Everything Else

oldschool at Lumberjack_Song

Game Time: 9:30PM CDT
TV/Radio: WGN, TSN, WGN-AM 720
The Truth Is Out There: Nucks Misconduct, Canucks Army

With last night’s OT loss to the hapless Flames in Cow Town, the Hawks are officially in the midst of their longest losing streak since the 9-game debacle that nearly completely derailed the 2011-2012 season. And while things aren’t nearly that dire yet, the Blues have already tied the Hawks for first in the Central and have games in hand, and the road trip prior to the Olympics takes a much sharper turn toward icky starting tonight with their old friends the Canucks. Though given the state of things in Vancouver of late, just how icky can be debated.

Everything Else

Lumberjack_Song vs oldschool

Game Time: 7:00PM Central
TV/Radio: CSN, NHLN (US), TSN (Anglo), RDS2 (Franco), WGN-AM 720
Baby, I’m An Anarchist: Nucks Misconduct, Canucks Army

In years past, a matchup like this at the height of the holiday fervor would have been circled and starred on the calendar. But as has been highlighted ad nauseum, whatever juice this rivalry once had has been diluted not only by time but by realignment as well, and the game in Vancouver last month was a decidedly tame affair that reinforced the notion. This will be the Canucks’ only visit to West Madison in the regular season, However that is not to say that this game is meaningless for either side.

Everything Else

Thanks for pardoning the Saturday night wrap. You know how these things go.

While the players said different on both sides, and there was still some yapping and some gatherings after whistles, there’s definitely some heat out of the Hawks-Canucks rivalry. As more and more distance is put between the Playoff Trilogy, and each team has more and more its own things to deal with, that’s going to continue. It was always a rivalry built on this crop of players, and the more they change then it will fade out.

That doesn’t mean last night’s win didn’t feel particularly good, because it did. Maybe it’s partly because it was Vancouver, and maybe it was beating another team almost certainly using the game as a measuring stick. It was weird, until taking the lead I thought the Hawks were carrying most of the play. But as soon as they were up 2-1 it was bunker time, even though they weren’t the team that had played the night before. But whatever works, right?

Everything Else

AltLogo at Lumberjack_Song

Game Time: 9:00PM Central
TV/Radio: WGN Ch. 9, NHLN (US), CBC (Hosers), WGN-AM 720
Blackfish: Nucks Misconduct

Now the circus trip moves to its most western destination in British Columbia, where where the Hawks and Canucks will renew acquaintances and rekindle what’s now left of one of the more volatile rivalries within the boundaries of Lockout 2.0 and Lockout 3.0.