Faxes from Uncle Dale

Tag: Duncan Keith

  • Lock Up When You Leave

    Lock Up When You Leave

    It doesn’t look any better in the light of day I guess. While losing to the best team out there shouldn’t carry too much shame, you still feel the Hawks had a hand in their own destruction. We’ve been here for four exits, they’ve all been different. 2009 was simply not being ready and being outclassed, and that was the beginning. 2011 hurt because it was Vancouver and the Hawks were so close to pulling off that upset, but they really had no business even getting to a Game 7 and needed the Canucks to turn off for two games to do so. The Hawks wouldn’t have gone much farther that year anyway.

    It’s a little similar to 2012, where you definitely felt the Hawks left something out there. That was also self-inflicted, or partly, due to Crawford’s bad OT goals, a roster with holes again, and a great performance from Mike Smith.

    But we have to sort out the rubble, so let’s do so.

    (more…)

  • Jumped Into The River Too Many Times To Make It Home: Kings 5 – Hawks 4 (OT) (Kings Win Series 4-3)

    Jumped Into The River Too Many Times To Make It Home: Kings 5 – Hawks 4 (OT) (Kings Win Series 4-3)

    Box Score

    Event Summary

    Extra Skater

    I suppose it would be a cop-out for me to say, “What can I say?” But yet I’m left with nothing else. Before this series started, a lot of us thought it was basically a coin flip. It would be decided on such small margins and plays that it would be folly to try and handicap how it would go. And that’s what it did come down to. A Game 7 overtime, ended on a flipped shot that hits Leddy and floats into the net. Not some great play. Not some massive breakdown. Just a bounce. Didn’t go the Hawks way. Season over.

    It would hurt more if I could sit here and say that the Kings aren’t worthy Western Conference champs (and soon to be Stanley Cup champs). But no one around here is going to say that. Because they are. So would the Hawks have been. Just didn’t go their way. A classic series, one neither side will ever forget. Would be better if the Hawks won. But here we are.

    We could nitpick about this or that. There’s plenty of time for that tomorrow and the rest of the summer. I sit here and all I can think is that with all the Hawks had put in their way, especially recently but all season (mostly from within), this was as worthy a defense as they could put forth. This is going out on their shields. They made the next champs push to a level that no Kings fan thought they had within them. It’s not enough for now, but it’s hardly worth apologizing for.

    Let’s do it one more time, shall we?

    (more…)

  • Morning Links 5/30/14

    Morning Links 5/30/14

    Stellar Theater: Mr. Verdi

    Going back to Cali: CTA

    Not Dead Yet! HockeeNight

    Clearly we are a big hit “in the room”: Chicago Tribune

    and that’s ok: The Score Canada

    Hopefully DARPA can figure out how to fix Patrick Sharp: ABC

     

  • Forty-Six & 2 Ahead Of Me: Kings 4 – Hawks 5 2OT (Kings lead 3-2)

    Forty-Six & 2 Ahead Of Me: Kings 4 – Hawks 5 2OT (Kings lead 3-2)

    Box Score

    Event Summary

    Extra Skater

    It’s funny. We’ve been doing this blog for six seasons, and I think if you asked all three of us if there was a game that was simply beyond us, we wouldn’t have an answer. We might have one, which was Game 6 against Vancouver in 2009. But other than that, I really don’t think I’ve seen anything like tonight. Sure, at points both Finals against Philly and Boston reached a ridiculous pace. But there was an element of control in those.

    This? This was in-the-red, eyes-tearing, consciousness-erasing shit from just about the 2nd period on. If not the 1st. I can honestly say that at least from the 3rd period on I’ve never seen a hockey game played at that pace. This was going plaid. It felt like I was thrown on an untested roller coaster pumped full of coke and seated next to Ted Nugent.  (more…)

  • Forty-Six & 2 Ahead Of Me: Kings 4 – Hawks 5 2OT (Kings lead 3-2)

    Forty-Six & 2 Ahead Of Me: Kings 4 – Hawks 5 2OT (Kings lead 3-2)

    Box Score

    Event Summary

    Extra Skater

    It’s funny. We’ve been doing this blog for six seasons, and I think if you asked all three of us if there was a game that was simply beyond us, we wouldn’t have an answer. We might have one, which was Game 6 against Vancouver in 2009. But other than that, I really don’t think I’ve seen anything like tonight. Sure, at points both Finals against Philly and Boston reached a ridiculous pace. But there was an element of control in those.

    This? This was in-the-red, eyes-tearing, consciousness-erasing shit from just about the 2nd period on. If not the 1st. I can honestly say that at least from the 3rd period on I’ve never seen a hockey game played at that pace. This was going plaid. It felt like I was thrown on an untested roller coaster pumped full of coke and seated next to Ted Nugent.  (more…)

  • Morning Links 5/28/14

    Morning Links 5/28/14

    Well considering the other option is cottage…Sportsnet

    Rings do that: Suntimes

    Or do they? Daily Herald

    Let me get this straight…Rene Bourque..Playoff Hat Trick? TSN

    Whatever you do..Don’t tell Rick Telander: PuckDaddy

     

  • Morning Links 5/26/14

    Morning Links 5/26/14

    Game 4: NHL

    Happy to be back despite the result: Chicago Tribune

    Too many whistles: Suntimes

    THIS WILL NEVER EVER GET OLD!! Fan-Sided

    A Canadian team wins the”Cup” for the first time since the late 60s……..TSN

  • Morning Links 5/22/14

    Morning Links 5/22/14

    Clownshoes: Chicago Tribune

    The list of things better than the 3rd period is incredible: Hockeenight

    Blow by Blow results: Sportsnet

    Well I know who has a better diet: ESPN

    So much for timing: 538

  • Gonna Kick Tomorrow: Kings 6 – Hawks 2 (Series Tied 1-1)

    Gonna Kick Tomorrow: Kings 6 – Hawks 2 (Series Tied 1-1)

    Box Score

    Event Summary

     Extra Skater

    Well that was a weird one. I’m trying to think of another playoff game that the Hawks had in their pocket so clearly and then just let it slip out in such fashion. Game 3 and 4 against Detroit last year, especially Game 4, weren’t as bad as they looked. But they don’t measure up. Game 2 against Boston last year where the Hawks absolutely horsed the Bruins in the 1st period but only emerged with a one-goal lead came to mind. But the Hawks watched that one get turned over on them from the start of the 2nd on. Can’t really come up with one.

    Still, as good as the Hawks were for the first 38 minutes–and it may be as good as they’ve been this entire spring–two goals is still in that bloop-and-a-blast range. Well, the Kings got two bloops and two blasts, and the Hawks find themselves tied in a series they really should have by the balls. Part of the reason they don’t is the stubborn and insipid decisions their coach keeps on making.

    (more…)

  • Morning Links 5/20/14

    Morning Links 5/20/14

    This could change things: TSN

    2-0 Blueshirts: ESPNNY autoplay

    Somewhere in Buffalo…Tim Murray is smirking: Sportsnet

    Lance Johnson/Bill Cartwright he is not: CSN

    Real Problems and Imaginary Problems: MC79

    Portlandia in New York and Montreal: 538