Chicago Hawkie

This should be an interesting game.  The Dallas Stars are the only team in our division that the Hawks have had some real success against this season.  It looked like a big rivalry was brewing, with the Stars' Antoine Roussel hitting every Hawk in sight.  We'll see whether a ricalry does indeed develop ...

The Hawks have another chance to prove themselves to teams in their own division.  If the Hawks win, they will break even against teams in the division.  It will be importat for the Hawks to win tonight, because it will show that the Hawks are gearing up for the playoffs by improving their intra-divisional game.

I don't know what we'll get from the Predators ... one of the Hawks' worst losses this season came against that team.

The rest of my family are in Michigan, so they cheer for the Red Wings.  I hope they do well in the East, although it's rather heretical for a Blackhawk fan to cheer for the Wings and vice versa.     I always found the Oilers interesting, given their 1980s history ... but I only really have time for one team. 

@goalnut3133

Thank you, goalnut!     I haven't been spending much time on the boards lately because my work schedule has been brutal as of late ...

I thought this was a good game (particularly for the Flyers), but from the way it began, it looked like the Hawks were going to run away with it and perhaps repeat the outcome of the first game between the two teams.  I am also glad that we finally beat the Blues!

@Vanflyer

Thank you also, VanFlyer.      As I mentioned to goalnut above, I think the Hawks could have run away with this one.  Perhaps the Hawks sat on their lead too early in the game ...

One thing that always irks me about the Hawks is sometimes we take stupid penalties, and those always happen at the worst times!  I know it's important for the Hawks to assert themselves and are more often than not outhit in the game, but if the Hawks make a parade to the penlaty box, more often than not, a loss is what the final result will be.

@DBizzle99

Hi! 

Welcome to hockeyforums, from the resident (sort of) Blackhawks fan! 

It's always great to see fans of different teams here, especially Western conference teams since the Blackhawks are the only original 6 team in the conference now.

I thonk the Hawks and Stars have the makings of a great rivalry.

This is a good thread topic.

I can;t really say when, but I think that of the Canadian teams, the Leafs and the Canadiens have the best chance (although Carey Price getting injured right after the Olympics ended hurts).  I wouldn't count out eh Jets, either ... I think they can make a playoff upset if they make the playoffs, but probably won't get to the Finals. 

The Flames have too long a rebuild road ahead of them, IMO; it hasn't worked out for the Oilers (Perhaps they should focus on drafting skilled defensemen), and the Canucks have been shooting themselves in the foot with bad general management decisions (They need a new GM, IMO).

"On Tuesday, the Hawks meet the Blues, wh they haven't won at all against this season, so it won't get any easier ..."

Oops ... my bad.  I meant Wednesday.  It's going to be the featured Wednesday night rivalry game.

@jammer2

I think so ... I hope the Hawks aren't getting too complacent, but that's what it looks like.  The Wings would be in a far better position had they not suffered so many injuries to key players, also.

I want to stick it to my Wings fan family members, but the Hawks need to get out of this rut for that to happen.

@Lightning fan

Hey there!     Welcome to hockeyforums!

I think the Hawks have a chance tomorrow, but I agree, mainly because of the Wings' injury problems.  The Wings seem to struggle with injuries just about every season lately, but this year, it has gotten ridiculous, because of the players who have been injured.  I think they are having a good season despite these setbacks ... and who knows how good Detroit could be had it not been for the injuries?

Yeah, the Hawks have been coming out flatter than a pancake lately, and Coach Q is not happy about it.  On Tuesday, the Hawks meet the Blues, wh they haven't won at all against this season, so it won't get any easier ...

The Hawks lost the first of the two games, but will I get even in my family rivalry? 

It's too bad these teams meet just twice a year now ... I'd like to stick it to my dad and brother. 

Seriously ... the Hawks need to get their act together because they've looked rather lethargic lately.  I'd like to see them get it together against their traditional rival tomorrow.

Not only have the Hawks been falling flat as of late, but we're not doing so great against teams in our own division.  I still think the Hawks have a chance to repeat a Stanley Cup championship, but that's all it is: a chance.  The Hawks have losing records this season against the Blues and Avalanche, which are two teams that the Hawks could meet in the playoffs.

The Hawks have a losing record against divisional opponents thus far ... something like 9-11-3.

@jammer2

I hope not, but I would not be too surprised if that happened.  The Avs have some players that are Hawks assassins (e.g. Paul Stastny and Matt Duchene, to name two).  I always refer to Paul Stastny as "Stastny the Nasty" because he always seems to rack up points vs. the Hawks.

@jammer2

I heard a little about it after Salo was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in 1999.  Salo was even brought to tears during those arbitration hearings before being traded.

Marian Hossa will miss 3 weeks with what is described as an upper body injury after Saturday night's game with the Penguins.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any more information than this - there wasn't much info on the Blackhawks' website.

This is the fourth of five games this season vs. the Avs.  The Avs have the upper hand in the season series thus far.  It will not be an easy game for the Hawks, with Marian Hossa injured again.

Hopefully, he will realize his potential with the Hawks.  We'll see what happens.  I haven't really kept up with all the trade talk because of a busy workweekend ...

@yave1964

@jammer2

I agree, also.  I think Bolland was underrated at times and the Hawks assumed that others would be able to fill the void.  Ott going to the Blues makes an already tough Hawks rival even tougher.

It was a good game for the Hawks, who had struggled offensively before this game.  It was also a fun game to watch ... except for all the stoppages to shovel some of the snpow off the ice.

Mike Milbury isn't exactly a genius, either, IMO.  He;s had a few good moments (such as coaching a Stanley Cup finals Boston Bruins team in 1990) but has also had "other" moments. 

The arbitration talks with Tommy Salo, when Salo was an Islander goalie, comes to mind ... Milbury dissed everything about Salo, including his goalie mask.

@Daerialadrian

Welcome to the hockeyforums! 

I didn't start watching hockey until 1996, but wish I could have been watching earlier (I grew up in the 1980s which is my favorite hockey decade after having read about it).  As for a favorite team, allow me to suggest the Chicago Blackhawks! 

Looks like we're still on track for tonight's game.  I still think the time should have been pushed to earlier today, though.

@yave1964

I think this would be a very interesting Stanley Cup matchup if it did happen.  Particularly for Marian Hossa.

@Polaris922

That's a good point.  The Hawks haven't quite been bringing their best game lately.  I think it would have been better to schedule this in a couple of weeks.  Oh well ... it should still be fun to watch. 

@B21

It could be.  I heard it was supposed to snow all Saturday night here into Sunday morning.  I have to work this weekend, too ...

Not exactly the best time to have it, though ... .  The Chicago winter continues, and the Hawks' offense has, of late, gone south ... not for the winter, but to the winter.

The "game within a game" tomorrow night will be, of course, the weather.  It is expected to be snowing at Soldier Field during the game, which makes me wonder if the gme time should have been pushed back?

Hawks lose 2-1

We almost got shut out in this game against Ranger rookie Cam Talbot.  So, that's two losses this season to the Rangers ... it looked to me like the Hawks don't seem to match up well with that team.