Stars @ Blackhawks IGT 2/11 @ 7:30 p.m.

[DMelt36]

34-15-5, 73 points, 2nd place in Western Conference

@

36-17-4, 76 points, 1st place in Western Conference

Puckdrop - 7:30 p.m.
TV - CSN Chicago
Radio - WGN AM 720

And here we go again, another matchup of the top two teams in the Western Conference squaring off, but this time it's back on 1901 Madison as the Blackhawks host the Dallas Stars for the second time in two weeks. Last week, the Hawks curb-stomped the new kid on the block in the west, with some shorthanded goals leading the Hawks to a 5-1 win. But we've all seen this movie before, haven't we? It feels like this has become an annual occurrence: some team rapidly ascends into prominence in the conference and becomes the darling of the NHL while the Hawks somehow get lost in the shuffle despite having won multiple Cups already. Then the Hawks get matched up with this rising team, and take a moment to remind the NHL who the kings really are. It would often happen during the Hawks' west coast swing around Thanksgiving. In recent years, I remember the Blues damn hear holding a parade when they knocked off the defending Cup champions to start the 2013-14 season. By the end of that year, it was the Hawks sending the Blues home. We should be used to this by now, shouldn't we? Feels like one big long, winding paragraph to reach the conclusion that it would not surprise me at all to watch the Hawks thump the Stars yet again tonight.

LET'S GO HAWKS!!

 

[HawkWriter]

Crawford starting. Panarin didn't take part in the morning skate, Panik was in his spot.

 

[Tater]

Crawford starting. Panarin didn't take part in the morning skate, Panik was in his spot.

Bummer. But I'm not going to Panik just yet.

 

[mikita's helmet]

Go Hawks!

...need to put some distance, again, between us and the Stars (after having points taken away from us last game by the refs)

 

[DMelt36]

Go Hawks!

...need to put some distance, again, between us and the Stars (after having points taken away from us last game by the refs)

If the Hawks get another goal disallowed tonight Q is going to Dennis Wideman on a ref.

 

[DMelt36]

Teuvo back on the RW and, as HawkWriter said, Panik is skating on the 2nd line.

Shaw-Toews-Hossa
Panik-Anisimov-Kane
Desjardins-Danault-Teravainen
Mashinter-Rasmussen-Sekac

 

[clonetrooper264]

Just win eh

 

[Raskolnikov]

I would have liked to see a spot start for Bickell on the Kane line. Something about the pressure of Kane opening seems that you can ram a Bigfoot through is what worked for him.

I think it is a good time in season to at least experiment if Kane and Panarin are capable of carrying a load on their own line. TT failed to fill in. Bickell forces Kane to shoot instead of pass, to take creation all on himself, while taking some physical pressure of AA.

If Bickell had a spot on this team it would be as Kane's escort. We have seen some shots fired on him the last two weeks. If that line could go at 80% without the bread man, you could solve 1LW and have two unstoppable lines. Plus strengthen the third or fourth with Shaw.

 

[ClydeLee]

Calling up Bickell now would complicate and maybe damage the good cap situation they have right now in their options to add salary in the trade deadline. Sure they could waive him again if they wanted and nobody would likely take his contract but to just see it isn't all that remarkable.

 

[DMelt36]

I would have liked to see a spot start for Bickell on the Kane line. Something about the pressure of Kane opening seems that you can ram a Bigfoot through is what worked for him.

I think it is a good time in season to at least experiment if Kane and Panarin are capable of carrying a load on their own line. TT failed to fill in. Bickell forces Kane to shoot instead of pass, to take creation all on himself, while taking some physical pressure of AA.

If Bickell had a spot on this team it would be as Kane's escort. We have seen some shots fired on him the last two weeks. If that line could go at 80% without the bread man, you could solve 1LW and have two unstoppable lines. Plus strengthen the third or fourth with Shaw.

Feel confident saying Bickell is done in Chicago.

 

[mikita's helmet]

Teuvo back on the RW and, as HawkWriter said, Panik is skating on the 2nd line.

Shaw-Toews-Hossa
Panik-Anisimov-Kane
Desjardins-Danault-Teravainen
Mashinter-Rasmussen-Sekac

Apparently, your last name has to start with Pan if you're going to play left wing on the second line.

BTW, I've been impressed with Panik, so far.

 

[MassHavoc]

Win win win, win, win win. Wynn, winn. Penis win.

 

[Spunky Porkstacker]

Feel confident saying Bickell is done in Chicago.

No doubt, his last time up was just that.

 

[DMelt36]

Win win win, win, win win. Wynn, winn. Penis win.

 

[Spunky Porkstacker]

One thing missing from that picture that would make it 100% accurate.

 

[DMelt36]

The guy most surprised that Eaves' shot went into the net was Eaves.

 

[DMelt36]

Looks like Lehtonen intends to kick rebounds into the slot all game long. Let's see how that works for him!

 

[DMelt36]

Well shit.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

You know what they say about 2 goal leads....









Well...

 

[DMelt36]

Kane that backhand pass up the side of the net that Panarin has cashed in on 3 or 4 times this year. Panik was nowhere near the pass.