Here Comes the Story of the Hurricane: Carolina @ Chicago Preview
by Killion on Mar 11, 2009 5:15 PM CDT
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GAME TIME: 7:30 CST
OPPOSITION BLOG: Canes Country
TV: Comcast RADIO: WGN 720AM
DON’T FORGET: YOUR SPG PICKS - remember the New Rule too
In case you haven't been followed this site too closely - Sam and I are cursed. Sam's mentioning it in the Indian tonight but it bears repeating here. I rip on Sundin - he's one of the first to score when the Nucks rout the Hawks. I call out Stamkos - he gets his first hat trick. Sam makes fun of Arnason - he gets 3 assists and the first star. There's also the fact that when Sam and I have watched a game together the Hawks are 1-3-0.
So for this preview lets try something different today, shall we? Lets just talk about Tuomo Ruutu.
I have absolutely nothing bad to say about Ruutu. A lot of pressure was put on him a few years ago when he was one of the most exciting Hawks. Before we knew Toews or Kane would be wearing the Indian head sweater there was Ruutu and his 44 point rookie season in the '03-04 season.
Injuries kept Ruutu from making any impact in the season following the lock-out as he played only 15 games. In the 06-07 season he started to regain what we saw his debut season as he played 71 games and netted 38 points. He wasn't quite the same though - it could have been the pressure of being asked to do so much with so little but no one could say it was because of a lack of effort.
Both writers of this site own a Ruutu sweater because he was the type of player you love having on your team. He wasn't scoring as much as we wanted but he was playing all out and laying out big hits any chance he got. It used to be that most games the Hawks looked as lazy and sloppy as they did last Sunday but Ruutu was usually the exception to that playing with intensity in games that weren't even close.
Last year at the deadline, Ruutu was sent to Carolina in a trade for Andrew Ladd in a trade that's worked out well for both teams. Both Ladd and Ruutu were 1st round picks that weren't living up to either team's hopes but the change of scenery has done them both well.
Ruutu has more 7 points than Ladd this year and has set a new career high with one more than his rookie campaign. Ladd may be the better all around player, though playing on a line with Havlat this year though will make anyone look amazing - get him the puck and just watch.
This will be Ruutu's first second game against the Hawks since the trade (he had an assist in the first one and as one of the Fifth Feather guys pointed out it was crushing 3-0 win for the Canes) and I'm kinda pissed that I won't be at the UC to see him. I may have even broken out the old #15 jersery for it. Former Hawks have a tendency to play well against the men of four feathers so keep an eye out for him tonight.
And just in case you wanted any actual insight for the game - here's a quick look at the Canes' season:
- They've had a rough run after their Cup victory but they're currently holding onto the last playoff spot in the East
- They've won the last 4 games in a row
- They've outscored opponents 23-6 in those games... yikes
- Their Power Play and Penalty Kill are both ranked 20th overall in the league
- Cam Ward vs. The Frenchman for goalies
I also think this a great time for a new Weekly Poll
Lets Go Hawks
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Scary game tonight
Carolina’s been playing great lately, very physical team, should be a tough matchup for the hawks tonight, going to have to play a hell of a lot better than they did this weekend to come close in this one
Lets Go Hawks!
This is actually Ruutu's second game back at the UC
He was on Carolina already last year when they came in spanked the ’Hawks 3-0 almost a year to the date.
FifthFeather.com
by El Duque's Raft on Mar 11, 2009 1:09 PM CDT reply actions
Damn..
You’re right. I thought they played each other last year but screwed something up in my search and didn’t find the game so I thought I made it up… of course now I found it.
Zamboni guys better be on their game tonight
or otherwise Ruutu will fall down 20 times tonight.
"Oh, that's easy. White Sox. I'm not one of these fair-weather fans. You go to Wrigley Field, you have a beer; beautiful people up there. People aren't watching the game. It's not serious. White Sox, that's baseball. South Side." -O'Bama
Ruuuuutu
Maybe all the talk about Ruuuuuutu will give him a little extra jump tonight, he is do for a goal or two.
Your gametime video feed and beer
No feed as of right now, sorry guys. That goddamn NAMBLA is cracking down on them tonight, apparently. I’ll see what there is come gametime.
Beer:
Founders Double Trouble
A pretty damn good double IPA, what I like most about this beer is the bottle art. Seriously, how fucking cool is that? (Turn your head upside-down, dumbasses.) To be honest, if I had my choice of IPAs or Imperial/Double IPAs, this wouldn’t be at the top of the list. Near the top? Maybe. Worth a try? Hell yes. The fact that this beer isn’t at the top of my list of IPAs probably says more about the quantity of quality of IPAs available than it does about this beer. Expect to be assaulted by hops from start to finish and be left begging for more.
