CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 18: Adam Boqvist #27 (R) and Duncan Keith #2 of the Chicago Blackhawks turn to attack against the Detroit Red Wings during a preseason game at the United Center on September 18, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The Chicago Blackhawks could be gearing up for a 24 team postseason here soon and their defense is the biggest question mark on their chances to win.
The Chicago Blackhawks had a tough time defending in the 2019-20 regular season. Before the coronavirus pause they weren’t in great shape to make the playoffs and the defense was a large reason why. They were able to score and they had good goaltending but they couldn’t use their defense to their advantage much at all. Well, after a long layoff and a chance at the 24 team playoff, how will they lineup, and what are their chances?
Well, they signed Ian Mitchell to a contract once it was announced that the NCAA’s season was over as a result of the pandemic. He is free to come to play for the Blackhawks now that he is signed if this playoff does happen. There are many college players that have come into the NHL for the playoffs and did well like Charlie McAvoy of the Boston Bruins a few years ago. The pairings might look like this:
Those pairs are so much better than most lineups they have had all season long at the position. Brent Seabrook won’t be healthy enough to play but de Haan will for sure be back if this thing happens. Maatta is a bit of a risky player to have on the ice at times and we don’t know for sure how long it will take for Mitchell to become an impact player but it could be a nice third pair if used right. They still have Keith there who knows exactly how to handle something like big minutes in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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The issue with this group is the opponent. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have a combined 207 points this season. They are lethal together on the power play and can either play together at five on five or be the center of two separate lines, depending on how the game is going. If this Hawks defense plays like it did in the regular-season and they are in fact matched up against the Oilers, they could have a short series.
This isn’t a good defense, in fact, it was awful in the regular season but adding Mitchell from college and getting de Haan back from injury would certainly be a nice boost. You never know with Corey Crawford in the net but this defensive group here could be hit or miss in a five-game series. There is also that Patrick Kane guy with his friend Jonathan Toews for the Oilers to worry about despite what might be a poor defense.
I’m putting this out (minus the Monday for Memorial Day) and hoping to start compiling reopening plans for Chicago area bars and beer brewers starting Friday, May 29th. These will all be restricted to outdoor seating spaces, so not everyone will be able to open.
Fresh Beer Events, occasional bacon, but always spam free, opt out any time.
Meet The Blogger
Mark McDermott
Writer, trivia maven, fan of many things. I thought to learn all there is to know about beer as a way to stay interested in learning. It is my pleasure to bring Chicago’s craft beer scene to you.
Chicagoans and tourists at the Bean in downtown Chicago.
The early population numbers were released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Chicago’s population in 2019 was about the same as the 2010 population numbers, but the city has experienced a population decline the last few years. Hopefully, mayor Lori Lightfoot would do what is right and stop giving billionaires TIF funding to build projects for the wealthy. The funding should be used to fund low-income housing and more police officers on the south and west side of the city where African Americans are leaving in droves.
Chicago’s population numbers:
Chicago’s population on April 1, 2010: 2,695,652
Chicago’s population in 2018: 2,705,994
*A decline of 7,073 people from the previous year.
One more thing, I do not understand why so many reporters keep pushing the false narrative of Houston having a chance to become the third largest city in the U.S. in the near future. Even Houston officials like Patrick Jankowski, head of research at the Greater Houston Partnership have called the Reuters story that started the conversation just an attention seeking headline that is not true.
For Houston, a city of 669 square miles to be over 370k behind Chicago, a city of 227 square miles in population says the city’s constant annexation of suburbs like Kingwood against their will have finally made the city a huge population city. The problem is many Houstonians do not consider certain annex suburbs to be part of Houston. Many Houstonians still say Kingwood, Texas instead of the Kingwood section of Houston.
Trivia: Chicago is the third largest city in the U.S. despite being the 32nd largest city in the U.S. by square mile.
Tron Griffin grew up on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. He writes about issues facing Chicagoans. You can check out Tron’s podcast at https://anchor.fm/tron-griffin
Happy Friday, or should I say, “Happy Release Radar!?” Home Depot was a fucking mess this morning. Don’t go there for flowers, or anything, you’ll get the virus. “C’mon, Mr. Cut Out, keep this post positive!” Okay, Okay.
