08-09' Blackhawks (46-24-12) 104 PTS - 4th Seed In The West!

[Cynosure]

Most boring game of the season.

 

Not to mention it was unfortunately the first game of the season i watched in a bar. Man are there not 900 million hockey [expletive] people in this city?

 

I spent the majority of the game defending hockey to everyone I was with... I tried to get the girls into it talking about how there is sometimes fights and big hits and a lot more goals than the old days... boy did I look like an [expletive] when they watched this game.

 

The guys couldn't stop talking about how gay and boring hockey was based on the product they were seeing on the TV right by us.

 

What a brutal night :(

 

I did, however call Steegers game winner when I saw him come on the ice in OT... sure enough he luckily beat Steve Mason 1 v 1!

 

Good win!

[hawkcub]

Most boring game of the season.

 

Not to mention it was unfortunately the first game of the season i watched in a bar. Man are there not 900 million hockey [expletive] people in this city?

 

I spent the majority of the game defending hockey to everyone I was with... I tried to get the girls into it talking about how there is sometimes fights and big hits and a lot more goals than the old days... boy did I look like an [expletive] when they watched this game.

 

The guys couldn't stop talking about how gay and boring hockey was based on the product they were seeing on the TV right by us.

 

What a brutal night :(

 

I did, however call Steegers game winner when I saw him come on the ice in OT... sure enough he luckily beat Steve Mason 1 v 1!

 

Good win!

 

I find that people who rip on hockey the most know almost nothing about the sport.

[kujay]

I watched the game with a few hockey novices, and they thought it was a pretty good game. It was boring, but there were good scoring chances.

 

Most importantly, the boys got it done when it counted and put a stranglehold on the 4th seed.

[Cynosure]

I watched the game with a few hockey novices, and they thought it was a pretty good game. It was boring, but there were good scoring chances.

 

Most importantly, the boys got it done when it counted and put a stranglehold on the 4th seed.

 

I was intently focused on the game as well (unlike the other patrons around me).

 

I distinctly remember a play in the 2nd period where Khabibulin was infused by the soul of Patrick Roy and made AT LEAST 4 saves in a row. Another couple great double-save sequences as well from him.

 

Also, Mason was incredible as usual.

 

Hockey "novices" don't give a [expletive] about goaltending... they want to see hits and goals and fights, this fight had none of the above. Sucks when you can't back up what you tell them about hockey.

[kujay]

I watched the game with a few hockey novices, and they thought it was a pretty good game. It was boring, but there were good scoring chances.

 

Most importantly, the boys got it done when it counted and put a stranglehold on the 4th seed.

 

I was intently focused on the game as well (unlike the other patrons around me).

 

I distinctly remember a play in the 2nd period where Khabibulin was infused by the soul of Patrick Roy and made AT LEAST 4 saves in a row. Another couple great double-save sequences as well from him.

 

Also, Mason was incredible as usual.

 

Hockey "novices" don't give a [expletive] about goaltending... they want to see hits and goals and fights, this fight had none of the above. Sucks when you can't back up what you tell them about hockey.

 

My friends seemed to have a lot of appreciation for the goaltending on both sides. We also watched the Wild-Wangs game earlier in the day, and one of my friends was raving about Backstrom. He's a potential convert. :)

 

I am going to be heading home from this trip on Tuesday, and will hopefully get home in time for the game. I expect a similar game to tonight. And that's good for the Hawks. Every playoff-type game they play from here on out will only help them in a few weeks.

[bcl412]

The best way to convert a friend is to take him to a game. I got really into hockey for the first time because of the Quad Cities minor league team. They sold out almost every game when they started and the atmosphere was awesome. I don't see how someone can go to a hockey game with a good atmosphere (like the UC) and not at least respect the sport.

[Cynosure]

The best way to convert a friend is to take him to a game. I got really into hockey for the first time because of the Quad Cities minor league team. They sold out almost every game when they started and the atmosphere was awesome. I don't see how someone can go to a hockey game with a good atmosphere (like the UC) and not at least respect the sport.

 

Most Chicagoans are stubborn to the idea of even attending a hockey game.

[bcl412]

The best way to convert a friend is to take him to a game. I got really into hockey for the first time because of the Quad Cities minor league team. They sold out almost every game when they started and the atmosphere was awesome. I don't see how someone can go to a hockey game with a good atmosphere (like the UC) and not at least respect the sport.

 

Most Chicagoans are stubborn to the idea of even attending a hockey game.

 

Then they are stupid faces.

[Cynosure]

The best way to convert a friend is to take him to a game. I got really into hockey for the first time because of the Quad Cities minor league team. They sold out almost every game when they started and the atmosphere was awesome. I don't see how someone can go to a hockey game with a good atmosphere (like the UC) and not at least respect the sport.

 

Most Chicagoans are stubborn to the idea of even attending a hockey game.

 

Then they are stupid faces.

 

:clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

[mjohnson71]

The best way to convert a friend is to take him to a game. I got really into hockey for the first time because of the Quad Cities minor league team. They sold out almost every game when they started and the atmosphere was awesome. I don't see how someone can go to a hockey game with a good atmosphere (like the UC) and not at least respect the sport.

 

Most Chicagoans are stubborn to the idea of even attending a hockey game.

 

It's going to take a long time to repair the damage old man Wurtz did to the club.

