$3 Where’s That Confounded Bridge? $3 The Committed Indian The REal Fan’s Program secondcityhockey.com March 22nd, 2009 [email protected] GEORGE IS GETTING VERY NERVOUS We are doing are very best to be the the opponents are denting twine soon after, days for L.A. On Thursday, they came from last ones to hit the panic button. After all, you and the Hawks have to build from scratch. At two down with 10 minutes left to win in OT in should feel better after reading this. So we’re one point Friday, the Oilers has 4 goals on 16 Boston. Friday night, they got pecker-slapped not hitting it yet. But we’re definitely taking shots. That’s simply unacceptable. by the resurgent Penguins. For a brief period stock of where it is, calculating how long it The Hawks have been defensively in February, the Kings were, shockingly, will take, figuring out the best route to it, and curious lately, but not significantly more putting themselve right in the middle of the stretching to make sure we don’t pull a triceps than they were early in the year. But no playoff-chase-gangbang. However, taking or an oblique when we decide that it’s time. one noticed then, because both Huet and only three of the last 10 points, and 7 of the What was so disheartening about Khabby were bailing them out. This team was last 24, has left them seven points adrift of Friday is, there’s so few things to complain definitely built with strong goaltending as the 8th seed, and there won’t be any post- about. The Hawks outworked the Oilers by a the foundation; both Huet and Khabby were season hockey in Southern California this year. wide margin. They showed incredible heart Top-10 in SV% and GAA until recently. But Unfortunately, having not much to by tying the game 4 times! Havlat reverted now that rug has been pulled out from under play for doesn’t mean the Kings are going to mutant-form. Seabrook was a wrecking the Hawks, and they won’t turn it around to just make up the numbers today. Coach ball. Hjalmarsson was better than he was on until Khabby, or Huet, once again provide the Terry Murray always gets a max effort from Wednesday, and Barker was in fine form as top-tier goaltending that the Hawks obviously his troops. The Kings also boast perhaps the well. Even Brian Campbell, wading through require. most promising blueline anywhere, with Drew boos everytime he touched the puck, had a Still, if the Hawks show as much Doughty, Kyle Quincy, and Jack Johnson all good game. determination and spirit as they have the past appearing to have very bright futures ahead But this month, every mistake, every two games, they will get out of this, and soon. of them. Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, and bounce, every break has ended up in the Weren’t You Just Here? especially Alex Frolov have been about as Hawks’ net. What’s one mistake they’re mak- We thought Edmonton was the pleasant for the Hawks to deal with as herpes. ing? HAVING MATT WALKER IN THE FUCKING perfect opponent to break the slide (and we It’s our forecast that next season, people will BUILDING! A couple months ago, we lauded were partially right. The Hawks were superior talk about L.A. they way people talked about Walker’s play. But we did that in the context in a lot of areas, except the one that counts). the Hawks earlier in the year. that this was a #6 defenseman who was play- Unfortunately, today’s opponent -- the Kings We’re all twitchy. It has not been ing above his head, and the Hawks were on -- are ones we’d least like to see. Not only a pretty three weeks. It could get very ugly the House’s money with him. Well, the thing have the Hawks struggled with them for two next week. The Hawks need a win today more about #6 d-men is that they occasionally will seasons now, but here’s a team that is going than they’ve needed a win all season. They’re play like a #7, or a #8, or a #43 d-man. When to do all the things the Hawks hate. Clog the going to have to play one of their best games that happens, they have to be removed. Ed- neutral zone, work their asses off, keep the to get it. The Kings are more than capable of monton’s second goal on Friday wouldn’t have game on the boards, finish their checks, and exploiting a mistake or a shaky goalie. If the happened if Walker hadn’t stupidly pinched quick forwards to harass our increasingly- Hawks do not come up with two points today, down with Keith already deep in the offensive jittery d-men. like most men, we’re going to go searching zone leaving Kris Versteeg stranded, with- This will be the third game in four for that red button (naughty boys...).