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Finally Tim Burgess, of Charlatans’ fame, releases his full album, I Love The New Sky. If you’ve followed the Cut Out Kid, you know I’m a huge fan of this guy, he is a creative force. His solo releases have been spotty, though, so I’ll keep you abreast of this one as I lean into it.
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This is a nice surprise, a single from the Trashcan Sinatras! “The Closer You Move Away From Me” is the song, and I’m gathering it’s all about our current situation. Glad to have those gentlemen back in the studio.
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An acoustic version of The Districts “Velour and Velcro” shows up in my #RADAR and I’m loving it.
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It’s studio-quality and showcases their songwriting. It’s worth your time. So, is the above video.
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So glad the Local Natives brought this song back for the Summer of 2020. I loved when The Cardigan’s Nina Perrson sang on “Dark Days,” originally, but now it’s Amelia Meath of Sylvan Esso taking her turn, and she sounds good.
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Nina brings the sexy, while Amelia brings the sultry. One thing is for certain, I love this track, and those guitar melodies are silky.
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Sure Sure’s vibe on “What Were We Doing If We Weren’t In Love?” is one of upbeat loss. I saw them open for Hippo Campus several years ago at The Vic, and they have a great sound.
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The ’90s are making a steady return with Snoop and, now, the all-seeing third eye. Third. Eye. Blind. Really? “Disorder,” picks up right where they left off..kind of.
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Snoop Dogg finally gives us something worth fuckin’ wit. Yes, “I Want To Go Outside” is old school fun that reminds me of the G-Funk Era, with Warren G and Nate Dogg. I miss them.
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We Are Scientists are back with a song about cutting your own hair and sounding a lot like Interpol, while the Editors are back sounding a lot like themselves. We Are Scientists have impressed me more, but it’s nice to have them in the mix.
In other news, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande did a song together, that’s pretty unforgettable. These days I’m starting to appreciate Grande more and more. Not just for her looks; that voice is truly a blessing.
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One more quick note before we blow. Lewis Del Mar is prepping a new album. He’s one of my latest addictions. His self-titled masterpiece kept popping up on all of my algorithmed (yes, I made that word up) playlists, so I’ve slowly become a fan. His latest single is no joke. “The Ceiling” is off-kilter fun, Lewis at his best. Get ready, he’s primed to explode.
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I’ve liked everything I’ve heard from Jack Jezzro. He puts out beautiful jazz, sometimes with a classical tinge. This week he gives us another hearty dose of what the doctored ordered. “Misty” is great for an outside chill session. Take a thought collecting moment for this one, and reflect on everything you’re grateful for.
As the 2019-20 school year comes to an end, some parents are scrambling to find ways to keep their children active and engaged. Many summer camps and programs have either been reduced to accommodate social distancing or canceled altogether. Daycare centers are starting to reopen in some places, which is great for parents who have to leave the home for work, however, parents like me who are working remotely for the foreseeable future, are still in need of options.
While I’m not looking to fill my daughter’s schedule up with activities, I do want to make sure she’s able to learn new things and have some sense of normalcy. We did swimming lessons and tennis for her last summer, and she was looking forward to doing both again this year. Now that both programs are canceled, I wanted to round up a few options for us as we navigate into summer amid COVID-19. Below are a few things I’m incorporating in our summer schedule that may be helpful for others.
Resource Hubs: Toys R Us (Play @ Home Theater) and Nickelodeon (#KidsTogether) have made it easier for families by creating resource hubs to house interactive activities and content in one place. I mentioned Toys R Us in a previous post, however, Nickelodeon is providing kid-appropriate, kid-directed information through original short-form videos, interstitials, downloadable activities, and social content via a central online destination, NickHelps.com. They have also hosted a few virtual events featuring celebs and influencers to keep kids encouraged.
Online Workshops: Many retailers are accustomed to hosting free in-store workshops and events to engage children. Now, many have been forced to move these courses online. Craft retailer, Michael’s has a full online schedule of Kids Club Classes you can sign your little ones up for. While I didn’t find any listings for Home Depot online kids workshops, they have a few activities for previous and upcoming workshops available here that may be of interest.
