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Ides Of October: Flames 2 – Hawks 2 (Flames win Paper Football)

By 1320

Box Score

Natural Stat Trick

Hockey Stats

You live by the shootout, you die by it. Or you just take them to mean nothing because they don’t. While some will use this as an excuse to say everything’s fucked, it really isn’t. The Hawks, even as off their game as they were tonight, mauled the Flames at even-strength (which doesn’t say much for Glen Gulutzan Glen Ross). Once again, the penalty kill cost the Hawks a point this time, as it did in Nashville, and in Columbus, and would have against the Leafs if they didn’t get the two minute drill right.

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This Isn’t My Beautiful House: Flames at Hawks Preview/TSA Training

By 1251

vs. 

GAMETIME: 7:30pm

TV: CSN. NHL Network outside the 606

RODEO CLOWNS: Flames Nation

RECORDS: Cal And Gary – 1-4-1   Hawks – 3-3-0

Projected Lineups

flames-lineup-card

blackhawks-lineup-card

SCORE ADJUSTED CF%: Cal And Gary – 50.2% (15th)  Hawks – 50.5% (13th)

POWER PLAY: Cal And Gary – 4.0% (Dead ass last)  Hawks – 20.8% (10th)

PENALTY KILL: Cal And Gary – 74.2% (23rd)  Hawks – 42.9% (Dead Ass Last)

TRENDS: Gaudreau and Monahan were a combined -8 against St. Louis last game, the Flames power play is 1-for-25

Much like the Hawks, the Flames start to the season hasn’t exactly kicked into gear like they’d hoped (and getting skulled twice by the Oilers probably hasn’t helped matters much). Cal and Gary stroll in with only one win and three point of the 12 that were on offer. And some of the same problems have bothered the Flames that have bothered the Hawks.

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I Hate Myself and Want to Die – Around the NHL – Pacific Division

By 1877

And so now we move west, young men and women to the hellhole that is known as the Pacific Division. Once the place where Vancouver collected 100 points by merely having a pulse, the division has seen a bit of a makeover since realignment. The Kings, Ducks and Sharks have all taken turns setting the coast on fire while Canada weeps. Where does this year leave us? Follow the jump, suckas.

Everything Else

Maybe They’re Lookin’ For Answers – C.I.’s Season Preview: Schmaltz Sounds Like A Delicious Drink

By 1684

I don’t know if there’s excitement over Nick Schmaltz’s potential to contribute to the Hawks or more desperation after looking up and down the forwards and realizing he’s about the best chance for any secondary scoring. If it’s the latter… that’s not a good thing, as Corky St. Clair would tell us.

It’s hard to gauge what to even expect out of Schmaltz. The Hawks seemed pretty frantic to get him out of Grand Forks (sidenote: shouldn’t it be easy to convince someone to get out Grand Forks), which gives you the idea that they want him here and  not Rockford. Perhaps they think that much of him, perhaps they see the lack of anyone who can make a play in the offensive zone outside of Toews and The Fun Time Boys on the second line. Most likely, it’s a combination of the two.

But it isn’t exactly easy to make the jump from a sophomore in college to contributor in the NHL. Is there recent precedent?

Everything Else

The Difference Between Me And You Is That I’m Not On Fire – Hawks at Flames Preview, Provincial Referendum

By 1350

evil empire at The Flame

Game Time: 9:00PM Central
TV/Radio:  WGN, Sportsnet, WGN-AM 720
Learn How To Wear A Tie, You Fat Sloppy Irishman: Flames Nation, M & G

After four days off for everyone around the organization to prattle on about urgency and jump and turning on the switch and whatever other nonsense they can spew, the Hawks now take to the road in the northwest not to salt away a division, but to keep themselves out of a wild card position thanks to their own ineptitude.

Everything Else

Hell Came To Breakfast, Stayed For Lunch – Flames vs Hawks Preview, Car Winterization

By 1285

eternal flame vs evil empire

Game Time: 7:30PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, SportsNet 1, WGN-AM 720
Rodeo Clown Convention: Matchsticks & Gasoline, Flames Nation

The Jack Adams Award for the best coach during a given season has in recent vintage gone to numbnuts coaches who have helmed teams who drastically outscore their woeful posession numbers. Last year’s winner, Bob Hartley, proved no different as the Flames made a surprise entrance into the post-season and actually won a round against the hilariously mediocre Vancover Canucks. But as so often proves to be the case, a new season provides a violent market correction, and this year’s iteration of the Flames is not an exception.

Everything Else

Jet Set Ready – Hawks at Flames Preview, Pregame Thread, Firmware Upgrade

By 1299 0

oldschool at pyro

Game Time: 8:00PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, WGN-AM 720
Downtown Cowtown: Flames Nation, Matchsticks and Gasoline

And so it begins, the annual rite of passage known as the Circus Trip. This year, the Hawks kick off the six game roadie in Calgary, to face a numbers-defying Calgary Flames team who already took a bonus point away from the Hawks last month on United Center ice.

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A Lion Doesn't Concern Himself With The Opinions Of Sheep – Flames vs Hawks Preview, Pregame Thread, Tae Bo Session

By 1375 0

flames scorch vs oldschool

Game Time: 7:00 PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, SportsNet, WGN-AM 720
Burkie’s Fightin’ Barn: Flames Nation

For the first time in like 58 meetings or some unholy number, the Flames actually marched into the United Center last November and emerged with two points thanks to Kris Russel’s seeing-eye overtime point shot that eluded Corey Crawford, one too many points left on the table by last year’s Hawks team. Both teams are in similar positions nearly a year later, with the Hawks maintaining championship aspirations, and the Flames still figuring out how to be competitive in the post Iginla era.

Everything Else

A Lion Doesn’t Concern Himself With The Opinions Of Sheep – Flames vs Hawks Preview, Pregame Thread, Tae Bo Session

By 1257 0

flames scorch vs oldschool

Game Time: 7:00 PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, SportsNet, WGN-AM 720
Burkie’s Fightin’ Barn: Flames Nation

For the first time in like 58 meetings or some unholy number, the Flames actually marched into the United Center last November and emerged with two points thanks to Kris Russel’s seeing-eye overtime point shot that eluded Corey Crawford, one too many points left on the table by last year’s Hawks team. Both teams are in similar positions nearly a year later, with the Hawks maintaining championship aspirations, and the Flames still figuring out how to be competitive in the post Iginla era.