-Ozzy out even a volleyball to keep him company. Edmonton’s fourth goal wouldn’t have hap- pened if Walker wasn’t loitering-with-intent- of-idiocy by the faceoff dot while Gagner was streaking up the middle. Hopefully, Walker’s benching in the 3rd period on Friday is a por- tent of things to come. All In All, We Need More Bricks In The Wall With all that being said, the fact that these mistakes and bounces end up in goals- against means the callous eye of blame can only gaze at the visages of Mssrs. Huet and Khabibulin (my, wasn’t that fucking poetic?). The Hawks simply have not gotten any big saves this month when they needed them. To boot, both goalies have let in soft goals. Sure, both of them have made big saves, but not when the Hawks had tied the game, or were leading. Thus, these saves weren’t preserv- ing momentum, merely putting the Hawks on more pins and needles. When the Hawks have taken leads or battled back and are rolling, Barry Rozner picks the subject for that day’s column FROM THE EDITOR criticism. Here was a bunch let down by some bad goaltending, one As you all probably know by now, I’m not very grown-up. clueless defender, and some ridiculously bad bounces. Yet, they That would have to be the case for me to start a publication like kept plugging away. I just felt awful for them. this. There have been very few moments when I’ve looked like Heading out, I saw a group of Oilers fans celebrating in the anything resembling an adult. As I come to to the business-end of concourse. There cannot be a more inoffensive bunch than Oilers my first season in this post, I find myself regressing. fans. They seem a pleasant, happy, polite, well-informed bunch Sports have always been far too big a who are probably just cold ALL THE TIME. priority in my life (the Cubs are certainly the And yet the thought of physical violence still reason I’m terrified of committment). Going to crossed my mind. I’m regressing, people. watch a soccer game at a bar cost me a transfer Mind you, I’ve never carried out any of of colleges once. I skipped a test in high school, these violent thoughts. Maybe that’s what seper- causing me to flunk that class, because Kerry ates me from the true mouth-breathers. I guess Wood was pitching against Tom Glavine in ‘98. I should be appreciative of the face that I am un- I didn’t leave the house for three days when Jer- able to grow up. It’s way more fun this way, and emy Roenick was traded (though that might have I don’t have to move to some ridiculous place something to do with having nowhere to go). like Cleveland to satisfy a bitchy wife. And you These days, as I have more than an lot win out too, because I do this thing, and you emotional investment in the Hawks, I’ve become Sam Fels seem to like it. So if you ever see my attempting even more petulant. I nearly picked a fight with to mature, hand me a beer, hit me on the head, a middle-aged Penguin fan after Malkin had bur- whatever you think it takes. But still, keep me ied the overtime winner. I honestly thought about climbing over a from taking these losses too hard. There’s a balance to be found. couple of rows to get after a particularly obnoxious Scum fan during the Winter Classic (imagine how obnoxious that must be!). Friday -WGN has been running an ad for today’s game that reads as fol- may have taken the cake, though. lows: “Sunday: the Hawks try and keep the Kings from getting on I found Friday’s loss truly draining. The Hawks truly left the throne.” That seems awfully rude. In the words of Tommy it all on the ice. Every skater, aside from Matt Walker, was above Chong, it’s not cool to supress bodily functions, man. NHL STANDINGS *late game not included Eastern Conference Western Conference W L OTL PTS GF GA HOME AWAY W L OTL PTS GF GA HOME AWAY 1 Boston 45 17 10 100 239 170 24-6-6 21-11-4 1 Scum 48 15 9 105 270 212 26-5-4 22-10-5 2 New Jersey 47 21 3 97 222 173 26-10-1 21-11-2 2 San Jose 47 14 10 104 230 175 29-3-4 18-11-6 3 Washington 45 23 6 96 238 216 26-9-2 19-14-4 3 Calgary 41 24 6 88 233 218 23-9-4 18-15-2 4 Philadelphia 38 22 10 86 226 203 21-10-4 17-12-6 4 Vancouver* 38 23 9 85 213 191 22-11-4 16-12-5 5 Pittsburgh 39 26 8 86 232 219 21-12-3 18-14-5 5 HAWKS 37 22 11 85 229 190 18-8-7 19-14-4 6 Carolina 39 28 7 85 213 210 22-13-1 17-15-6 6 Columbus 38 28 6 82 201 200 23-11-2 15-17-4 7 NY Rangers 38 26 8 84 186 196 22-10-4 16-16-4 7 Edmonton 35 27 9 79 207 216 16-12-6 19-15-3 8 Montreal 36 27 9 81 214 220 21-8-6 15-19-3 8 Nashville 35 30 7 77 184 199 21-12-3 14-18-4 9 Florida 35 27 10 80 198 203 19-11-6 16-16-4 9 St.