’ll be division mates coming up next year. It could get interesting, seeing as how the two fan bases already have a healthy history of mutual dislike stemming back from before the North Stars became just the Stars. At least more of a rivalry than the Hawks have with the Avs anyway…
The Wild stumbled out of the gate a bit after making a big splash in the off-season but seem to have found their footing as of late as they’re now sitting just two points behind Northwest leading Vancouver and are 6-3-1 in their last 10. Of course, that’s one against the Oilers, two against the Flames and one against the Flames. I’m only impressed by the win against the Wings, seeing as how we’ve seen how much they can actually play when they feel like it.
Mix-Master cut faster:(Daily Herald)
Because I feel disgrace because you’re all in my face: (Comcast Chicago)
Engine running hotter than a boiling kettle: (Suntimes)
The {dude} is crafty like ice is cold: (Blackhawks)
And I know the fly spot where they got the champagne.{and the Nucks won’t find it}(TSN)
We’re offered Moet – we don’t mind Chivas (Globe and Mail)
Well this is just getting ridiculous….
Beat Raps:(Chicago Tribune) (Daily Herald)(Comcast Chicago){ap}(NHL)(Fox)
Gangsta Raps:(Cheer the Anthem)(Blackhawk UP) (Hockee Night)
Verdi’s take: (Blackhawks)
Blocked Shots are key (autoplay)(Comcast Chicago)
Clowe got two games and Brendan Shanahan is blind..Brownie points to the first person to answer why that is..(clue it’s in his quotes) (Puck Daddy)
When the laughter stops….(The Score)
30 Thoughts: (CBC)
Troy Brouwer says what most of us assume: (Toronto Sun)
Geno to IR: (NHL)
vs
Game Time: 6:00PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, WGN-AM 720
Woody Hayes’ Snapping Turtle: The Cannon
For as interminable as the road trip(s) of January and early February seemed, the Hawks’ seven game homestand is already reaching game six tonight, and it feels like it’s already blown by. Tonight presents the middle stanza of the rare three-games-in-four-nights-at-home that the incredibly productive lockout has now yielded, and in it the Hawks welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets to West Madison for the first time this season.