That was certainly a throwback. I was almost sure those kinds of games were pretty much relegated to the past but apparently David Backes’ mere presence made everyone so angry tonight that we took a trip back in time. A feisty one for sure, but one in which the Blackhawks answered their head coach with an important divisional road win.
It’s a late-hate so let’s just get to some observations about this one.
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PUCK DROP: 7pm
TV/RADIO: WGN For both
THOSE WHO CAN’T WRITE FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T READ: St. Louis Gametime
When you’re a team that is still trying to settle at least half the roster, and you have two returning d-men who have been out at least a month, you’d probably prefer a softer landing than traipsing down across Big Muddy into the gaping maw of the hellscape that is West East St. Louis. But you don’t get to raise objections once the schedule comes out (unless you’re Detroit), so that’s the task ahead of the Hawks tonight.
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PUCK DROP: 7pm Central
TV/RADIO: NBCSN, WGN Radio 720
GOOD GOD DON’T GO THERE: St. Louis Gametime
The Hawks continue their home tour through what are perceived to be Western Conference powers, wrapping up against the Blues after seeing the Ducks and Kings in consecutive home games. Obviously, the Oilers on Sunday will break that streak (emphasis on “break” HAHAHA OILERS FANS I SUBSIST ON YOUR TEARS!) And just like every other time the Blues come in here for the first time in a season, they tell us it’s different this time. Sure it is Mr. Sherman…. everything stinks….
Now that we’ve laid out what we think about the Hawks, it’s probably time to peruse the other squads they’ll actually be competing with in the division and the West. And looking around, it’s hard to find a team that has taken a huge step forward to a point these Hawks can’t reach (assuming everything goes right for them). The only one that looks poised for a major leap, while knowing that one or two teams will get one through luck or weirdness, is Dallas. But Dallas looked like that last year, and it doesn’t look like they’ll take a big enough jump to overtake the Hawks. Let’s get through it all.
The holding pattern arrived earlier this year. For those of you who are new to our little prison riot here, when we hit July and August most of this becomes my own stream of consciousness. So I’ve got some thoughts to spit out about the Hawks and others today, if for no other reason than I’m bored.
We had a nice little Twitter kerfluffle yesterday when I retweeted a reporter in Miami saying that the Hawks and Panthers had a deal for Patrick Sharp but ol’ Shooter nixed it. It was from CBS Miami’s David Dwork (I only just realized what an amazing name that is). Of course, any time you do this there’s a counter surge from others saying that this is all poppycock and their sources say that the teams haven’t spoken in weeks. Sometimes I wonder if this isn’t for effect more than actual reporting so everyone can cover their ass. Either way, it’s kind of impossible to know what the real truth is.
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FACEOFF: 7pm Central
TV/RADIO: CSN Locally, NBCSN not locall, WGN Radio 720
WRETCHED HIVE OF SCUM AND VILLAINY: St. Louis Gametime
WHERE WE’LL BE FOR IT: A.J. Hudson’s (Ashland and Grace here in the city)
Well, you tell me what we’re going to see tonight. It’s hard to imagine that the Hawks would just lie down for a game against the Blues. But then again it was hard to imagine them waving their hand at the thought of overcoming the Wild at home last out in the 3rd when a single point would at least lock them into 3rd. The Hawks aren’t out of danger of falling into the wild card slots, though it’s not clear if that matter or if they care about it. And I don’t know either.
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FACEOFF: 6:30pm Central
TV/RADIO: NBCSN, WGN RADIO 720
METH COUNTY PICAYUNE: St. Louis Gametime
Well it’s a whole St. Louis-Chicago thing tonight, ain’t it? Not that any St. Louis resident will be aware that there’s a hockey game tonight. But there is, and it’s an important one, and this could be the first of up to nine contests between these two teams in the next three weeks. Tasting your lunch again? Thought so.
Box Score
Event Summary
War On Ice
Natural Stat Trick
It wasn’t the prettiest of road trips but somehow the Hawks head back to Chicago with 8 points and a 4-3-0 record for their last extended road trip of the season. This victory couldn’t have come at a better time for the Hawks. They’re pulling away from the Jets and closing the gap on the Blues/Preds. Now the Hawks will get 8 in a row at the UC against a few softball opponents and a few that should provide a good gauge on just where the Hawks are in the league.
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FACEOFF: 11:30 in the AM
TV/RADIO: NBC, WGN Radio 720
DESPERADOS, MUGS, THUGS, PUGS, NITWITS, HALFWITS…: St. Louis Gametime
The last step of the trip is almost certainly the hardest, so why not make it at an awkward morning start just for kicks? The Hawks will step into the hornets’ nest this morning. If hornets smelled way worse than they do and were on a fuckton of meth. Such is a Sunday morning coming down in Missouri.
