Faxes from Uncle Dale

Tag: Roman Josi

  • Aloha – Game 1 – Predators vs Hawks Preview, Instant Re-Finance

     vs 

    Game Time: 7:00PM CDT
    TV/Radio: CSN, NBCSN (US), TVA-S2 (Canada), WGN-AM 720
    Golden Showers: On The Forecheck

    The long national nightmare is over, The Chicago Blackhawks are once again playing hockey games that matter. And they’re doing so from their most advantageous position in four years, with home ice for as long as they remain in the Western Conference playoffs. For those counting at home, under Joel Quenneville the Hawks are 11-1 in series wherein they have home ice, the lone outlier being the 2014 Western Conference Final, which took to Game 7 in OT to end. That also remains the only series that the Hawks have ended up losing wherein they have taken Game 1. The road is laid out for them, and the first step is tonight on West Madison against the Nashville Predators.

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  • We R Who We R – Nashville Predators Playoff Preview: Goalies And Defense

    We R Who We R – Nashville Predators Playoff Preview: Goalies And Defense

    As is tradition here, we will break up our preview over two days. I’ll take the back end today, because most tend to think I’m a horse’s ass, and then Matt will be around tomorrow to take you through the forward group. So let’s dive right in before they drain the pool, shall we?

    Goalies

    Pekka Rinne: 31-19-9, 2.42 GAA, .918 SV%, .929 EV SV%, .862 SH SV%

    Ah yes, this old thing. You remember this. The Hawks have only faced one other goalie three times in the playoffs, and that would be Roberto Luongo. He was able to turn the tables on the Hawks at the third time of asking, but the 2011 team is not this team and the Predators are not the ’11 Canucks. When we first did this dance in 2010 it was a little scary facing Rinne, but then the Hawks punted him to a .911 over six games and won. In 2015 Rinne’s limitations were already well known to everyone, and while Crawford and then Darling took their turns swallowing mouthwash, Rinne couldn’t take advantage and put up a .909 over six games and was once again sent home. There’s no reason to think this will go any differently.

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  • The Sound Of My Ceiling Fan – Hawks at Predators Preview, Secret Menu Order

     at 

    Game Time: 7:00PM CST
    TV/Radio: CSN, WGN-AM 720
    Get The Red Out: On The Forecheck

    In what is looking more and more to be the case as games tick off the schedule, this will be the last meeting between the Hawks and Predators until Game 1 of the Western Conference Playoffs. And with both teams apparently locked into their respective positions within the division, tonight in Nashville and here on out remain about getting healthy and tightening up play more than about results.

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  • Bamboo Curtain – Predators vs Hawks Preview, Fridge Cleanout

     vs 

    Game Time: 6:00PM CST
    TV/Radio: WGN Ch. 9, WGN-AM 720
    Mike Ribeiro Is A Sex Criminal: On The Forecheck

    It seems like every single year the Hawks manage to have played more games than anyone in the first half of the season, with the entire rest of their division having games in hand up until the final week of the season. This year is no different, and what better way to pile on than with three games in four nights, all at home.

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  • Life Pass – Predators vs Hawks Preview, Guitar Tuning

    predator vs 250px-Ozymandias

    Game Time: 7:30PM
    TV/Radio: WGN Ch. 9, WGN-AM 720
    Mike Fisher Foundation For Women’s Rights: On The Forecheck

    Nothing like a quick turnaround to act as a palate cleanser after the Hawks’ first 0-2-0 start ever in the Quenneville era. Or for the more reactionary set, another opportunity to get in line to get off a sinking ship.

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  • Take Me To Another Land: Hawks And Predators Weekend Preview/Iggy Pop Lookalike Contest

    Hawk Wrestler vs. predator

    PUCK DROPS: 7pm Tonight, 7:30pm tomorrow

    TV: CSN Tonight, WGN Tomorrow

    YELLOW COLLARED TWEEKERS: On The Forecheck

    Projected Lineups

    blackhawks-lineup-card

    predators-lineup-card

    POWER PLAY (’15-’16): Hawks 22.6% (2nd)  Predators 19.7% (10th)

    PENALTY KILL (’15-’16):  Hawks 80.3% (22nd)  Predators 81.2% (16th)

    Predators Possession Stats

    Hawks Possession Stats

    Trends To Watch: James Neal has 14 goals in 23 career games against the Hawks, Jonathan Toews has 35 points in 41 games against Nashville

    With some personal commitments for all of us and Game 1 taking most of our attention anyway tomorrow, let’s just set up this old school divisional home-and-home all at once. After a pretty stinging loss to open the season, it’ll get no easier for the Hawks as they’ll open the Predators season, perhaps the most anticipated in Music City in their entire history.

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  • The Revolutionary Nature Of The Nashville Predators

    The Revolutionary Nature Of The Nashville Predators

    There’s a few reasons I’m fascinated by the Nashville Predators this season. One, they have my favorite person in the league now in P.K. Subban. They were already one of the more entertaining teams to watch before Subban even arrived. Whether or not John Tortorella was right about Ryan Johansen is something to be studied as well. The idea of them finally breaking through to the later rounds of the playoffs for a fanbase that has become one of the best in the league as well is another reason to watch.

    But what I’m really interested in seeing is that I’m not sure we’ve seen a blue line constructed like this before, and what it might mean for the future.

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  • We've Had Enough – Game 5 – Hawks at Predators Preview, Pregame Thread, Cross Examination

    oldschool at predator

    Game Time: 8:30PM Central
    TV/Radio: CSN+ (Ch. 201), NBCSN, SN360 (Anglo), TVA3 (Franco), WGN-AM 720
    Opryland Season Pass: On The Forecheck

    After 101 minutes of hockey that spanned Tuesday well into Wednesday, the Hawks are at long last in a position to advance in the post season. And that opportunity presents itself tonight in the form of the Nashville Predators once again at Bridgestone Arena.

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  • We’ve Had Enough – Game 5 – Hawks at Predators Preview, Pregame Thread, Cross Examination

    oldschool at predator

    Game Time: 8:30PM Central
    TV/Radio: CSN+ (Ch. 201), NBCSN, SN360 (Anglo), TVA3 (Franco), WGN-AM 720
    Opryland Season Pass: On The Forecheck

    After 101 minutes of hockey that spanned Tuesday well into Wednesday, the Hawks are at long last in a position to advance in the post season. And that opportunity presents itself tonight in the form of the Nashville Predators once again at Bridgestone Arena.

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