Everything Else

Angry At Numbers

By Sam Fels 1572 0

That time again, let’s geek out a bit.

-2.29

This is something we’ve harped on all year, but it’s worth revisiting because it’s so ridiculous. This is Patrick Kane’s CORSI/60. Both his normal linemates at the moment, Jimmy Hayes and Dave Bolland, are below -10. Sharp’s around where Kane is. So even though that line wasn’t good in terms of possession when Sharp was around, it was better than it is now. And yet Kane is in the top five in scoring in the NHL.

How? Well, Kane is shooting 8 points above his career average in shooting percentage, so that helps. But it’s not just goals for Kane, obviously, as he he would be on pace for a career high in assists too. Basically, Kane is getting hits while down 0-2 in the count pretty much every at bat. He doesn’t get a lot of looks in the o-zone as you’d like, and yet he’s making something happen in almost all of them. Kane starts 54% of his shifts in the offensive zone. Only 48% finish there. What if that were higher? Well, Sidney Crosby wouldn’t be running away with the Hart race, I think.

Everything Else

Clockers: Flames 0 – Hawks 2

By Sam Fels 1205 0

When this season-in-a-can started, we heard a lot of who the one plus of it was that every game would mean something, and the players were looking forward to the intensity of each and every game.

Yeah, about that….

This one had the feel of a mid-January or February trudge in a normal season. After the Holiday excitement, with the playoffs too far away, you know how it goes. Just a run of the mill regular season game that both teams looked like the best reason they were there was because they had to be. After all was said and done, the Hawks ended up with a 2-0 win not akin to when your boss comes in and says you did a good job on a project you have no recollection of working on. At least I assume that happens. I wouldn’t know, I’ve never worked in an office.

Everything Else

It's The Royal We Want: Kings at Hawks Preview/Pregame Thread/Dead Sea Scrolls Interpretation

By 1049 0

vs.

FACEOFF: 7pm Central

TV/RADIO: NBCSN, WGN Radio 720

WHY DID I MOVE TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA?: The Royal Half, Surly and Scribe, Jewels From The Crown

After two weeks, four games, and maybe slightly more teeth-gnashing than there should have been, the Hawks return home to start the sprint to the finish of the season. It begins with the third home back-to-back of the year, kicking off with a visit from the champs, the Los Angeles Kings.

Everything Else

It’s The Royal We Want: Kings at Hawks Preview/Pregame Thread/Dead Sea Scrolls Interpretation

By Sam Fels 1206 0

vs.

FACEOFF: 7pm Central

TV/RADIO: NBCSN, WGN Radio 720

WHY DID I MOVE TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA?: The Royal Half, Surly and Scribe, Jewels From The Crown

After two weeks, four games, and maybe slightly more teeth-gnashing than there should have been, the Hawks return home to start the sprint to the finish of the season. It begins with the third home back-to-back of the year, kicking off with a visit from the champs, the Los Angeles Kings.

Everything Else

Oh Right, That Happened: Blackhawks 2 – Ducks 4

By Matthew Killion 1140 0

As great as this season has been so far, the dirty little secret so few of us like to talk about is that there’s a team that is playing just about as well as the Blackhawks right now.  Despite an outrageous record of 24-2-3, totaling up to 51 points, the Hawks do not have as solid a grip on the Western Conference lead as you’d imagine. Somehow, the Ducks are right behind them. This was a game that had a bit of extra weight to it – two of the top teams in the league facing off in what could be an important piece to the battle over who will win the conference…. And the Hawks blew it.