Not sure how much time I’ll be able to devote to shooting the shit tonight — I really love game threads though — as I have an interview in a half hour and tons of shit to do for tomorrow, but I’ll probably be around regardless. Lesson plans? Fuck ’em. “There was a hockey game on last night.”
Go Hawks!
NOW STOP IT RIGHT HERE
UPDATE: TWO FUCKING FEEDS
HOLY SHIT.
Here’s one at justin.tv, the password for which is “fanbase”
The other one requires Sopcast and VLC, but it should be good to go as well: sop://broker1.sopcast.com:3912/48857 (SBN apparently doesn’t like sop:// links, so you’ll have to copy-paste that one)
If you download Sopcast and VLC and are still confused, check out this link for some instructions on how to use the two programs in conjunction.
NOW STOP IT RIGHT HERE
Dust off the #15 jersey
I will definitely be wearing my Ruutu Hawks jersey tonight. This is going to be a wake- up call for the Hawks, even if the Canes are in the other conference. They are on a roll right now and playing with the intensity of a team fighting for a playoff spot. If Soupy thought he had it bad last Saturday in Boston, just wait until tonight. Heads up Soupy… Tuomo Ruutu is in da houwwwse!!!
Really looking forward to the European games next season
You folks were fun to hang with a coupla weeks ago.
Not much need to ask who I’m pulling for in this one!
Eddie O seemed pretty surprised by it too
IS HE CALLING DIVING ON RUUTU? STOP IT RIGHT HERE.
NOW STOP IT RIGHT HERE
Ruutu 2 minutes for diving
So happy. I hate that flopper
"Oh, that's easy. White Sox. I'm not one of these fair-weather fans. You go to Wrigley Field, you have a beer; beautiful people up there. People aren't watching the game. It's not serious. White Sox, that's baseball. South Side." -O'Bama
Damnit Bolland, you're not Martylark!
that was a cute little move around the defender, but go to the goddamn net!
NOW STOP IT RIGHT HERE
I'd like to announce the founding of a new law firm
Versteeg, Versteeg, Versteeg, and VERSTEEG!
White Sox: Trying to roll a hard six.
Hey, a double minor penalty that wasn't committed by the Hawks!
Well, the HELL with this! I'm goin' home!
ruutu falls again
what a bum
"Oh, that's easy. White Sox. I'm not one of these fair-weather fans. You go to Wrigley Field, you have a beer; beautiful people up there. People aren't watching the game. It's not serious. White Sox, that's baseball. South Side." -O'Bama
I have to say that was a heck of a save on Campbell's shot
Well, the HELL with this! I'm goin' home!
not a good penalty to take
Lets Go Hawks!
clear the fucking puck damnit
Lets Go Hawks!
is kane going to miss every breakaway
Lets Go Hawks!
i dont know how he missed that one at the beginning of overtime off the post
that was a layup
Lets Go Hawks!
by CubsBall2202 on Mar 11, 2009 10:14 PM CDT up reply actions
I just hope it isn’t getting into his head. He’s too young to have to deal with confidence issues heading into the playoffs.
ya at least he buried one in the shootout
Lets Go Hawks!
by CubsBall2202 on Mar 11, 2009 10:29 PM CDT up reply actions
and the game now decided by a coin flip, er..shootout
Lets Go Hawks!
Sounds like I missed one of the best
games of the year. Caught most of it on the radio though. I’ve gotta say, Weideman and Murray are great to listen to. Unlike the Bears or the Sox, where a muted TV and a loud radio are a necessity, I almost never catch the games on 720.
Anyways, huge game tonight. Since the extra point doesn’t affect us with the Canes in the East, I almost think its better off that Toews took that penalty, leading the team to the big shootout victory. The bad taste from the past weekend had to be wiped out with that win.
Steve Stone replaced DJ, so watching the Sox on TV with sound will be worthwhile now.
NOW STOP IT RIGHT HERE
Yeah, that's a big plus.
I’m hoping Stone’s stronger personality will prevent Hawk from going too overboard on his homerisms in the booth.
I’ve lost my patience with his, “I tell ya, [player X] has the best [curve/splitter/swing/jump/reaction/grit/ass] I’ve ever seen!” routine.
Funny how Huet played so much better with Khabi coming off IR
Watching others run "The Hill" since 2005.
Eager to please
Steeg, Huey, … and BIG Ben! Hawks outshot the Canes in the 1st, but it still seemed like the chances were not that great and at times seemed like the Hawks were on their heels. And Ruutu definitely has the “I want to hurt my old team just like Owen Nolan does to the Sharks” attitude. The rest of the game was very exciting and I thought it was a different crowd that filled the UC after Versteeg’s goal than the sullen and quiet crowd in the first period (more beer?). Nice win boys! What a way to bring the crowd back into the game. Lets carry that intensity into the divisional game Friday night vs. the B.J.’s.
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