One Goal: Defeat the Dark Side for the Cup.     Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Hawks answered the question of “who is the best team this regular season?” against Edmonton on Wednesday night when they secured the President’s Trophy.  Now the more important questions need to be answered: what do the Hawks need to do to survive the first round and make it through the playoffs?

10) Can the Hawks handle a potentially desperate Wild team in a best of seven series?

The Wild struggled in April winning only 36% of their games and dropping to the eighth seed.  The Hawks took five out of a possible six points this season, but most games against the Wild tend to be one goal affairs.  The Wild have a solid team game, and they like to hit.  They have the potential to wear the Hawks down.  Chicago will need to be prepared for a very physical contest during the first few games. The Wild have a lot to prove, and they’ll want to show that they are a serious contender.

9) Can the Hawks tame Suter and Parise?

In the three games these teams met up, Parise didn’t factor into any of the goals scored, and Suter only had an impact on the power play.  The scoring has been completely spread out for the Wild; not one player has scored more than one goal in the entire series against the Hawks.  The Hawks will have to remember to not overplay any one shooter and stay well positioned because the Wild have shown us their scoring depth and ability.

8) Will the Hawks underestimate their opponent?

It doesn’t matter if the Hawks are at the top and the Wild are at the bottom because these two teams seem to frustrate each other.  The Hawks have developed a stigma of playing down to their opponents, and there is no room for that at this point in the year.  The Wild gave the Hawks their first shootout loss and have shown that they can play with the high flying Blackhawks.  While I can’t see the Hawks holding back in the postseason, sometimes old habits die hard.

7) Will Crawford slay his playoff demons?

I know I’ve written on this before, but I honestly believe that one solid playoff series is all he needs to get his head in the right place.  There is always the possibility that Crow loses his cool and just forgets how to goalie.  The Hawks team is built to prevent that for the most part, and we have seen a number of goal line saves by defensemen this year, so Crow is primed for success. With Emery out with injury, it puts the pressure all on Crow.  He controls his destiny, and Chicago’s.

6) Will the rolling of four lines continue? How effective will it be?

I don’t see why the Hawks would do anything different from what brought them success.  The third line has showed it can score and torment the opposition, and the fourth line is shaping up to be a solid possession line.  No, I don’t see any reason why that would change, especially with how tough the road to the cup can be.

5) Which stars will shine the brightest for the Hawks against Wild?

Well if you look back at the series two names show up most, Marian Hossa and Bryan Bickell.  Hossa has two game winning goals and an assist, and Bickell has two goals and assist.  Not to be overlooked, Toews had a goal and two assists as well; in fact the whole first line was just phenomenal, producing eight points in three games.

4) Can the men of four feathers avoid penalties against a Wild team that can frustrate the Hawks?

I can understand the worry that if we can’t crack their system that we might take some dumb penalties.  They like to hit, and while they aren’t trying to decapitate like the Blues, the controlled element to their hitting can be even more frustrating.  I believe that sustained clean physical play can be just as frustrating as a game of cheap shots, because their just won’t be a whistle to stop the relentless assault.  The Hawks have been a composed team all season, with the occasional snapping, but the Hawks should have the experience to know better.  At least, that’s the theory.

3) We’ve seen some health problems this season; how much should we be concerned by this?

That is one of the bigger question marks for the Hawks.  Sharp and Bolland have been out multiple times due to injury and Hossa will forever be susceptible to head shots.  The league seems to have attempted to send a message that hitting players in the head is frowned upon, but if Hossa is heating up, there’s always a fourth liner that is expendable.  Generally, the Wild won’t employ the cheap shot, but you can expect Clutterbuck to legally demolish our stars any chance he can get.  Injuries can be a concern no matter the opponent.

2) How much stronger will our blue line be this year?

Everyone is back to top form this year.  Keith has been dependable all year, Hjalmarsson is playing the best hockey of his career, Seabs is back to being Seabrook, and Leddy has found his game on the third pairing.  Where the questions start coming up is when you look at Oduya.  Oduya struggled badly against the coyotes last year, and teams have picked up on that.  At least once a game he seems to be pressured into a no look wild pass that leads to a golden opportunity for the opposing team.  The other two potential problems are Roszival and Brookbank.  Roszival has shown his ability to play both ends of the ice, but he is slow and a bit, shall we say, seasoned.  We have seen him get left in the dust, and that can be a huge hindrance in the later rounds.  Brookbank was statistically our worst defenseman if you look at plus/minus… but no one really does.  He seems to be exactly what he is, a third pairing defenseman.  Overall our blue line is probably one of the best in the league.  We shouldn’t fret too much, but the potential for failure is ever-present.

1) Can the Hawks turn around their Power Play?

Oh the dreaded power play, the killer of momentum, the pez dispenser of short handed goals.  Okay, so I’m over exaggerating a bit, but it does feel like a power play is more of a negative than it should be.  We saw some minor success in the last five games of the year, but let’s be honest, throughout the whole season, the power play has been our Achilles heal.  The reason this is my biggest concern is that any team can throw a few dirty hits our way with no real punishment.  If we were at 23% success on the power play it’s a deterrent, but we are 16%, and of the teams in the playoffs, we are tied for the most short handed goals against.  This becomes the team’s greatest concern due to how much it leaves us susceptible to cheap shots that can lead to injury.  Furthermore, what is meant to be a punishment for the opposing team can potentially lead to a morale killing shorty against the Hawks.  This is the biggest question the Hawks will have to answer for the postseason.

