PIB Presents: A Viewer’s Guide to Hawk-tober

Jim Neveau, PIB Co-conspirator

With this season’s compacted schedule due to the Olympics, the Blackhawks are playing a grand total of 13 games in the month of October. Of the remaining eight games on the docket for this month, only two of them are on the road, and both of those will be in Nashville.

There are also intriguing story lines that are going along with each game. Whether it is the return of former players to the United Center, or players looking for retribution for past failures, the next eight games to wrap up this month are going to be not only critical to the team’s overall success, but also a great chance to make a statement to the rest of the NHL that these Blackhawks are not to be taken lightly.

With that as the backdrop, here is what you, as Blackhawks Nation, needs to know about the next eight games. We call it, “Hawk-tober”.

Game 1 of 8: vs. Edmonton October 14^th, United Center

Word of the Game: Wall

The word of this game being Wall has a special significance, for this game marks the return of the ‘Bulin Wall to his old stomping grounds at the United Center.

A lot of folks were depressed to see Nikolai Khabibulin leave the Blackhawks, but at his asking price, which required a multi-year deal, the Hawks really weren’t in a position to keep him. He led the team to the playoffs and helped them get deep into the postseason, but in the end, the money was too much for a team already loaded down with Cristobal Huet’s albatross.

Vader, reacting to Huet's contract

With Nik returning, the game certainly will have more significance than it would have had otherwise. Edmonton has struggled out of the gate, and will likely be missing key defenseman Sheldon Souray, who is recovering from a concussion.

Game 2 of 8: @ Nashville October 15^th, Sommet Center

Word of the Game: Trap

After being the only team last season from the Central division to not make the postseason, the Predators are starting out pretty slow, going 2-2 through four games, and also averaging a measly 1.5 goals a game through the early going.

They have the second worst power play unit, the 20^th ranked penalty killing unit, and their young hotshot goalie Pekka Rinne got lit up like a Christmas tree in his last outing.

So why are we calling this a trap game? Because it’s easy to overlook a team that hasn’t been playing well, but Nashville is the kind of team that will bite you if you don’t take them seriously. They are better than their record indicates.

Game 3 of 8: vs. Dallas October 17^th, United Center

Word of the Game: Undefeated

Okay, you got me on this one. The Stars technically aren’t “undefeated”. They merely haven’t lost in regulation. They have lost three times in overtime/shootouts, one of which was a hideous meltdown against the Minnesota Wild up at Xcel Energy Center.

While they are scoring 3.5 goals a game, their penalty kill is a league worst 56.2%. Ouch. If the Blackhawks are going to get their power play back on track, it might have to be against a team like Dallas, who is allowing more scoring than the grotto at the Playboy Mansion.

Game 4 of 8: vs. Vancouver October 21^st, United Center

Word of the Game: Sedin

What do you get when you mix the league’s sixth worst penalty-killing unit with its third best power play group? Ladies and gentlemen, I present you the Vancouver Canucks!

Luongo crashed this cart after having a Game 6 flashback

This group’s PP numbers are sure to take a hit with the loss of Daniel Sedin for an extended period, and Roberto Luongo has been pretty awful quite often during the early going. Oh, and then there’s the little matter of his last game in Chicago, where he allowed seven goals in the deciding game of the Western Conference semi-finals. Look for him to try to heal old wounds when he skates into the crease in this game.

Game 5 of 8: vs. Nashville October 24^th, United Center

Word of the Game: Again?

Yes, the Blackhawks play the Predators again this month, this time at the United Center. Look for rookie Colin Wilson to give the Hawks some headaches. He’s got a big game, and he’s going to be looked to for offense for a Preds team struggling to score goals.

Game 6 of 8: vs. Minnesota October 26^th, United Center

Word of the Game: Twitter

Twitter, the social networking site that has many addicted to it (including yours truly) was the platform that ex-Chicago Blackhawk Martin Havlat used to attack team president John McDonough, and also to assure fans that he still loved them, even though he was in greener pastures in Minnesota.

Now, this game will provide fans with their chance at a response. I get the feeling that fans will shower Havlat with love and affection. After all, he led the team in points last season, and without him, the team certainly would not have gotten as deep into the playoffs as they did. Even though our last image of Marty was him being knocked into next week by Mr. Kronwall of Red Wings fame, the good memories of last season certainly outweigh the bad ones of his oft-injured tenure with the Hawks.

Game 7 of 8: at Nashville October 29^th, Sommet Center

Word of the Game: Overkill

Okay, seriously. Three freaking games against the Predators within two weeks? NHL, do you realize that divisional foes only play six times a year? I thought the schedule was supposed to be more balanced. Jeesh.

Game 8 of 8: vs. Montreal October 30^th, United Center

Word of the Game: Vieille école

Old school is the name of the game when these two Original Six titans clash. This time around, the foes will do battle in Chicago. One team has obviously had more success long-term than the other (the Hawks have won three Stanley Cups, the Canadiens approximately 42,124 of them), but right now, fortunes seem to be on the side of the Hawks.

Holy crap.Lots o' titles there

Andrei Markov might be done for the rest of the season with an injury, and the Canadiens have other problems as well. They are 25^th in the league in goals allowed, they are only scoring 2.4 a game, and their penalty killing is third worst in the league at 63.2%. Their 22^nd ranked power play and 22^nd ranked shots per game are also indicators that this team is struggling.

Look for them to be up to the task, and attempt to make a statement against the Hawks.

There you have it: your viewers guide to Hawk-tober. Feel free to print it off and help your friends as we move through the month. Enjoy folks!

Tags: Andrei Markov, Chicago Blackhawks, Colin Wilson, Cristobal Huet, Dallas Stars, Daniel Sedin, Edmonton Oilers, martin havlat, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, Niklas Kronwall, Nikolai Khabibulin, Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks