Box Score (Barf)
Even Summary (Puke)
War on Ice (Spew)
One thing needs to get cleared up right from the get go. Any talk of this being retribution for the Vegas trip or the players being too drunk and/or hungover from it is completely stupid and lazy, and anyone who writes that is stupid and lazy. On any given night a solid handful of players on every team are dehydrated or sleep deprived from nights spent out drinking or chasing things, and to not believe that is to be fooling one’s self.
vs. 
FACEOFF: 9pm Central
TV/RADIO: WGN for both here in the 606, various Sportsnets for those in the Provinces
GOTTA FIND A ROOM BUT RUNNIN’ OUTTA MONEY: Anaheim Calling, Battle of California
The Hawks continue their California swing tonight with the first half of a back-to-back in Orange County and then up to Silicon Valley, which is weird because you’d think you’d schedule the back-to-back like they did in November with the two Southern California teams but WHATEVER. At least the Hawks will catch the Ducks on the second half of their back-to-back in the same arenas. Have I said “back-to-back” enough? You want some more? No? Ok then.
vs.
FACEOFF: 9pm Central
TV/RADIO: WGN for both here in the 606, various Sportsnets for those in the Provinces
GOTTA FIND A ROOM BUT RUNNIN’ OUTTA MONEY: Anaheim Calling, Battle of California
The Hawks continue their California swing tonight with the first half of a back-to-back in Orange County and then up to Silicon Valley, which is weird because you’d think you’d schedule the back-to-back like they did in November with the two Southern California teams but WHATEVER. At least the Hawks will catch the Ducks on the second half of their back-to-back in the same arenas. Have I said “back-to-back” enough? You want some more? No? Ok then.
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:
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.
Whenever the Hawks hit a rough patch these days, a big debate rages whether it’s just midseason boredom/malaise/market correction, or genuine flaws being exposed that need addressing. The answer is almost always both, and tonight was a pretty prime example of all of that.
vs 
Game Time: 7:00PM Central
TV/Radio: NBCSN, TVA, WGN-AM 720
Computer Blue: Hockey Wilderness
If familiarity breeds contempt, then the Hawks and Wild should downright hate the sight of one another at this point after 11 playoff games in the last two seasons on top of the mandatory divisional contests. And even after this one there are still two more matchups in the season series. But a third straight playoff matchup is in doubt if the Wild cannot get themselves turned around in short order.
Box Score
Event Summary
War On Ice
On Tuesday night the Hawks put 54 shots on goal and not only lost, but were shut out. Tonight they were outshot 44-20 and won 4-2. Hockey is weird. It’s especially weird in the middle part of what often feels like an interminably long 82 game season.
This has been a post that I’ve have bubbling underneath the surface for a bit (i.e. right under where the hair should go but doesn’t because my genes suck). After last night’s… whatever that was, the problems Oduya is having couldn’t really be in clearer relief. So let’s dive into the numbers, and some other things, and we’ll see just how far off O.D. is from the player that had the organization and fans so smitten.
I would guess that a lot of times, you sign on here after a game expect us to reveal some nuanced view of the game or point out something you may have missed that led to the result or to at least dig deeper than what you’ll get in the mainstream. Tonight is not one of those nights.
This one’s on me and McClure. McClure in the preview and me on the front page of the Indian didn’t spare any words shitting on Varlamov, and then pointing out that probably set us up for a 45-save shutout. Well, reverse the numbers there and that’s what we got. Pat and Eddie can bitch about that bitch Annette Frontpresence all they want, but when you toss 54 shots on net you’re not going to have someone in front for all of them. I’m sure when the shot charts to this one are available, the Hawks will have as many from in close as they have in any other game.
