Chicago Hawkie

Quack quack!  It's time to meet the Anaheim Ducks! 

I don't have a lot of time to post right now because I had to get some things done after work today (but I'll be back shortly before the game starts and during the first intermission before I have to go to bed and get up for work tomorrow).

I'll just say this will be a tough one for the Hawks because last night's loss to the Wild was our 2nd in a row and the Hawks could not beat the Ducks last season.

I wish I didn't have to work tomorrow, but the fact is ... I have to work two weekends on a row ... BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO -urns (I'm getting a little Simpsons-esque there)!

This game notwithstanding, the Jets seems to be doing quite well in the last month.

Hawks down 1-0 after one

Matt Cooke scored to make it 1-0 Wild.  Josh Harding is having a great game, and his GAA seems smaller than an atomic particle. 

@TropicalFruitGirl26

I wonder if this trend will continue this season, where the road team wins in this series. 

I think both teams are considering this must-win, but the Wild may have more of a reason to consider it must-win.

@Rink Rat

I hope Crow has a good game, too.  Kane's been on a bit of a scoring run, so I think that will continue.

@TropicalFruitGirl26

Very true!  I think special teams will indeed be the make-or-break in this game.  It appears that the Hawks are on the losing side if they take too many penalties as opposed to if they stay out of the sin bin.  The best way to kill penalties IMO is not to take them in the first place.

@goalnut3133

"I picked Hawks to win in Pick 'Em.  Looking forward to this match-up!  Wild is another of my fave teams to watch, esp Harding & Parise."

Maybe the Hawks will become a favorite team for you, too ... .  I am looking forward to this game!

It's hard to say how this one will turn out.  The Hawks have been kind of mediocre against teams in their division, but have done well against the Pacific division.

@jammer2

This time, I am hoping your prediction does not come true ...

It's Round 3 of a new divisional rivalry!  The series is tied at one game apiece, but that will soon change.

One of my favorite lines as the series was being previewed (Can't remember whether it was David Kaplan of SportsTalk Live or Hawks broadcaster Pat Foley or someone else entirely)  who noted that the Wild defensive pairing of Matt Dumba and Clayton Stoner sounded "like college roommates". 

Bummer ...

The Hawks made a valiant comeback attempt, but could not complete it.  Antoine Roussel scored on a penalty shot in the 3rd period to put the Stars ahead for good.  Roussel, of course, threw down with Andrew Shaw at center ice in the 1st period.

Unfortunately, the Hawks could not capitalize on a 5-3 in the 3rd period.

@jammer2

"Alain is a big drama queen."

   You can say that again.  I remember back in Dec. 2010 when he was complaining about the Hawks running up the score in a game that the Hawks won 7-1.  That season (2010-2011) was also the one where Dave Bolland made his famous statement about the Sedin "sisters" who "probably sleep in bunk beds".

The Hawks-Canucks rivalry was lit up like a Christmas tree back then, but I remember all too well how that season ended for the Hawks in the first round vs. the Canucks.

Time to watch the second period ...

... before hitting the sack to go to work tomorrow.  I hope the Hawks turn it around in this game (or else someone at work will come whining to me about what a bummer the game was  ).  -_-

Alain Vigneault is no stranger to Hawks fans, either.  There's some history there, so I had to laugh when I saw the title to this thread. 

That's gotta be tough; I'm sorry to hear that.

It's seems like the Wings have had more than their share of injury trouble in the last two seasons ...

Hawks down 2-0 after one

I hope this isn't a letdown, but I can see how the first game back home can turn out this way after a long road trip like that Circus Trip that the Hawks finished Saturday.

Stars rookies Valeri Nichushkin and Alex Chiasson scored the goals.

Andrew Shaw and Antoine Roussel squared off like rock 'em sock 'em robots at center ice with 5 minutes to go in the period.  Shaw was looking to teach Roussel a lesson after Roussel was running around like a maniac in the previous game and taking liberties.

All right, GAME ON!

Let's go Hawks!!

@Rink Rat

Thank you! 

The Stars have struggled a little lately, but I think it's going to be a gritty game tonight,  I would not be surprised if it goes all the way to a shootout ... and then some, like their game last week. 

They're playing very well as a team.  The Hawks have done well against them this season, but they are definitely not an easy team to face, and I'd be afraid for whatever team draws them in the first round, if they make the playoffs.

@goalnut3133

I'm looking forward to both of these games!

Minnesota will be a tough opponent, I think.  Harding had some good games vs. the Hawks in the playoffs last year, IMO.

Sorry to hear about your game against Smashville ( ) ... the Predators are hard to gauge, but I won't forget them hammering my Hawks 7-2.

It's Round 3 for the Hawks and Stars tomorrow night.  The Hawks won both games thus far, both of them being in Big D.  The most recent game, however, ended up in a shootout that seemed like it would go on forever.

It's the Hawks' first home game in over two weeks!

@goalnut3133

I think the Hawks will do fine vs. the Blues now.      Earlier in this season, it seemed like the Hawks were trying to come together as a team after an off-season break that was too short.  The Circus Trip allowed them all to come together as a team and roll out 4 lines.

The thing I've noticed about Raanta is that nothing seems to faze him ... he could have the entire opposing team right in front of him and it doesn't seem to bother him.

Hawks win 5-2 to end Circus Trip

The Hawks ended their Circus Trip with 6 straight wins.  Five different Hawks scored in this game.  That's a trend that I've noticed lately - balanced scoring.  Antti Raanta, the Hawks' backup goalie, is looking a lot like Antti Niemi when he was a Blackhawk.

Hawks' discipline going south as Coyotes make it close

Johnny Oduya took two penalties in the second period and Nik Hjalmarsson's unsportsmanlike penalty (because he couldn't stop chirping) cost the Hawks as the Coyotes narrowed the Hawks' lead.

Antti Raanta (who at times is reminding me a lot of a certain former Hawks' goalie named Antti ) is having a good game but he can't be expected to bail us out all the time because we're taking up residence in the penalty box.

@Rink Rat

I know the feeling.  On workdays, I have to get up early to catch the bus and get to work at 7AM (I don't drive), so most of the time, I can only watch some of the game and DVR the rest, then try to watch the rest as I am getting ready for work and having breakfast.  If I can't get the rest of the game on before I leave for work, I have to make sure my coworkers don't spoil it for me. 

Hawks lead 3-0 after one!  Awooooooooooo Awoooooooooooooooooooo Awoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Three different Hawks scored to put us up 3-0, to the delight of the many howling Hawks fans at Jobing.com Arena in Phoenix.  It sounds almost like a Hawks home game, and Mike Smith is proving to be mortal!

Kane, Shaw, and Hjalmarsson scored the goals.  The Coyotes have gotten into penalty trouble, which has benefitted the Hawks.