Virtual Camps: I’ll be honest, I was initially a bit skeptical about this concept because it felt like just another extension of elearning via Zoom or Google Classroom at first. That was, until one of my best friends shared a link to Varsity Tutors free virtual summer camps. These are week-long sessions with a variety of options like coding, yoga, move making, web design, etc. These camps are organized by age/grade level with options for 4-18-year-olds.
Outdoor Play: With the abundance of virtual activities and resources, we sometimes forget about good ole fashioned outdoor fun. I’ve been picking up small outdoor items like catch & toss sets, ring toss and jump ropes to give us more variety. We also have bikes, scooters, hula hoops and more to keep us active this summer.
There are a variety (maybe a little too many) resources available for people of all ages to remain safely entertained and engaged as we shift into a new sense of normalcy.
There have been a number of soccer analytics books in recent years, trying to quantify various aspects of the sport. Soccermatics wasn’t originally one of the ones on my radar, but my dad got it for me as a gift. I enjoyed Soccernomics, which reads like the Moneyball of soccer. My dad gave me this book after hearing me rave about Soccernomics, possibly thinking they were similar. Soccermatics has a similar title, but is a very different book.
The author is David Sumpter, a British mathematics professor teaching in Sweden with a number of books to his name. He tries to break down soccer into numbers in a number of different areas. There are sections on tactics, managing, betting and even predicting crowd behavior. He didn’t go after obvious subjects in every case.
Some parts are more interesting than others. Sumpter compared Barcelona’s movement to amoebas, plotting player movement during a game for tactical info. Later in the book there was a suggestion that the penalty box should be reshaped to fit higher percentage shots. The idea being shows from wide positions aren’t likely to score so a foul from that position shouldn’t result in a penalty kick. A narrower penalty area that is taller in central areas and rounded got me thinking about how it would change the game.
Some sections were less enthralling. Sumpter tried a number of betting strategies to see if he could beat the system. His conclusion was that there are maybe some biases within how people bet, but if you’re that good with the numbers, you’re better off being on the side of the bookies instead of trying to beat them. It was interesting section, but maybe not worth the time and words he put into it for such a simple realization.
Considering the subject matter can get dense or bogged down with numbers and charts, Sumpter does a good job of explaining things. It’s a mostly easy read. Unfortunately, the downside to that is things are more wordy than needed in some sections.
One thing that stood out to me was how soccer analytics and data have changed in four or so years since he wrote it. The book was originally published in the middle of the 2015-16 European season. There’s a section written after the season ended in the Pro Edition, which allows him to discuss Leicester City’s shocking Premier League title.
Opta analytics and expected goals were just becoming mainstream when he was writing the book and are far more commonplace in discussions about the sport now. That shows how nascent all of this is that four years is enough to mark significant change in the field.
Overall, Soccermatics is a mostly easy read (if you have any interest in statistics and numbers) that introduces some new concepts, but if you’re familiar with soccer analytics going in you may not find all that much revelatory in it.
Up next: When Friday Comes: Football, War and Revolution in the Middle East
(I previously said I was going to read The Arsenal Yankee, but I never got around to it and I think I’m in the mood for something else now.)
Here is my twin sister with her husband all ready to go into her first infusion of TDM1 at Mayo Clinic Rochester!!
This blog post is the 22nd in a series about my (and my twin sister’s) preventative breast cancer screening journey that began when we were 30 years old in July 2019. The 1st post is about my first mammogram ever; the 2nd post is about my consultation at Mayo Clinic’s Breast Clinic; the 3rd post is about my stereotactic core biopsy at Mayo Clinic’s Breast Clinic; the 4th post is about my diagnosis with “Stage 0” DCIS breast cancer; the 5th post is about my in-person DCIS diagnosis at Mayo Clinic, beginning thoughts on my surgery timeline, and discovering that my twin sister might have breast cancer, too; the 6th post is about my twin sister’s invasive ductal carcinoma clinical stage 2A breast cancer diagnosis; the 7th post is about my breast MRI and two ultrasounds to investigate “suspicious” spots on my right breast and liver; the 8th post is about my second DCIS diagnosis following a week of MRIs, ultrasounds, and biopsies at Mayo Clinic; the 9th post is about preparing for my twin sister’s chemotherapy appointments, including details about her egg banking procedure in the city; the 10th post is a summary of my sister’s ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and visit to the emergency room; the 11th post is a summary of my double mastectomy surgery plan scheduled to occur on December 3rd, 2019 at Mayo Clinic’s Methodist Campus Hospital in Rochester; the 12th post is about my twin sister’s first chemotherapy infusion at Mayo Clinic; the 13th post is about foobs, photo shoots and nipple tattoos (my plastic / reconstructive surgery plan); the 14th post is a recap of my successful double mastectomy and immediate direct-to-implant reconstruction operation; the 15th post is about my surgical recovery and day full of follow-up appointments at Mayo Clinic in Rochester; the 16th post is about my one-month-post-surgical-follow-up appointment and preventative baseline ovarian cancer screenings at Mayo Clinic; the 17th post is about a suspicious rash I developed a month after my surgery called “pigmented purpura,” my consultation with a gynecological oncologist about ovarian cancer prevention, and my sister’s fifth chemotherapy infusion; the 18th post is about the end of my twin sister’s six neoadjuvant chemotherapy infusions (TCHP); the 19th post was about my twin sister’s double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery plan (amid the global outbreak of COVID19); the 20th post was about my twin sister’s double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction; and the 21st post was about my twin sister’s surgical recovery. To keep tabs on new posts, sign up for the “A Daily Miracle” email list at this link.
Here is my sister’s schedule from this Friday’s visit to Mayo!
My twin sister went down to Mayo Clinic in Rochester yesterday for her first round of the new “chemo lite” drug called “TDM1.” Praise the Lord that she did not have any adverse reactions to the infusion!! She also had blood labs, an echocardiogram to check on her heart health, and updates with her oncologist and plastic surgeon. She’s home resting now for the weekend with her husband, and has 13 infusions of TDM1 to go over the next 10 months, in addition to a daily dose of Tamoxifen, a drug to keep estrogen levels low which lowers the risk of estrogen-positive cancer returning. Thank you so much for your continued prayers for 1) No reactions to these new chemo drugs 2) 100% effectiveness of the treatment so her cancer never ever comes back!! 3) Side effects to be minimal / nonexistent!!
Here is her original Facebook post summarizing her visit to Mayo this week!:
“Excited faces behind the masks because I am officially *Cancer Free* during our first visit back to Mayo Clinic since my surgery on March 20th!! (Face masks are now required for all patients at all times and only one visitor is allowed due to COVID19!!) The reason for our return to the Mayo is that although my neoadjuvant (pre-surgery) chemotherapy was extremely effective in destroying the majority of my HER2+ breast cancer, there was a very small amount remaining at time of surgery (which was removed with clear margins!) This means in addition to a daily dose of Tamoxifen, I will now transition to “Phase 3” of treatment: 14 rounds of an adjuvant (post-surgery) chemotherapy called TDM1, a newly approved drug that has shown extremely promising results in preventing recurrence of HER2+ breast cancer (the most aggressive type which also makes up 20% of all breast cancer diagnoses.) We are calling this “chemo lite” as the side effects will not be as bad as what I previously went through, and, I am told my hair will keep growing back in! My first Infusion will be tomorrow, Friday May 22nd, and every 3 weeks after that. All in all there is much to be thankful for – particularly how far we’ve come since my diagnosis last October! – and although there are a few months of treatment left to go I know God will see us through!”
Every time we go to Mayo Clinic, we have a blast playing Pokémon GO! At this visit, Larvitar found his way into one of my sister’s exam rooms in the Gonda Building.
Healing and recovery updates
Here are a few key updates from my twin sister’s update with her oncology / chemotherapy team:
Heart health / cardiovascular endurance: Due to the effects of chemotherapy on the heart, it can take up to twice as long as she was on chemo for her heart rate and cardiovascular endurance to get back to normal. Her heart looks great from the scans!, but won’t be 100% until 2021. Her chemo team let her know that some patients are on TDM1 doing cross fit competitions, but that my sister should go at her own pace and listen to her body!
Neuropathy (tingling/numbness in fingers and toes): My sister has had a bit of this as a side effect of chemotherapy, especially in her left toes, but the tingling and numbness improved since the end of her TCHP chemotherapy regimen in March, and the neuropathy should continue to improve over time!
Prevention of side effects / adverse reactions: My twin sister had Benadryl and Zofran before her first infusion of TDM1 to decrease the possibility of a physical reaction to the chemotherapy! She didn’t have a reaction so that is great news!!
Here is a livestream broadcast on my sister’s chemotherapy room TV screen of the falcons on the roof of the buildings at Mayo Clinic Rochester!
Her first chemo infusion was 90 minutes, and they needed to stick around 90 minutes afterward to be observed. She did great, so next time and going forward, she will only need to have a 30 minute infusion and 30 minute observation period! Woohoo! During chemotherapy, she and her husband kept themselves entertained by playing Pokémon GO and watching a live video stream of a momma falcon and her babies that are part of the Mayo Clinic Peregrine Falcon Program on the roof of Mayo Clinic in downtown Rochester (pictured above). According to the Mayo Clinic website: “Celebrating 33 Years since 1987, falcons have found a home on top of the tall buildings of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.”
Here is my twin sister and her husband during her first chemotherapy infusion of TDM1! She did great!
And here are a few updates from my twin sister’s meeting with her plastic surgery team:
There was a stitch sticking out: She had a tiny bit of a stitch that was protruding from her left incision, so it was snipped off. She didn’t feel the stitch until the plastic surgical team pointed it out, so she should stay out of lake water until it’s fully healed and not visible. She will see her plastic surgery team again in one month for her three month follow up to make sure everything is healing as it should!
No physical restrictions at this point: Everything looks great, and there are no physical restrictions for her at this point! Like her oncology team said: “Listen to your body!”
A marble-sized lump on the left side of her chest: My twin sister thought there may be a marble-sized lump on the left side of her chest, which was scary. So she had the plastic surgery team and her oncologist take a look. They said it was nothing to worry about as it was only the edge of the implant (sometimes the edges of the implant(s) feel like bumps or lumps). They will take another look at it next month to ensure there have been no changes!
Here is the drive-thru COVID testing center sponsored by Mayo Clinic in New Prague, MN!
Here is my sister getting tested for COVID at the Mayo Clinic drive-thru center in New Prague, MN!
COVID19 Testing
My sister will need to be tested for COVID19 before every one of her 14 chemotherapy infusions over the next 10 months. She got tested last weekend at a Mayo Clinic drive-through site and said it “wasn’t that bad” of a test, which is great! Her results came back “no” 24 hours later. 1 down, 13 to go!
Here is one of the YouVersion devotionals I’ve been going through on joy vs. worry!
Turning fear and uncertainty into courage, joy, and strength
Having cancer is terrifying. Going through chemotherapy is scary too, and even worse while COVID19 is ravaging the world! Here are some fears that we’ve dealt with during this season as a family:
My sister (or anyone near her, including her husband who is an essential worker / operations manager at a huge warehouse), coming down with coronavirus
My sister having adverse reactions to or side effects from her chemotherapy infusions
My (or my sister’s) cancer coming back
I’ve done a couple of devotionals and Bible studies this past couple of weeks to address these fears, including:
Ultimately, through all of these lessons, I’ve learned that it’s so important to surrender fear to the Lord by asking Him to turn it into courage, joy, and strength–something He’s more than willing to do for us if we ask!
Next steps
I have my 6-month survivorship consult at Mayo Clinic’s Breast Clinic in Rochester on Friday, June 5th! Lord willing, Drift Dough will be open by then for us to pick up some gluten free donuts in Rochester–but if not, we will hope for the best at some point in the future! Haha.
My twin sister has her three-month surgical follow-up with her plastic surgeon at Mayo Clinic next month to ensure she’s still healing well. She goes back to Mayo Clinic in Rochester for her second infusion of TDM1 on Friday, June 12th.
Thank you again for your prayers–God is good and He is in control!!!
