The Tip-Off: Weekend Tips

Chug-Chug The Clown & Bill Murray at a past Next Year Day

T.G.I.F. and all that crap. Here are some tips & links for this weekend.

FRISKY FRIDAY:

BLACKHAWKS @ AVALANCHE – Friday 8pm – The regular season is winding down. Watch the Hawks tune up for the postseason. [Blackhawks]

WORLD BEER CUP PARTY – Friday ’til 2am – Head over to Moonshine in Wicker Park for this party, in honor of the Craft Brewers Conference in Chicago,  [Metromix]

SUPER SATURDAY:

CHICAGONOW RADIO – Saturday 9am – Yours truly will be back behind the mic at WGN to guest-host ChicagoNow Radio. My spectacular guests will be the authors of the following blogs…  American Princess, Chicago Political Commentary, Chicago Food Snob, Always a Bridesmaid, Beer Travelers, Staying on Course, Golf Chicago.  

NEXT YEAR DAY – Saturday 8pm – The 102nd Annual Next Year Day, presented by The Heckler & Sun-Times Columnist Rick Telander, celebrates another year of hopin’ and wishin’ and dreamin’ about a Cubs World Series Win. Celebs, pin-the-mullet on the South Sider, a champagne toast, bucket boys, JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound. What more could you ask for??? [Next Year Day]

Goalie Grief Overshadows Ladd’s Hat Trick; Now’s The Time For A Change

Sunday afternoon the Blackhawks blew a 2-0 lead over Detroit, allowing five straight second period goals en route to a 5-4 defeat. Andrew Ladd scored two of his three goals on the day in the third period to help bring Chicago within one, but their comeback ultimately fell short. The first career hat trick for the Hawks’ forward was soured by another disappointing performance between the pipes.

The loss snapped a three-game win streak over the Red Wings and reminded fans that Chicago’s division dominance will be tested come playoff time. The Red Wings may be clinging to the eighth seed in the Western Conference, but they certainly don’t play like an eighth seed opponent.

Detroit’s offensive onslaught Sunday shined a spotlight on the Hawks’ biggest weakness this season: goaltending. Of course, a netminder doesn’t work alone–like an NFL quarterback, he’s likely to get too much praise for a win and too much blame for a loss. For instance, a cursory glance at the box score of Sunday’s game won’t reveal the several costly turnovers that led to easy looks for the Red Wings. But whether he deserves all the blame or not, Cristobal Huet, who surrendered four straight goals before being pulled Sunday afternoon, will continue to be the most criticized Hawk.

In 46 games played, Huet’s .898 save percentage puts him 42nd among qualifying NHL netminders, while his 2.38 GAA is 10th best. So basically: of the shots he sees, he doesn’t stop enough.

In 24 games played, Antti Niemi is 26th in the league with a .909 save percentage, and fourth with a 2.25 GAA. He may be young and inexperienced, but his numbers are better.