So, is it going to be the Jekylls tonight, or the Hydes?

As frustrating as it is, I guess our team's inconsistency is somewhat better than being consistently bad. We do have our good games, as well, and we're about due for one of those. No better time for a bounce-back game than against the rotten Canucks. It wasn't that long ago that I used to like that team. The top line of Naslund-Morrison-Bertuzzi (before he went full retard) were amongst the tops in the league, and were the foundation for Vancouver's scoring. Trevor Linden was a stalwart on the blueline. I used to listen to their games on webcast radio feeds, as I fell asleep at night, keeping an ear out for my fantasy players. Now, that old guard is gone, and the Swedish Twins are the star forwards. Daniel and Henrik.

God, I hate the Canucks now.

It really came to bear during the playoffs. It's not just that they won, or that they won in a sweep...but it's all the bullshit that they were doing, and getting away with. The behind-the-ref's-back trips at the faceoff, the bringing the wives into the trash talk....  all of it. They are nothing but punks. Talented, sure, but punks nonetheless.

And the Sedins are the figurehead(s) for all of this.

NOFX/ Moron Brothers

Motivation should not be a problem, here. Our boys know these guys pretty well, after that playoff round, especially. We trashed them earlier this season already, but that was with Raycroft in goal, and he was due for a fall back to the earth. We probably won't get so lucky this time.

The 'Nucks aren't going to be giving anything away tonight. If we truly want this game, we have to take it from them, and keep it, for the full 60 minutes. It ain't over until Kyle Wellwood sings. The Canucks are missing our old friend Pavol Demitra due to injury (who saw that coming?) but are still 4-1-0 in their last 5, and should never be taken likely.

Further reading:

Blues vs Canucks coverage

Nucks Misconduct

This is also your pregame party. Compare Christmas-shopping battle scars, collaborate to find a web feed, and try to figure out if this is a childhood photo of Henrik, or is it Daniel?

Yeah, it's in a dress.... you don't think they don't still wear dresses now?

LGB!

-CrossCheckRaise

The Blues won last night, at home, and now they take the show on the road. This is the first meeting with the division-leading Chicago Blackhawks. I had to choke back some bile just typing that last sentence. The 'Hawks have won 3 of their last 5 games (twice in OT), and are coming off a 4-0 win against Tampa Bay on Sunday. Our ol' friend Patty "Twenny Cent" Kane got a little banged up, but all indicators are that he'll be playing tonight. He and Captain Serious Jonathan Toews and NHL Whore Marian Hossa form one of the more formidable lines in the NHL.

After testing our mettle against one division leader Tuesday night, we get to do it all over again, on the road, against these guys. There's no secret to this: keep fighting until the battle's won. Never relax, never step back. Keep Pushin' On.

REO Speedwagon/ Keep Pushin'

I know that there's at least one Broke University Pupil that wont mind me drawing from the REO well again. Really, though, these lyrics are perfect for our situation, particularly the second verse...

Goin through all the changes
I made so many mistakes
oh yes I did
Tryin to leave behind the heartaches
And sometimes I think
I was a little bit crazy, oh yeah
Whoa, I keep pushin' on

and the third..

Well it's comin' together
I finally feel like a man
oh yes I do
I never thought that I'd be where I am
Oh everyday I wake a little bit higher
Whoa I keep pushin' on, oh yeah

...we've come so far, but there's a long, long way to go still. We're not there yet....

Further Reading:

Blues vs Blackhawks coverage

Second City Hockey

This is also your pre-party. Get your drink on, dust off your best Buffalo cabbie jokes, and get ready for a renewed rivalry with the Blackhawks. Knowing how Chicago sports fans love goats mixing in with their teams, make up your own story for this photo:

or check out the "official story" here. Puck drops at 7:30 PM Central. I'll see you in the GDT.

LGB!

-CrossCheckRaise

Since I first came up with the "Road Music" concept, I have been looking forward to this game. I'm a big fan of Drew Magary, and his weekly NFL column on Deadspin. One feature of that column is the "Pregame Song That Makes Me Want To Run Through A Goddamn Brick Wall". This does it for me. It makes me want to cut someone's head off....

Queen/Princes of the Universe

Is there any doubt that the Red Wings are "the darkest powers"?

Tonight the Blues enter into the Toolbag to take on Detoilet. We took the two games in Sweden, and the last game with them saw a last-minute goal to force OT and a shootout goal from Bertuzzi for Detwat to escape with the extra point. Our boys need to strike a balance of confidence and wariness. We can definitely beat these guys. However, history shows us time and time again that you can play them tough for 58 minutes, and the Ded Wings can beat you with the 2 minutes that you relaxed. Score early, Score often; if you smell blood, you might as well get a taste, too.

The last 5 games have seen the Wings start to awaken from their slump, going 3-1-1.  This has nudged them past CBJ for third in the division. A win for us tonight (and CBJ losing to FLA) would allow us to do the same. The best case scenario is Monday's shitty performance prompting Coach Murray to kick ass, leading to the team responding with a little ass-kicking of their own.

Further Reading

Blues vs Red Wings coverage

Winging It In Motown

Puck Drops at 6:30 Central. This is your pre-party. Curse Detroit in your favorite language, stock up on celebratory booze, and try to set the over-under on attendance at the game in HockeySlum. Here's a visual aid:

See you at the GDT,

LGB!

-CrossCheckRaise

Not much "Pre" to the pre-party, but here we go!

Today we visit our 1967 expansion classmates, the Kings. They've had a great start to the season, and are second (to the Sharks, naturally) in their division. Their success has been largely built on the scoring punch of one line- Anze Kopitar (14-20-34, fourth in the league in points), Ryan Smyth (9-14-23), and Justin Williams (8-12-20).  And those numbers are skewed a little: Ryan Smyth has been on IR since 11/16. They aren't fully armed and operational, but they are still dangerous. Despite missing Smyth, they've still won 4 of the last 5.

If you think southern hockey seems weird now, consider how things looked in 1967 when a franchise was planted in sunny SoCal!  But, here they remain. This also affords me the excuse to use an Adam Ant tune. I love the drums in this.

Adam and the Ants/ Kings of the Wild Frontier

Further reading

Blues vs Kings coverage

Battle of California

This is also your pre-party. This is sorta like stretching first, before the intensity of the GDT ... wouldn't want ya to pull a hammy finger muscle or something... Puck drops at 3PM Central

BTW, If you were attending in person, you'd get a Luc Robitaille bobblehead:

LGB!

-CrossCheckRaise

Do you know the way....

....to beat the San Jose Sharks? Nobody else does; they sit atop the Western Conference with 42 points (19-6-4) and have won 4 of their last 5. Their record might have something to do with

In the six games they've been together, the mega-powers line of Dany Heatley, Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton has scored a combined 30 points; Thornton's 1 goal and 12 assists; Heatley's 4 goals and 5 assists and Marleau's 6 goals and 2 assists, including his two tallies last night.

(Puck Daddy)

That's a pretty formidable lineup. And it's not like we're not aware of their potency: when they came to town 11/14, goals were scored by Heatley and Thornton.

But let's not give them too much respect here: any team is beatable. We can't play their game; we must make them play ours. And we must remember the lessons from that previous match-up.

Ian Hunter/ Once Bitten, Twice Shy.

And, for the kids out there, here's the version you're more familiar with...just beware of the pyrotechnics:

Further Reading:

Blues vs Sharks coverage

Fear The Fin

This is also your pre-party. Meet, greet, bitch about late start times, and get all of the lame So Taguchi jokes out of your system. The puck drops at 9:30PM Central.

LGB!

-CrossCheckRaise

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