This blog post is the 22nd in a series about my (and my twin sister’s) preventative breast cancer screening journey that began when we were 30 years old in July 2019. The 1st post is about my first mammogram ever; the 2nd post is about my consultation at Mayo Clinic’s Breast Clinic; the 3rd post is about my stereotactic core biopsy at Mayo Clinic’s Breast Clinic; the 4th post is about my diagnosis with “Stage 0” DCIS breast cancer; the 5th post is about my in-person DCIS diagnosis at Mayo Clinic, beginning thoughts on my surgery timeline, and discovering that my twin sister might have breast cancer, too; the 6th post is about my twin sister’s invasive ductal carcinoma clinical stage 2A breast cancer diagnosis; the 7th post is about my breast MRI and two ultrasounds to investigate “suspicious” spots on my right breast and liver; the 8th post is about my second DCIS diagnosis following a week of MRIs, ultrasounds, and biopsies at Mayo Clinic; the 9th post is about preparing for my twin sister’s chemotherapy appointments, including details about her egg banking procedure in the city; the 10th post is a summary of my sister’s ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and visit to the emergency room; the 11th post is a summary of my double mastectomy surgery plan scheduled to occur on December 3rd, 2019 at Mayo Clinic’s Methodist Campus Hospital in Rochester; the 12th post is about my twin sister’s first chemotherapy infusion at Mayo Clinic; the 13th post is about foobs, photo shoots and nipple tattoos (my plastic / reconstructive surgery plan); the 14th post is a recap of my successful double mastectomy and immediate direct-to-implant reconstruction operation; the 15th post is about my surgical recovery and day full of follow-up appointments at Mayo Clinic in Rochester; the 16th post is about my one-month-post-surgical-follow-up appointment and preventative baseline ovarian cancer screenings at Mayo Clinic; the 17th post is about a suspicious rash I developed a month after my surgery called “pigmented purpura,” my consultation with a gynecological oncologist about ovarian cancer prevention, and my sister’s fifth chemotherapy infusion; the 18th post is about the end of my twin sister’s six neoadjuvant chemotherapy infusions (TCHP); the 19th post was about my twin sister’s double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery plan (amid the global outbreak of COVID19); the 20th post was about my twin sister’s double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction; and the 21st post was about my twin sister’s surgical recovery. To keep tabs on new posts, sign up for the “A Daily Miracle” email list at this link.
Sister Christian is a blogger, reporter, editor and follower of Jesus Christ seeking to find little miracles each and every day. She especially loves finding Jesus in art, music and culture. Learn more about her on Twitter @adailymiracle, and on Facebook as “A Daily Miracle.” Send an email to [email protected] with any comments, concerns or suggestions!
Most of us are in the house because of COVID-19. We may be tempted to sit in the house and binge on TV and food. However, we should not ignore physical activity. The lack of physical activity can lead to a number of ailments including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Lack of physical activity can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression. Do not allow the current restrictions to cause a setback in your health. I believe you should follow the suggested guidelines from healthcare professionals and scientists. Practice social distancing, frequently wash your hands, and wear a mask when you are out in the public. I will probably be the lady you see in the store wearing a mask in December.
Staying home does not mean that you have to be physically inactive. You will just need to adjust to the situation. There are different types of exercises you can incorporate without equipment or going to the gym. Walking is an excellent form of exercise. You can burn calories without placing a lot of stress on your joints. I love walking outside. Seeing birds and flowers relaxes me. If walking outside does not work for you there are walking workout videos on YouTube. If you do not like walking perhaps you can try a free class. Planet Fitness has free classes on Facebook Live. The Internet has a ton of exercise tips and routines. You will just need to research to find something you like.
Exercise is great for reducing stress. It gives you a healthy distraction from the things going on right now. You do not need to do a lot. Set a goal that works for you.
I have been interested in preventive medicine since my childhood. In the 70s, my aunt would take me with her to meet with a doctor who emphasized preventive medicine. A lot of the things that doctor discussed then has become standard today.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 16: Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks looks to pass against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the United Center on February 16, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The Chicago Blackhawks might get to participate in a 24 team playoff but teams are going to be scare of Patrick Kane in a short series.
The Chicago Blackhawks might get a chance to play some playoff games after all. If the NHL and NHLPA announce (which is expected, at this point) that the Return to Play committee will bring them a 24 team playoff with 12 from each conference, the Hawks would be the bottom seed in the Western Conference. They, according to the way the bracket is presented, would be matched up against the Edmonton Oilers who would line up as the five seed.
