vs. 
GAMETIME: 6pm
TV/RADIO: CSN, WGN RADIO 720
OTHER GUY’S LIGHTHOUSE: Lighthouse Hockey
Finally, the black and red (or white, black, and red tonight) get back to the ice. I suppose you couldn’t ask for an easier path to get the legs going again than the Islanders and Oilers back-to-back. For the first couple games here, the Hawks will have to lean on their non-Olympians. Dave Bolland, Troy Brouwer, Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg (assuming he can get the staples that have him pinned to the bench out of his ass), I’m looking at you. Buff, I’ve given up on you, and am hoping that you’ll be packing your bags tomorrow morning. I’m tired of looking at your sour puss. Anyway, Anttii Niemi gets the start tonight, his fifth straight, as Q wants to ride the “hot hand”. How giving up 12 goals to the Stars, Thrash, and Jackets constitutes a hot hand in beyond me. But the heat is off in my apartment, so I can’t fathom warmth of any kind right now Iron Madden also returns to the lineup.
I’d sit here and tell you the Islanders aren’t very good, but I tried that last March and the Hawks proceeded to play possibly their worst game of the season in a loss at the UC. The Islanders aren’t as bad as they were last year, but that doesn’t make them a juggernaut (don’t you know who I am? I’m the…sorry, got off on something else there). They’re in last in their division, and six points out of a playoff spot. There is some talent here though. I’m looking forward to seeing how John Tavares and Kyle Okposo play, because they’re clearly the lynchpins of the Isle’s rebuild. Matt Moulson has jumped from nowhere to bag 22 goals. Mark Streit kicked out skulls in last year, and has been off form the Swiss team for almost a week, so he shouldn’t be too fatigued. In the “Oh you don’t say, dipshit?” category, Rick Dipietro is hurt and will not play. Expect Roloson to get the start, and expect a lot of meatballs to call for his acquisition if he plays well at all.
–Reminder: Our first post-game party at The Bottom Lounge after the game tomorrow. 1375 W. Lake st., upstairs.
Fire away.