 

Plus there are plenty of people who are still freaked out at the thought of coming to an event at the United Center. :doh:

[kujay]

TSN ranks the top Hawks prospects:

 

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=273991

 

This is when Tallon will really earn his money. He needs to keep stocking the farm system without "lottery" picks.

[Flames24Rulz]

The best way to convert a friend is to take him to a game. I got really into hockey for the first time because of the Quad Cities minor league team. They sold out almost every game when they started and the atmosphere was awesome. I don't see how someone can go to a hockey game with a good atmosphere (like the UC) and not at least respect the sport.

 

Most Chicagoans are stubborn to the idea of even attending a hockey game.

 

It's going to take a long time to repair the damage old man Wurtz did to the club.

 

Plus there are plenty of people who are still freaked out at the thought of coming to an event at the United Center. :doh:

 

Considering the Hawks lead the league in attendance, I don't think it's taken a long time at all to repair the damage that Wirtz did to the Hawks.

 

Hockey just isn't mainstream, so the casual fan in Chicago really won't feel all that attached to it. If you're trying to get friends into hockey, the video game method usually works. I got about four guys into following the Hawks this year after playing NHL 09 with them, so that probably works the best. Hockey's the best game to see in person as well, so taking them to a game would be a success too.

[mjohnson71]

The best way to convert a friend is to take him to a game. I got really into hockey for the first time because of the Quad Cities minor league team. They sold out almost every game when they started and the atmosphere was awesome. I don't see how someone can go to a hockey game with a good atmosphere (like the UC) and not at least respect the sport.

 

Most Chicagoans are stubborn to the idea of even attending a hockey game.

 

It's going to take a long time to repair the damage old man Wurtz did to the club.

 

Plus there are plenty of people who are still freaked out at the thought of coming to an event at the United Center. :doh:

 

Considering the Hawks lead the league in attendance, I don't think it's taken a long time at all to repair the damage that Wirtz did to the Hawks.

 

Hockey just isn't mainstream, so the casual fan in Chicago really won't feel all that attached to it. If you're trying to get friends into hockey, the video game method usually works. I got about four guys into following the Hawks this year after playing NHL 09 with them, so that probably works the best. Hockey's the best game to see in person as well, so taking them to a game would be a success too.

 

I was thinking more about extending the hockey fanbase to the more casual/non rabid sports fans: not just the puck heads.

 

I am glad to see the United Center full again. But we should be leading the league in attendance since it's like the 2nd or 3rd largest arena in the league.

[bcl412]

Tough decision tonight. Hawks or Cubs. It'll probably be Cubs with Hawks during commercials.

[kujay]

Tough decision tonight. Hawks or Cubs. It'll probably be Cubs with Hawks during commercials.

 

No question for me, Hawks with Cubs during intermissions. And then Blues-Yotes later.

 

I didn't run the numbers, but someone over at the Hawks boards said that a Hawks win + Flames win tonight = clinched 4th seed. That would work for me. Plus I really want the Blues to get in, and they need Nashville to lose tonight.

 

And Khabi was one of the 3 Stars of the Week for last week.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/1514019,CST-SPT-hawk07.article

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Tough decision tonight. Hawks or Cubs. It'll probably be Cubs with Hawks during commercials.

 

One on tv, one on computer?

[kujay]

But we should be leading the league in attendance since it's like the 2nd or 3rd largest arena in the league.

 

That's why you have to look at % of capacity, not the raw attendance numbers. I think they lead in that category too, for what it's worth.

 

It will take a sustained period of winning and marketing to grow a generation of fans. The team had the sustained winning in the 70s-90s, but all along there was a general disdain for the customer and no real effort to win, as evidenced by Dollar Bill's famous quote that a Stanley Cup was "too expensive." This franchise is planting seeds now that will really show results in 20 years.

[jersey cubs fan]

But we should be leading the league in attendance since it's like the 2nd or 3rd largest arena in the league.

 

That's why you have to look at % of capacity, not the raw attendance numbers. I think they lead in that category too, for what it's worth.

 

It will take a sustained period of winning and marketing to grow a generation of fans. The team had the sustained winning in the 70s-90s, but all along there was a general disdain for the customer and no real effort to win, as evidenced by Dollar Bill's famous quote that a Stanley Cup was "too expensive." This franchise is planting seeds now that will really show results in 20 years.

 

Yeah, if they get knocked out in the first round and then take a step back next year, the progress will have proven to be minimal. It's going to take a while.

[kujay]

Preds are playing this game like their lives depend on it. Hawks aren't quite matching their energy but are playing well.

[bcl412]

Preds are playing this game like their lives depend on it. Hawks aren't quite matching their energy but are playing well.

 

They must be thinking about the Cubs.

[kujay]

Preds are playing this game like their lives depend on it. Hawks aren't quite matching their energy but are playing well.

 

They must be thinking about the Cubs.

 

Everyone else appears to be. No love for Hawks thread. :(

 

Hawks actually played really well in that period, and the Havlat-Toews-Kane line was on fire. They'll bury a few tonight.

[bcl412]

Wow.

[bcl412]

I think the Hawks are going to outscore the Cubs.

[kujay]

Not to toot my own horn, but it was pretty clear the top line would knock home a few. They were just skating so well in the first. Didn't think they would blitz them like they did there.

 

And Khabi is rounding into form just in time.

[bcl412]

YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!