The Hawks look to get things going against the Beej, who are riding a decent point streak but are still in every way a completely moribund franchise. I wish they would relocate. They are in a medium-sized college town; their presence does nothing for the league. Stick them in Quebec City or Hamilton and you have a license to print.

With the two consecutive losses, the Blackhawks have gone from being head and shoulders above the rest of the league to merely being among the elite. Do the math, and their season is just about equal to what the Ducks are doing, without Sports Illustrated covers. So that's depressing, as is the fact that both regulation losses came to two of the worst teams in the conference, and now who do we get but the joke of the league, riding a hot streak. Can't take any game for granted, huh.

But it's okay! We have Jimmy Hayes on the second line now! Seems like the smart thing to do would be to put him on goal-screening duties while Kane, Bolland, and a defenseman are setting up the play (in honor of Jarome Iginla, whom I hope we get), but we'll see. I like that it keeps the other lines intact.

The Blue Jackets forecheck well, trap well enough, and try really hard, so the Hawks need to do much the same to stay in it.

Hawks are 21-2-3, adjusted 18-2-6, still six points above expectation
Jackets are 10-12-5, adjusted 7-15-5, two points below expectation
Hawks are down to 6th in scoring at 3.154, 2nd in goals allowed at 2.115, 1st in goal differential at 1.038 (still the only team averaging more than a goal per game in differential)
Columbus is 28th in scoring at 2.185, uh oh 13th in goals allowed at 2.667, 28th in differential at -0.481.

Let's remember what winning feels like.

_________________

Four dead in Ohio.

_________________
I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out. - Bill Hicks

Let's do it for Johnny!

Name a lyric from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's 1970 classic "Ohio"...

More importantly, Corey Crawford is in goal for the Blackhawks this eve in Columbus.

Today is Steak and BJ (aka "Beej") Day. Per Carl Jung, synchronicity is when God prefers to remain anonymous. I'll vote for Columbus over the CBH in the first round of the CSFMB MARCH MADNESS!!!!! tournament.

_________________

I thought that was the definition of coincidence?

_________________
I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out. - Bill Hicks

Let's do it for Johnny!

Ducks are in line for a nasty regression. They have the highest PDO and a below average possession team.

All hawks fans outside the arena right now.

_________________
That's my purse! I don't know you!

Lots of chances already.

_________________
Hawaii (fuck) You

Hawks looking okay. A little discombobulated on the second line, but it's to be expected.

_________________

well played, dee-dubs, well played. i reckon a proper argument of coincidence vs synchronicity boils down to the core argument of the universe being utterly random or not. i, for one, am amazed there aren't more big arguments about religion here on the CSFMB.

that said, the hawks better handle business if they're finna get this president's cup thing going cuz anaheim is something like 19-3-3 so there's only 4 points separating the hawks from the cream at the top of the scrum. also if they lose 3 in a row i reckon the real fearmongering will begin, with only edumacated hockey folk like Curious Hair here to stop plastic blackhawks fan nation from jumping off the ledge like a poorly played game of lemmings.

_________________

Beat me to it. Bastard.

_________________
Kid Cairo's Boers & Bernstein YouTube Channel

Kid Cairo: 2013 March Madness Tournament Winner!

"Cowabunga? Cowa fucking piece of dog shit! This game is diarrhea coming out of my dick!"

No tv for me have to reply on phone and you gays

_________________
Elections have consequences.

Oh yeah, speaking of.... SINICALYPSE'S KEY TO THE GAME (Brought to you by KIA) is NOT giving up 4 goals in the first period. That seems to be the Hawks' achilles heel this year.

_________________

Plastic Blackhawks fans reveal thyselves.

_________________
Hawaii (fuck) You

Dumb of Shaw to take himself off the ice for five minutes. I was hoping he would clock Calvert by the end of it just to make it worth it.

_________________

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

This game has serious shit sandwich tendencies.

_________________

No it wasn't ....teams know to body the Hawks so you have to drop them every now and then....do you know hockey???????

_________________
I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Helluva save

_________________
I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

But Shaw isn't even a good fighter. None of them are. I believe in fighting as a deterrent when you have people who can deter, but there are no Stu Grimsons on this team. There are barely any Stu Grimsons in this league.

_________________

Great thread title, Curious.

Someone corrected me, as if perhaps I had misheard the lyrics to a famous CSNY song about a famous incident and not simply refashioned it to better fit the game thread.

400 points for Patrick Kane.

_________________

Fuuuuuuuck what a saucer. Nasty.

Too bad they gave it right back. This kill is shit without Sharp. Lol at us for thinking it was all Michael Frolik and Marcus Kruger who had us running an elite kill unit.

_________________

I giggled.

_________________

Shaw beat his as and your berstien attitude for a collison sport is way of base

_________________
I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Tell me more about how players unsuited to fighting should fight and lose.

_________________

Towes and Thorton...tell me MORE

_________________
I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

His long one puts goalies in tough positions...

_________________
team Mully & Hanley
team Meatpants

Yeah, that was stupid and accomplished nothing, and if the refs held Toews to the standards to which they hold meathead fourth-liners, it would've been a 2-2-5-10 for instigating, instigating with a visor, fighting, and misconduct.

_________________