The Chicago Blackhawks are still very much in the playoff picture
The Chicago Blackhawks were one of the bottom teams in the NHL through the first half of the season. Now, they have a chance to make the playoffs. What?
The Chicago Blackhawks aren’t done. After making a brief push in January it seems like the ‘Hawks were set to roll over and die again in late February. They won seven straight from January to mid-February then lost six of their next 10, four of which were by three goals. Since then, they have won four straight games. Two of the current four game win streak came against Dallas and Arizona, two teams ahead of them in the standings.
On Wednesday night, the Blackhawks jumped on the Leafs right out of the gate, quickly racking up a 4-0 lead in the first period. Leafs fans, as they do, booed their home squad off the ice. Good people in Toronto, booing their playoff-bound team in back-to-back games. The Leafs almost mounted a ridiculous comeback, putting up 30 shots in the third period, but the Blackhawks held on and won the game 5-4.
Most importantly, they are having a good time. The Blackhawks are fun. They are having fun, they are fun to watch and they’ve hit just about every goal scoring over this season so they are fun to bet on as well. They are just flat-out fun.
This is the kind of team that can make a deep playoff run. The Blackhawks have been playing important hockey since January, while teams like the Maple Leafs are suddenly getting the “best days are behind them” media takes. It’s not unheard of for wild card teams to make a run in the NHL. The Blackhawks could easily be that kind of team, if they can finish strong and make it into the post-season.
Anyone who has played a competitive sport knows that there is an extra level when a team is in the playoff picture. People say they play hard every game, and most probably do, but when your team is playing for something, there’s just an extra bit of excitement around the room and between the players. It drives athletes to compete just a little bit harder and can make a team that is three spots back good enough to keep winning until they finally grasp that final wild card spot.
The Blackhawks (71 points), led by the ultimate leader in Jonathon Toews and the ultimate goal scorer in Patrick Kane, are currently that team. Alex DeBrincat, at age 21, has 38 goals and 31 assists. He isn’t “going to be good” anymore. He’s already great. They sit four points back of the Arizona Coyotes for the last spot. Ahead of them in the fight for a wild card position are the Minnesota Wild (74 points) and the Colorado Avalanche (72 points). None of these teams are convincingly better than the Blackhawks.
A story line to watch as the ‘Hawks’ season comes to an exciting end is the play of early-season trade acquisitions Dylan Strome and Brendan Perlini. Both have been playing well as of late, especially Perlini, who has 5 goals and two assists through the recent four game win streak. The two were traded from Arizona after underwhelming starts. For them to play a role in this team overtaking Arizona for a playoff spot would be a great story and certainly one they are both aware of.
Chicago doesn’t have the toughest schedule down the stretch either. Four of their final 12 games are against non playoff teams. They play the Avalanche twice and the Stars and Coyotes once each. Those games could make or break the playoff chances for this team. the remaining four games are against the Sharks, Blues, Jets and Predators but by the time they play the latter two, the top-end standings may be set in stone. If anyone needs a rest game or two, it’ll be the Jets and Predators, who beat up on each other in the second round of every NHL playoffs.
It’s a long shot, but there is a pretty clear path to the playoffs for the Blackhawks. If they can win the games they are supposed to win and beat the teams ahead of them in the standings, they’ll be in.
Let’s make it official (again). The Chicago Blackhawks will make the NHL playoffs. Book it.