Hawks Travel to Music City: Hawks @ Preds Preview

by Matthew Dirt on Feb 24, 2009 12:58 PM CST in Game Threads Comment 91 comments

GAME TIME: 7:00 CST
OPPOSITION BLOG: On The Forecheck
TV: Comcast RADIO: WGN 720AM
DON’T FORGET: YOUR SPG PICKS - remember the New Rule too

This is it friends, once the Hawks finish this game they finally come back to our sweet home and play 16 in the UC and only 7 more on the road. For a team that's 15-5-5 playing in front of a home crowd that's something to be excited about. Of course they are also only 1-3-1 in the last 5 at home but lets not focus on that right now. Looking ahead will only get you in trouble so lets just focus on the Predators tonight.

The Hawks are coming into this game with a dead-even 1-1-1 record against the Preds so far this year and in none of those games (even the victory) have the Hawks put on a good show against this team. After being robbed of two points on Sunday's game lets hope the Hawks not only come out on fire but get a few of the breaks going their way tonight.

They're facing a team from Nashville that's quickly watching their playoff hopes slip away. They're 4 points out of the final spot now but they've played more games than anyone ahead of them (except for the Ducks) and they also just escaped being caught by the Blues in points with an OT victory this past Saturday. They'll need to start racking up some points and should be looking to start off a 5 game home stand the right way.

This would be yet another great game to break in Niemi as the Predators are the lowest scoring team in the league this year with only 138 goals and a 2.30 goals per game average. But with Huet playing as hot as he has been I'd expect to see him in the net once again. According to The Trib, Q also expects Khabby to be back in practice this week so Niemi could have just been practicing opening and closing the bench door during this trip. Rinne will be between the pipes for Nashville and he's been having a pretty great year. He's near the top of the league in shutouts (5) and his GAA is tied with two others for 5th overall at 2.23.

Who is he tied with? Well - one of those guys is our own Frenchie - Cristobal Huet. In fact, these two goalies are so alike it's scary. Check it out:

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2008 - Cristobal Huet	32	1827	17	11	3	3	68	2.23	834	766	.918	3

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2008 - Pekka Rinne	32	1779	17	10	1	4	66	2.23	856	790	.923	5

Same number of games played - same number of wins - identical GAA. The only place there's some break away is in SV% and Shutouts, with RInne having the edge.

Where we see some real separation in the teams obviously comes in the offensive production. Jean-Pierre Dumont leads the Preds with 42 points. That would put him 5th overall on the Hawks roster - just above Brian Campbell. Another big differece comes in +/-, the Preds have no one above +5 while the Hawks have 4 skaters who are +20 or better (and 15 above +5). The Predators also have 12 players with a negative CORSI rating, while the Hawks only have one - and that's Sopel.

This is running long - but I think it's fair to say that this is yet another team the Hawks should easily beat, yet have hard time doing so. If the Hawks play the game they played on Sunday it will take another phnonmenal effort from the goalie... so lets hope that doesn't happen. See you in the comments.

Lets Go Hawks

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Your gametime video feed and beer

Feed: http://atdhe.net/live-tv-2.php?i=899

Beer:

Bell’s HopSlam Ale
This is the first beer I’ve posted that I haven’t personally had, but from what my brother, a beer geek long before I was, told me about it, it’s more than worthy of being posted. He described HopSlam as “almost as good as [Dogfish Head] 90 minute [IPA],” which is good enough for me (we both agree that DFH 90 minute is the best IPA we’ve each had). Plus, chicagokill comments the most on these posts, and I’m well aware of his preference for IPAs. I’ll be picking some of this up this weekend when I’m in the ‘burbs. That reminds me — does anyone have any recommendations for micro/craft-brewed beers I should pick up when I’m home for the weekend? I’ve mentioned in a couple times, but Iowa has ass-backwards liquor laws which prevent a lot of smaller breweries from distributing here, so I’m going to stock up on good stuff to bring back to school.

Go Hawks!

OKAY NOW STOP IT RIGHT HERE

by mjthor on Feb 24, 2009 5:57 PM CST reply actions

I'll continue my streak of commenting on these...

I actually had the pleasure of trying this beer this weekend when I was in Cincinnati. Actually, we went over the border to Kentucky because booze is cheaper over there and they have one of my favorite things ever – pick your own 6-packs.

I’d been wanting to try this beer for a while but it’s insanely expensive – something like $17 for a six-pack. So when I saw I could just buy one I jumped at the chance, even though it was still $3 for the one bottle. I thought it was an awesome IPA but the price really turns me off. I still would have to agree with you mjthor and say DFH 90 is probably the best IPA and it’s cheaper than this one.

I’d really have to try more than just one beer to fully see how good it is (and not being very hungover while trying it would also help) but I don’t think I will unless I can drop less than $15 on some. I still recommend you try it though so you can tell me your opinion on it.

As for other suggestions – If you haven’t had it yet I’d suggest picking up Magic Hat #9. I used to drink it a lot when I lived out east and they just recently started to serve it in Illinois (or at least Chicago).

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