Blackhawks in California (& mood swings) recap

so, after winning the first three games, all in Canada, on their circus trip...
game 1 in California, Hawks vs. San Jose Sharks:
Second City Hockey puts on another Chicago blogger-and-blog-commenter get-together. I head out to the Whirlaway, a terrific neighborhood bar that's a mile walk from my place. lousy weather but I want to watch this with people, especially since the last get-together (my first with this group) was the Hawks getting beat by the Coyotes. there's often homemade food there (thanks!) and since it's Thanksgiving eve, there's a full spread. a big table of savory dishes and a small table of desserts. I get beer and food and oh right, there's a game... 

Hawks score a zillion times. shorthanded goal, then another and another (Hossa's first goal for the Hawks and then one by Sharp happening within thirty seconds of each other on the Sharks' power play...I am speechless). Hawks aren't the greatest at scoring on their own PP, but if they want to score a bunch of times on their opponents', I'm fine with that. then four more goals, including another by Hossa. this is ridiculous. I expected maybe a Hossa goal and a close game (with either team winning), not THIS. (since both the other teams I follow--Maple Leafs and Bruins--had won that night, I wasn't sure Chicago would too.)

but by late in the game, I'm expecting a Hossa hat trick AND a Huet shutout AND for members of the Sharks to have to come clean out the mildewy parts of my pantry I've been afraid to touch. but then, Sharks quickly score twice in the last few minutes (oops to all the Sharks fans that understandably had left the game by then) and turn our hilarious 7-0 shutout into a mere 7-2 blowout.

mood: giddy, drunk, exhilarated, drunk, disbelieving, actually I wasn't all that drunk, happy, arrogant, prideful, what are the 7 deadly sins? pretty sure I covered them all that night (had several plates of food at the bar, anyway). the mood lasts, well, at least I have a good 16 hours or so till I find someone making an obnoxious rape "joke" about the Hawks win in comments on a Hawks blog. BUT! never mind that now, I'll just repress my rage put on a smile and work on my revenge address that later. moving on, game 2 in California, Hawks vs. Anaheim Ducks:

with all due respect to the real Hawks bloggers out there, this screenshot was the best description of the game. how nice of them to write this recap--and during the first period, too! okay, the game came back on (Ducks scored their first goal while it was off) and it wasn't pretty.

except for the above. the only good thing I got out of this game--noticing what a truly handsome (or hjandsome, if you prefer. no, you don't.) fellow Hjalmarsson is. game winds up Ducks 3-Hawks 0. zero? ZERO? I don't even know what that means anymore!

mood: stunned, angry, humiliated. headed out immediately to catch the Chicago Wolves game (of which more later. I'm glad I went, but DAMN I wish I'd seen the Maple Leafs 6-4 win that night). and so, game 3 in California, Hawks vs. L.A. Kings:

seriously, Yahoo? technical difficulties again? they did switch to the game about 5 minutes in. it doesn't seem super eventful (it was late and I was getting distracted, though). Kings score first. Toews scores a power play goal much later and I'm giddy we at least won't be shut out again. OT, nothing happens except a penalty. shootout (one of the 6 last night, as noted in the prior post). Kings get one, Hawks don't, Kings get one, Hawks don't, it's over.

(bonus Hjalmers, to distract me from thinking of any attractive talented Swedish guys who might be on other Midwestern teams. must forget that...forget that...)

mood: disappointed, but not wanting to seem greedy. 9 out of 12 possible points on the road trip is VERY good. I honestly didn't expect to win this many. psychologically, with 6 games, I would have preferred the losses in, say, games 2 & 3, or 3 & 5, though...

overall, great job on the trip and I'll be at the Blackhawks vs. Blue Jackets game Tuesday. Hossa's first home game with the Hawks! free winter hat night! third jerseys debut! and I got a game ticket for $13.50! really, $13.50!