Well atleast he will get to play now: ESPN
Felix and Oscar: ST
AHL Expansion: OCR
It can’t be worse than helmet stickers during the WCs:PD
In a surprise to no one: TSN
Tag: Duncan Keith
-
Hang On Loosely: Hawks 3 – Kings 4
Not exactly how you want to start a trip that isn’t going to have much margin for error to begin with. And while the downfall was due to a familiar problem (mostly), it’s not one that you fear is going to be a long-lasting one. At least you certainly hope so.
Still, the Hawks once again couldn’t even draw a point out of a game in which they were tied or had the lead in the 3rd, and that is worrisome. You have to close these, especially when Nashville may never lose again. Which is what they did against Washington, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Dallas. I don’t expect it to continue, but a couple more and we can’t label it an anomaly anymore.
Let’s get to it:
-
Top-Forty Castoff From A Record Stand: Hawks at Kings Preview/Pregame Thread/Brake Check
vs. 
FACEOFF: 9;30pm Central
TV/RADIO: CSN for the locals, NBCSN for the non, Sportsnet for the Hosers, WGN Radio
THE DEAD PRESIDENTS: The Royal Half, Jewels From The Crown
The post All-Star Break… well you can’t really call it a rush until March or so, so I guess portion? Section? Let’s all agree February kinda sucks and move on. Anyway, there’s no stoppages at least from tonight all the way until the Hawks pack up the bags at some point in the spring. And of course it kicks off with a stop in L.A. to begin the California swing of this six-game roadie. Because why start off easy?
-
Hit The Reset Button
So the break is over, I’m back from vacation (NOLA!!!), and I think it’s a good time to reset and see where we are and what we should be watching for.
-The Hawks sit three points back of the Preds, though having played two more games. And making up ground this week is not looking all that likely. While the Hawks are doing the California swing (not as daunting as it could be but certainly not easy), the Preds get the Avs twice around one game with the Blues, which you know is going to overtime or a shootout.
If ground is going to be made up, it’s probably after that. During the second leg of the Hawks’ trip, the Preds see the Ducks and Rangers, though also the Maple Leafs. And then when the Hawks hit that eight-game homestand (which actually serves up a fair amount of hanging curves), the Preds see both Florida teams, the Jets, the Sharks, and the Islanders before their schedule softens up.
If the Hawks can stay where they are with the Predators through this road trip, which shouldn’t be that hard without Pekka Rinne, and then collect 13 of a possible 16 points on that homestand (look at the schedule, not unreasonable), the Preds would have to go just 5-4 through the same stretch to stay even. And by then they’ll have Rinne back. So yeah, it’s going to be tough.
-
Atop The Sugar Pile – All Star Break Edition
With the weekend-long bacchanalia of sponsors and meaningless events now upon the NHL season and no actual Hawks game until late Wednesday night at Staples, now is as good a time as any to take a look at where things stand.
-
It’s Hard To Leave When You Can’t Find The Door: Hawks 2 – Pens 2 (Hawks win paper football)
So I guess closing with a flourish isn’t on the cards, huh?
The Hawks got the two points, and that’s probably all that matters with the Hawks in something of a rut this month (though I don’t know if all teams would consider a 5-5 record this month a rut, but such are the standards round these parts). But against a Pens team stripped of Letang, Malkin, Hornqvist and Maatta, you’d like something a little better than pinned back for at least the last 30 of the game, coughing up a two-goal lead that really should have been the platform to close this one out easily. That’s how it’s going right now.
-
It's Hard To Leave When You Can't Find The Door: Hawks 2 – Pens 2 (Hawks win paper football)
So I guess closing with a flourish isn’t on the cards, huh?
The Hawks got the two points, and that’s probably all that matters with the Hawks in something of a rut this month (though I don’t know if all teams would consider a 5-5 record this month a rut, but such are the standards round these parts). But against a Pens team stripped of Letang, Malkin, Hornqvist and Maatta, you’d like something a little better than pinned back for at least the last 30 of the game, coughing up a two-goal lead that really should have been the platform to close this one out easily. That’s how it’s going right now.