It is clear that teams are scared of Patrick Kane. There are multiple reports out there that the discussions before they came to the 24 team agreement had teams scared to do a best of three play-in series. It was voted against because people were scared of Patrick Kane according to the same reports. In a three-game series, Patrick Kane might be able to do just enough to lift the Blackhawks up and rise to the occasion.
They so clearly don’t deserve to be a playoff team but in this scenario of them trying to come back amidst the pandemic, Kane could make a huge difference. He might even be able to make an impact against a team like Edmonton who relies heavily on two players named Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. If Kane was able to have a good series while the rest of the team contained those two stars, they might have a chance.
Why is Kane more feard than the other stars of the game? Well, Patrick Kane has as much experience in the postseason as any player active in the league. He has won a Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs once to go along with his three Stanley Cup Championships. Only Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins might have the same level of both regular season and playoff success as Kane.
The only difference is that the Penguins were good this season so nobody is arguing about them not deserving to participate in the best of three play in-games. Well, Kane had 33 goals and 51 assists for 84 points this season so it is clear to see why they might not want him to have a chance in a short series. In a five or seven-game series, the better team is much more likely to win. With that said, Kane is an assassin in both the regular season and the playoffs and with his killer instinct the Blackhawks might have a chance.
Restaurants and bars remain closed with some offering curbside pickup and delivery
As part of Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot’s all-hands-on-deck public safety strategy, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC), the Chicago Police Department and other City departments and agencies have joined together to emphasize that safety is a priority when celebrating the 2020 Memorial Day weekend.
“Even as we face an unprecedented public health crisis, our first responders, City workers and street outreach partners from across Chicago are coming together in an all-hands-on-deck effort to keep residents safe this weekend and throughout the summer,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “While I encourage all residents to celebrate the holiday, it remains imperative that we do so by staying inside and social distancing so we can continue to save lives and keep our fellow neighbors safe and healthy.”
What’s open
Tulips in Lurie Garden in Chicago’s Millennium Park celebrate the spring awakening
Chicago parks will remain open with social distancing and wearing cloth masks required.
The Forest Preserves of Cook County is open, with restrictions:
All public events and volunteer activities are banned through May 31, and permitted events through June 25.
Some locations (including all public restrooms, nature centers, campgrounds, nature play areas will remain closed. Checklocationsfor information on your local preserve
Public transit, regional transit, ride share and taxi are running.
Illinois state parks are open for wildlife observation, hiking, biking, fishing and more with social-distancing guidelines.
Whats not (open)
Navy Pier and the lakefront remain closed.
The lakefront and its adjacent parks will remain closed through Memorial Day weekend and beyond (probably until early June).
In order to enforce this regulations, CPD’s Bike Unit and Marine Unit will patrol the area to ensure residents are complying with the closure and Stay at Home order.
All city sponsored events and festivals including the Memorial Day parade and Bike the Drive have been cancelled.
City golf courses remain closed, however many suburban golf courses are open with new regulations.
Playgrounds, bars and lounges, and large venues (stadiums, indoor theaters, music venues, convention centers), the Lincoln Park Zoo will remain off-limits (closed).
Safety precautions
To supplement on-the-ground public safety resources, the Police Department will increase its patrol beyond its regular deployments and individuals can expect to see a heavier presence of uniformed officers in and around major transit hubs and thoroughfares. While the Department is focused on crimefighting prevention efforts, officers will continue to enforce the Stay at Home order by dispersing any large gatherings and issuing citations where necessary.
To support the City’s services efforts, the Mayor’s Office of Violence Reduction has launched the first-ever Violence Reduction Dashboard, which is designed to enable City departments and street outreach organizations to use crime data to not only centralize strategic police missions and street outreach deployments but also inform various department operations and resources.
Local police districts continue to partner with the violence interrupters, block clubs and street outreach organizations on the ground to curb gun violence in Chicago’s neighborhoods.
For the latest information and public health guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19, please visitFor the latest information and public health guidance visit Chicago.gov/COVID.
A Look Back
Click here to look back on some Chicago Memorial Day weekends from more normal times
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Chicago’s Favorite Food Critics and Bloggers
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