Everything Else

Daddy’s In The Doldrums: Ducks 2 – Hawks 1

By Sam Fels 1117 0

After seeing it in person tonight, I’m more convinced than I was before that the Hawks are going through nothing more than a midseason malaise, combined with some injuries to key players. While the Hawks can pay lip service to saying that they thought this was an important game because they hadn’t beaten the Ducks, upon evidence on the ice I’m not buying it.

Tonight, it wasn’t so much anything the Ducks did. The Hawks for the first 40 were missing passes by feet instead of inches, they were bobbling whatever passes did actually land on tape, and just generally looked like they’d been at The Houndstooth a little too late last night. It seemed like the Ducks were even more conservative in this one than they had been in the previous two games. Usually, it was only one Duck forward in on the forecheck, which the the Hawks made harder than they had to too often.

Everything Else

Daddy's In The Doldrums: Ducks 2 – Hawks 1

By 1144 0

After seeing it in person tonight, I’m more convinced than I was before that the Hawks are going through nothing more than a midseason malaise, combined with some injuries to key players. While the Hawks can pay lip service to saying that they thought this was an important game because they hadn’t beaten the Ducks, upon evidence on the ice I’m not buying it.

Tonight, it wasn’t so much anything the Ducks did. The Hawks for the first 40 were missing passes by feet instead of inches, they were bobbling whatever passes did actually land on tape, and just generally looked like they’d been at The Houndstooth a little too late last night. It seemed like the Ducks were even more conservative in this one than they had been in the previous two games. Usually, it was only one Duck forward in on the forecheck, which the the Hawks made harder than they had to too often.

Everything Else

Squash That Fly – Hawks at Ducks Preview, Pregame Thread, Surf Lesson

By Matt McClure 1116 0

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Game Time: 9:00PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, NHLN (US), WGN-AM 720
Please No More California Songs: Anaheim Calling, Battle of California

Anyone who thought that tonight’s matchup between the Hawks and Ducks would be touted as a Western Conference final preview, let alone one between the two teams with the collective best records ever after 25 games is a damned dirty liar. That includes you, Bob Murray, put your stupid hand down.

Everything Else

That’s The Way That One Went: Ducks 2 – Hawks 2 (Ducks win fart-lighting contest)

By Sam Fels 1612 0

Sometimes, you tie.

This is my point with shootouts. Tonight was probably as even as you get, with both teams carrying some play and each benefiting for being harmed by a couple bounces here and there. But because we have to flip a coin to see who wins, the Hawks don’t get as many points as the Ducks. That’s how that goes.

The big point will be the Hawks power play, and that’s a valid one. Aside from Leddy’s goal, the Hawks barely threatened on the rest. And the gremlins from last year are creeping into it. Right now, it has about as much movement as a goth dance party, and that has to stop. It also wouldn’t hurt to try and create off the rush more than it is. Just because it’s a power play doesn’t mean you have to set up a system if something else is there.

Everything Else

That's The Way That One Went: Ducks 2 – Hawks 2 (Ducks win fart-lighting contest)

By 1065 0

Sometimes, you tie.

This is my point with shootouts. Tonight was probably as even as you get, with both teams carrying some play and each benefiting for being harmed by a couple bounces here and there. But because we have to flip a coin to see who wins, the Hawks don’t get as many points as the Ducks. That’s how that goes.

The big point will be the Hawks power play, and that’s a valid one. Aside from Leddy’s goal, the Hawks barely threatened on the rest. And the gremlins from last year are creeping into it. Right now, it has about as much movement as a goth dance party, and that has to stop. It also wouldn’t hurt to try and create off the rush more than it is. Just because it’s a power play doesn’t mean you have to set up a system if something else is there.

Everything Else

Here Comes The Zoo – Hawks vs Ducks Preview, Pregame Thread, Hard Disk Defragment

By Matt McClure 1313 0

vs

Game Time: 7:30PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, WGN-AM 720
Bro Hymn: Anaheim Calling, Battle of California

With a stretch of 10 of 12 games on the road to start the abbreviated season, including the last six, the Blackhawks finally return to Club 1901, this time in slightly more permanent fashion. With the next seven tilts on United Center ice, this has been the targeted time for the Hawks to make their hay since the schedule was released, assuming they survived the first quarter of the season. And at the risk of overstatement, it’s pretty fair to say they survived it just fine.