vs 
Game time: 6:00PM CST
TV/Radio: WGN Ch. 9, WGN-AM 720
Press The Flesh: Bottom Lounge – 1375 W. Lake St
Breath, Blood, or Urine? – Battle of California, Anaheim Calling
Let’s try this again, shall we?
After another disappointing but incrementally less awful loss to Nashville last night, the Hawks are right back up on that pogo stick tonight against the visiting white hot Anaheim Ducks before hitting the road on the Circus Trip. Deeez Duuuckz enter tonight’s game having won 6 in a row, the last of which came on Friday night against the Stars. You would think that if the Ducks were going to pull a run like this, it’d be Jonas Hiller doing cock pushups in net, but the Swiss backstop is only toting around a middle of the road 2.84 GAA and .919 save percentage. No, it’s been the unfortunately ageless Teemu Selanne freaking the fuck off, with 7 goals and 12 dimes, and 7 of those points have come during the current win streak. Countryman and linemate Saku Koivu has also been reanimated, with
7 points of his own during that same time. Oh, and then there’s that whole mastadonic top line of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Bobby Ryan, who have 19,18, and 17 points of their own, respectively. Ordinarily, this would be where Marlboro 72 would step in and take the reigns on a line like that, but given pairs right now, which ever one draws that assignment is going to have its hands, and likely mouth, full. The Ducks blue line, formerly the bedrock on which their Cup run was built, is a ghost of what it used to be. But somehow, Toni Lydman is trotting out there with a +10 during 23 minutes a night of ice time. Rookie Cam Fowler has been alright learning on the fly, with a goal and 5 helpers, and only sitting with a -1, which is an actual accomplishment for a rookie defenseman.
For our Men of Four Feathers, we said a 3 point weekend before departing for the road would be absolutely necessary, so with last night’s shootout loss to the Preds, that makes a win tonight necessary. There’s not a lot new to say, and apparently Quenneville feels the same way, only telling Rogers tonight’s lineup will be “comparable” to last night’s, whatever the fuck that even means. The bottom six have been keeping their end of the bargain. No one in the top six has scored a goal in over a week now, since the Atlanta game. It’s time to fix that shit. The Ducks give up a next-to-last in the league 36.2 shots a game, so the opportunities will be there. Get Hiller moving and get in his face, those are a couple of the very few ways to get the puck past a goalie that’s habitually given the Hawks fits, even when they’ve been playing well. Corey Crawford goes tonight in net for the Hawks, as Turco gets a rest following last night’s game.
There are only so many times and so many ways for us to say it, but an inspired effort would be a pleasant way to head into the work week and for the Hawks to embark on their road trip. Oh, and it’ll make for a far brighter mood during the post-game get together at the Bottom Lounge, 1375 W Lake St., whose bus will be waiting on Wood north of Madison after the game. Show your issue of the Indian and get the first round. Seriously, no bullshit. Sam, Killion, and myself will all be there afterward, and I believe Kills will be there to watch the game. Met your fellow readers and enjoy a beverage or 30. Hopefully we have a pleasant outcome to discuss. It’d be a welcome change. Let’s go Hawks.