Normally, in mid-December with the Bears’ season down the drain and the Bulls being “the worst team ever” (Stormin’ Normin’s words, not mine — Ok, mine too) I’d be desperately counting down the days until pitchers and catchers report.  However, Hendry struck out trying to deal Milton Bradley and THE HAWKS ARE THE HOTTEST TEAM IN THE NHL!!!! For those who again chose to watch the Bulls game over the Hawks game last night, I feel bad for you.  Unless you were busy watching (***SPOILER***) the Voltaggio brothers dominate or the Champions continue their dominance over two chicks (***END SPOILER***), you missed another thriller - ending in OT with a one-man-charge goal by Dustin Byfuglien.  Watching Buffy, who is 6’4″ and 260 lbs, race away with that puck was the hockey equivalent of an NFL defensive-lineman having an interception fall into his lap with 80-yards of open field ahead of him.  Buffy made a great play to sneak one past Rangers’ goalie Henrik Lundqvist to win the game.  Lundqvist was great all night, but so was Cristobal Huet in the net for the Hawks.  The Rangers’ lone goal was scored Marian Gaborik, the NHL goal leader this season, on a sweet NHL ’94-type wrister that sent Huet’s Gatorade bottle flying out of its holder.  But Tazer was able to shove the puck past Lundqvist on a power play to tie the game before Buffy did his thing in OT.

The lessons to be learned from last night are obvious.  First, the Hawks are the best team in the West, maybe in the NHL.  Second, Buffy still has it.  After a great spring playoff run, he seems to have forgotten how to play with his intensity – but he has it when it matters (he’s like the Robert Horry of the NHL – I HOPE).  Finally, and the most important lesson: it’s a special team and will be a special season.  Each and every game is exciting – remember this on Friday night when deciding whether to watch the Bulls lose again at home or to see the Hawks take down the league’s best goalie in Buffalo’s Ryan Miller.  Or you can just keep counting down the days until pitchers and catchers report (it’s 52 days away).

**Correction: Higgins scored the Rangers’ goal.  Gaborik had the assist.  H/T: DC Blackhawks