Behind Enemy Lines: Interview with Wild.com’s Glen Andresen

As Martin Havlat, John Madden, Cam Barker  and the Minnesota Wild once again return to the United Center tomorrow night, I wanted to get a different perspective of the matchup other than the biased opinions that float around these parts.

So, I went to the source. Glen Andresen is the Managing Editor of Wild.com and covers the team through his fantastic blog, View From the Lighthouse. He was kind enough to answer a few of my questions about tomorrow night’s matchup, Minnesota’s playoff push, the impact of the All-Star Havlat and an outsider’s view of the 2010-11 Chicago Blackhawks.

Click the jump for the Q&A with Glen Andresen

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Glass-Half-Empty Boxing: Blackhawks Drop Two More

EDITORS NOTE: Tim and Bartl put together a combo post here. Tim has the commentary, Bartl has your shortened version of Boxing from both the Stars and Coyotes games where he breaks down the summary. Enjoy, ya’ll.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? (Getty Images)

Okay, so the characterization in this article’s title is not entirely accurate. Or is it? The ‘Hawks let two points that they could easily have taken from Dallas and Phoenix slip through their fingers. They ended the road trip with two wins, two outright losses, and two shootout losses over the six-game span. That’s not going to do it, folks.

If the Blackhawks continue this level of performance — one period of coordinated hard work and 40 minutes that look like five guys who only met each other when they took the ice six seconds ago — they are going to find themselves searching for Saturday tee times before the grass in Chicago is really even green.

Click the jump for Boxing with ‘Hawks/Stars/Coyotes

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The Daily Phil Esposito (2/14/11)

"I am on FIRE. Can't stop me baby!"

Picture Courtesy of: http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2007020155

This was a crazy weekend in NHL games. There were many former Hawks lighting the lamp this weekend and adding helpers. There were six goals and eight assists tallied by former Hawks this weekend. There was a game with over 300 penalty minutes, several shoot out games (don’t get me started), and several no shows. Oh and the goal tending by former feather heads wasn’t too stellar either. There is enough for you to read so I’ll stop here, hope you had a good weekend and enjoy!

Click the jump for updates from this weekend’s games

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Healing By Degrees: Blackhawks Take On Coyotes

Photo: AP

So what can you say about last night’s game against Dallas? How do you put a positive spin on that? “At least we had a good first period?” “Marty Turco was great up until the shootout?” “We managed to get a point out of it?” “Look on the bright side: we could have been playing the Islanders?”

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Chicago Pucks Cancer Fundraiser / Road Watch /Boynton Screw-up Watch

As most of you have noticed throughout the week on the Facebook page, Chicks Who Give A Puck and Second City Hockey in a joint effort are hosting a fundraising Road Watch on Saturday night. The event will be held at Bottom Lounge (1375 W. Lake St.). If you are in the area and don’t go, you’re an asshole.

Money raised will go to helping the Young Survival Coalition, which is devoted to helping women under the age of 35 who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Since I take the stand of a close friend of mine who lost his mother to breast cancer, I agree with him that cancer “should go play hide and go fuck itself.”

I’ve decided to donate some cash, giving $5 for every Nick Boynton  fuck up in tonight’s game. If he’s scratched, then I will give $20 no matter what. If you add that on to the fact I’m donating $10 just because the ‘Hawks thankfully traded Jack Skille, that’s at least $30 from me going in the pot.

Don’t be an asshole, go visit the official page and donate and come out with all us idiots to watch the ‘Hawks beat Phoenix!

Hopefully Getting Serious: Blackhawks Visit Slumping Stars

Shit! Wrong sweater!

Wednesday was a busy day for the Blackhawks in a couple of ways. The ‘Hawks traded under-performing winger Jack Skille and two forward prospects to Florida for C/W Michael Frolik and what some say is an outstanding young goaltender now playing in Europe. Following that news, the team then took the ice and beat last-place Edmonton in convincing (but by no means impressive) fashion, stopping their losing skid at two games and pulling even on their 6-game road trip.

Hopefully these two events represent a turning point for everyone in the organ-eye-zation. The playoffs are 28 games away, and right now we’re not in them. It appears that Stan Bowman is getting serious, hopefully the team will follow his lead as they head south to take on the Stars.

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The Daily Phil Esposito (2/11/12)

Can't touch this... Suck it Michael Leighnton

No Western Conference former Hawks took the ice last night, but eight Eastern Conference former Hawks did. They contributed with a Win from a goalie who is having a great year with the possible to be Stanley Cup Champs, and one goal coming from a cyclone.

Click the jump for updates from the 2/10/11 games

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The Daily Phil Esposito (2/10/11)

The newest Former Blackhawk

There were eighteen former Blackhawks who were skating in the NHL last night, two of which were goalies. One goalie continued to falter while the other one has decided he wants to play, and he has played pretty damn well as of late. The other sixteen players amassed  three goals and four assists. A dick head defense-man continued his career year, and a Yote has scored three goals in the last two games. Former Hawks have been lighting the lamp lately, and tonight we add another former Hawk to that list as Jake Skille has been traded. I liked the guy, but I really like the potential that Frolik adds to this team. What was Dale Tallon thinking? Enjoy folks.

Click the jump for updates from the 2/9/11 games

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Not lacking Skill(e): Boxing with Blackhawks/Oilers

Good riddance, asshole.

I’ve made no secret that I’ve never been a fan of  Jack Skille. He’s a quick skater, but he’s reckless. He can create at times, but he can’t finish. And the last time I saw him make a pass in the offensive zone was when I attended a Rockford IceHogs vs. Chicago Wolves game two years ago.

The only person willing to give up anything of value for Skille was the man who drafted him 7th overall in 2005, Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon. Well Dale, you can have your bust back. And thanks for the depth at center with 22-year-old, back-to-back 21-goal scorer Michael Frolik.

Don’t let the door… No, let the eff-ing door hit your sorry ass on the way out, Skille. Enjoy the giant bugs and white shoes.

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.

Click the jump for Boxing with ‘Hawks/Oilers

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The Comeback Trail: Blackhawks Visit Edmonton

"Duncs said what?"

The reaction following Monday’s loss to Calgary was swift and severe. Duncan Keith’s F-bomb from the post-game interview expressed the frustration felt by players, coaches and fans alike: no matter what the solution is, the ‘Hawks need to find it. Fast.

Tonight’s game will most likely tell the tale. Are the Blackhawks going to learn from this, get their shit together and start playing like they are capable of? Or are they going to fold and let the teams in the highly-competitive Western Conference relegate them to the “also-ran” category for the post-season?

Tuesday the Blackhawks were greeted at practice with what’s called a ‘bag skate.’ The precise origin of the phrase is a point of contention, but the definition is undisputed: doing skating drills so hard for so long that somebody starts shouting groceries. Watch the movie ‘Miracle’ for a classic example. In pre-season it is sometimes used to help whip summer-softened players into game shape. With 30 games to go in the regular season, this was punishment.

So the message has been sent, and received. Monday’s performance was crap, it won’t be tolerated, and the time to start playing up to expectations is right fucking now.

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