Everything Else

Jonny, Anze, and Sidney: A… Story

By 1808

I know it probably seems like I’m harping on Toews too much lately. But with the main story with the Hawks being that they only have one line, it seems only fair to focus on the main reason there aren’t any other lines scoring. And that quite simply has to be the captain. Quite frankly, I can only write so much about how Trevor van Riemsdyk pretty much sucks but there aren’t any replacements on the roster or in the system.

When I started to look at  Toews’s numbers, it became clear that it would make sense to compare him to the two players he seems to be mentioned with most, either here or in the mainstream. That would be Anze Kopitar, who we’ve often compared him to because we think they’re basically the same guy, and Sidney Crosby who the rest of the world wanted to compare him to (even though Sid is or was obviously better, and if you don’t think so I’ll just point you to him averaging over three points per 60 even strength minutes multiple seasons.

There’s kind of an intriguing curve with these guys and just about all at the same age.

Everything Else

Morning Links 9.3.2015

By 1321 0

I’m sure this will be overblown:Chicago Tribune

I’d bet the over:WGN

Next up The Human Shield? Blackhawk Up

This will be a common question:SCH

This made my head explode more from confusion than outright anger:SunTimes

This will be CarBomb’s Legacy and I for one am damn proud:Globe&Mail

Finally good news:NHL

Hard-Working Devil:PuckDaddy

Even with Sid, I don’t see the ROI:TSN

I’m assuming people will have an issue with this:Sportsnet

 

Everything Else

Bad Self Portaits: Penguins At Blackhawks – Preview/Pre-Game Thread/Teeth Cleaning

By 1331 0

The_Penguin @ AltLogo_medium

Game Time: Way too fucking early
TV/Radio: NBC/WGN720
Too Many Goddamn Bridges: PensBlog

Well Toews and Crosby have already faced each other… so who the hell cares about this game anymore? The Hawks dismantled the Pens last year in very similar weather conditions in yet another outdoor game and then won in a shootout earlier this season. Therefore, Toews is clearly the better hockey player and nothing else matters, right? Right.

Ok, so maybe not. It’s still going to be a treat to watch two of the best centers in the league face each other. No doubt the broadcast crew is going to push some sort of rivalry between the two but when they only get to play each other two times a year at best, there’s really not that much there.

Everything Else

It’s Hard To Leave When You Can’t Find The Door: Hawks 2 – Pens 2 (Hawks win paper football)

By 1084 0

Box Score

Event Summary

War On Ice

Natural Stat Trick

So I guess closing with a flourish isn’t on the cards, huh?

The Hawks got the two points, and that’s probably all that matters with the Hawks in something of a rut this month (though I don’t know if all teams would consider a 5-5 record this month a rut, but such are the standards round these parts). But against a Pens team stripped of Letang, Malkin, Hornqvist and Maatta, you’d like something a little better than pinned back for at least the last 30 of the game, coughing up a two-goal lead that really should have been the platform to close this one out easily. That’s how it’s going right now.

Everything Else

It's Hard To Leave When You Can't Find The Door: Hawks 2 – Pens 2 (Hawks win paper football)

By 1214 0

Box Score

Event Summary

War On Ice

Natural Stat Trick

So I guess closing with a flourish isn’t on the cards, huh?

The Hawks got the two points, and that’s probably all that matters with the Hawks in something of a rut this month (though I don’t know if all teams would consider a 5-5 record this month a rut, but such are the standards round these parts). But against a Pens team stripped of Letang, Malkin, Hornqvist and Maatta, you’d like something a little better than pinned back for at least the last 30 of the game, coughing up a two-goal lead that really should have been the platform to close this one out easily. That’s how it’s going right now.

Everything Else

Mirror Mirror: Hawks at Penguins Preview/Pregame Thread/Smithereens Listening Party

By 1054 0

oldschool vs. penguinblog2_440

FACEOFF: 6:30pm Central

TV/RADIO: NBCSN, WGN Radio

YINZER YAHOOS: Pensburgh, The Pensblog

Two darlings of the midseason that have started to cough and wheeze (well, “started” isn’t correct but you get it) meet up tonight near the confluence of the Monongahela River and the Allegheny that form the Ohio River (I’ve watched far too much baseball in my life). While the reasons for the loss of titan status for both, they’ll recognize the struggles of each other.

Everything Else

Lousy Smarch Weather: Blackhawks 5 – Penguins 1

By 1184 0

Box Score
Event Summary
Extra Skater

I could not have been more excited about the Blackhawks playing at Wrigley Field back in 2009. The Hawks were still on their way up and there was finally energy back in the stands. I gladly paid hundreds of dollars for two tickets for my brother and myself to sit in centerfield, lose all feeling in my toes and fingers to watch the Hawks get off to a fast start before getting demolished at the hands of Scum. This year, while I was tempted to go to the game and even had tickets offered the day before, I couldn’t muster up the same excitment. Whether it was my ongoing headcold or just my disinterest in Soldier Field compared to the iconic Wrigley, I just wasn’t as excited. That doesn’t mean the game didn’t turn to be a pretty exciting and beautiful spectacle though. It just means I was happy to have been watching it from a bar where I only had to walk 5 feet to get a new beer and not worry about whether I would lose a toe.