Everything Else

Pour Me Another – Round 2 vs. Minnesota Preview: The Forwards

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Finishing off the other half of our preview of the Green Men from St. Paul, today we move to the forwards. There is a step up in class from Nashville for the Hawks in this one. While the Preds were certainly not bereft of talent and depth among their forwards, the Wild have a higher top end with theirs and probably more depth as well. Whereas the Preds didn’t really have a 4th line, the Wild most certainly do and it’s one that has driven the Hawks nuts for a few years now. While the Wild’s D cannot play at the same pace that the Preds’ defense could, their forwards probably aren’t going to find a pace they can’t handle.

The other change in gear for the Hawks is that the Wild are far better and deeper down the middle than the Predators were. That makes for a problem, but not one the Hawks can’t handle.

So let’s get to it.

Everything Else

2nd Leg: Hawks at Wild Preview/Pregame Thread/Re-shelving

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Hawk Wrestler vs. Zakk-Wylde-by-Ivan-Chopik

FACEOFF: 7pm Central

TV/RADIO: CSN for the locals, NBCSN for the non-locals, WGN Radio 720

GOIN’ CRAZY OUT BY DA LAKE DERE: Hockey Wilderness

This road trip broke up nicely into two distinct legs, and I’m sure the Hawks categorize them as pre- and post-Vegas. Hopefully that two-day stop in Sin City left the Hawks feeling refreshed instead of lethargic. Not that they had too much to complain about, because even though they ended up 1-2 the effort over the three games was mostly, mostly ok. It wasn’t perfect, and probably not even close, but a bounce here or there and they could have walked with a maximum six points instead of only two.

Everything Else

Kneel Down Ye Sinners To Streetwise Religion: Wild 1 – Hawks 4

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War On Ice

Box Score

Event Summary

Natural Stat Trick

You wouldn’t like the Hawks when they’re angry. At least not if you have to play them.

While the worry of a malaise setting in is still very much real, at least the Hawks care enough to respond to a truly dogshit effort, like the one they put up on Friday. Even on their third game in four nights, the Hawks came out looking to prove something, and basically had this one dead and buried by the end of the 1st. They could have been up four or five after 20 with a couple different bounces. The Red Wedding Line was on another planet. They were certainly playing a different sport than the Wild had ever seen. Kane’s line wasn’t that far behind, and Shaw-Teuvo-Sharp may have been better than both of those but didn’t scratch. Total team effort. And Oduya and Hjalmarsson only got scorched once!

Let’s get to it after the jump.

Everything Else

You Should Be Proud Homer…You Got A Lovely Home Here: Hawks at Wild Preview/Pregame Thread/Overdubbing

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Hawk Wrestler vs. Zakk-Wylde-by-Ivan-Chopik

FACEOFF: 7pm Central

TV/RADIO: CSN Here, NHLN Everywhere Else, WGN Radio 720

I’M GOING CRAZY OUT BY DA LAKE DERE: Hockey Wilderness

The Hawks and Wild begin what would be a traditional, divisional home-and-home with the Wild here on Sunday, the kind that used to turn into a Saturday night on a payday weekend in Muskogee (JR FOREVER!) when it was the Hawks and North Stars, except for the small matter of a ridiculous trip to Edmonton and Friday night separating the contests. Either way, you’ll get a lot of Wild in your life this weekend, if that’s something you wanted (it wasn’t).

Everything Else

Once More Unto The Breach – The Committed Indian's Season Preview: So Now You Know Who Gets Mystified

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Continuing our spin around the Central, and today we’ll look at the Minnesota Wild who became a far more annoying playoff opponent than anyone thought they would. People forget just how good Crawford had to be in Games 5 and 6 to keep the Wild at bay (in those games where Peter Regin was among the best Hawks forwards and then was never heard from again). It could work out that way again.

Everything Else

Once More Unto The Breach – The Committed Indian’s Season Preview: So Now You Know Who Gets Mystified

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Continuing our spin around the Central, and today we’ll look at the Minnesota Wild who became a far more annoying playoff opponent than anyone thought they would. People forget just how good Crawford had to be in Games 5 and 6 to keep the Wild at bay (in those games where Peter Regin was among the best Hawks forwards and then was never heard from again). It could work out that way again.

Everything Else

Minnesota Post Mortem

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I’m not too sure there’s been a series in this era of Blackhawks Era that when it was over the overwhelming feeling was relief. But that’s how it goes when you’re outplayed, and at times massively, for at least three and probably four games and yet you still come out of it. Life finds a way.

All of it leaves Hawks Nation in a strange position of being delighted to be back defending the Western conference championship but pretty urpy about what might come next. Probably a pretty good time to take a state of the union as the Hawks sit halfway to another parade.