Each player will need to take full advantage of their skill set in the playoffs, especially with offseason moves looming. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Hawks are locked in first in the Western conference, and with a few more points, the entire league.  The team has been praised for nearly every aspect of their game, and all that was possible due to the economically sound moves that Stan Bowman has made in the past few seasons.  Bowman didn’t make any major moves; everything was minor and for the most part has worked out very well.  Even with the salary conscience efforts, this off season will be an extremely difficult one for the Hawks brass.  With multiple contracts ending and the cap going down to an estimated 64 million, the Hawks will need to make some decisions, and the players need to make that difficult for them.  Some of these players are going to be playing for future spots, some for contracts, and some for personal reasons.  So here’s a quick look at whom these playoffs could benefit or impact the most.

5) Tryouts/Youngsters/Spare Parts

The forth line will be the most interchangeable throughout the playoffs, so we can expect to see some interesting combinations.  With the possibility of some of our depth being lost, whoever fills in has a chance to really raise their odds of making the team next year.  The opportunities aren’t restricted to the fourth line only, like we saw with Morin, he or Smith could be put on the top lines if injuries become an issue.  The Hawks’ farm system is impressively deep, and we have a youngster for any possible situation.  We saw it against Vancouver two years ago; the young guys want to win, and they want to be in the NHL.  Maybe Ben Smith will come in and be the hero again and stay healthy long enough to make the team next year.

4) Corey Crawford

Crow has shown that he is capable of being the starter, and his stats are undeniably proving that fact, but he will need to slay his demons.  He’s not playing for a contract, but he will be playing to clear his name of the soft goals against the coyotes last year.  Crow seems to occasionally be his own worst enemy and getting out of a mental slump can be tough for him.  If he can get through the first round without any soft goals, I think we could see the Crawford that wowed Chicago in the Vancouver series return in full force.  If he can’t pull it together in the playoffs, Crow could potentially be a trade option.  You can’t forget the fact that Bowman was kicking the tires on Jonathan Bernier last summer after Crow’s playoff misadventures.

3) Marcus Kruger

Kruger is playing for a contract, and he has been a very interesting player development wise.  While his offense hasn’t improved much, his defensive play has grown exponentially.  He was penciled in to be our second line center of the near future, but his smaller size and lack of physical development seemed to have postponed that promotion.  The Hawks management has been keen on him since they brought him in, and while I don’t think he is in danger of not getting an extension, you never know with the cap coming down.  He has worked ridiculously hard all season, and has brought a much appreciated energy to whatever line he is on.  He has also helped stabilize the PK and has brought a dedicated and energetic defensive effort, with a willingness to go to the dirty areas.  As with Bolland, he still needs work on his faceoffs, and a little more muscle weight would help elevate his game.  This year’s playoffs can be extremely important for him going forward.  He can make a big statement for himself as a legitimate second line player.

2) Bickell/Stalberg

Both players are UFA’s after this season, and it’s pretty much accepted that we can’t keep both.  While I feel Stalberg has consistently gotten better in the last few seasons, he also will be looking for a larger raise than Bickell.  Bickell’s development has jumped from the last 2 years, but my problem with him is that he was almost nonexistent for two seasons straight before becoming what we all expected him to be.  Offensively they both have nine goals and 13 assists.  What are the odds that the two players who are fighting for a possible extension in the same year are sitting with the exact same offensive numbers?!  Defensively, Bickell is dominating Stalberg in hits and has a slight edge in takeaways, but Stalberg’s speed brings a lot of offensive potential.  In the end, it’s possible that we can’t keep either one, or whatever style of play we need more will dictate the outcome.  Either way, both players need to keep playing consistently if they want to make it difficult for the Hawks to make that decision.

1) Dave Bolland

I love Bolland.  In fact, pretty much everyone loves playoff Bolland.  Bolland has always been fairly clutch, whether it’s a huge take away at a key moment or a timely sneaky goal, he’s shown he’s an asset.  The biggest issue is that we need Bolland to be better than a team worst -5, especially when he’s making 3.375 million.  He needs to be more than a liability.  Bolland has struggled with a few injuries, and it’s possible he’s had a nagging problem all year, but with the amount of guys waiting in Rockford, it seems irresponsible to eat up a roster spot with subpar performances.  If he’s having a bad year, then he has some incredibly bad timing, because right now his contract combined with a lowered cap could kill him.  Luckily for him, the Hawks do know what he is capable of and what he has done in the past which shows why he is a valuable member of the team.  He will absolutely need to have a great playoff run to keep himself from being a trade rumor come summer.

Toews and crew cant expect another 8-1 victore. A hot stars team will be looking for vengeance against an equally hot, but tired, Hawks team. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Game #42 - Chicago Blackhawks (32-5-4) at Dallas Stars (21-17-3)

TV-TSN,NBCSN,CSN-CH

Radio-WGN

Game Time-7:00 Central

Season Series – The Blackhawks have won the first two games in the series. Hawks won 3-2 on Jan 24^th and decimated the Stars 8-1 on March 16^th.

Preview- Dallas is currently fighting for 8^th with the Red Wings, and they are coming off a five game winning streak. Four of their last five opponents have been playoff teams, including the Ducks, which shows that despite our last game against them, they aren’t to be taken lightly.  The Hawks are also on a five game win streak, but tonight will be the second half of a back to back set of games.  The Stars are without their starting goaltender Kari Lehtonen who is dealing with a minor lower body injury.  We will be seeing backup Richard Bachman in net.  In his last three games he has averaged a .966 SV% and a 1.50 GAA.  In Dallas’s win streak, Alex Chaisson has five goals, and Ray Whitney and Eric Nystrom each put up three goals. For the Hawks, both goalies have been playing phenomenal, and the scoring can come from any line.  In the Hawks winning streak, Bryan Bickell has scored two game winning goals, with Toews and Hossa being huge factors on both ends of the ice.  The Hawks will need to keep playing their strong team game, especially with Sharp back out with an upper body injury.

Prediction: Hawks will play a bit of a sluggish game, but the depth of the team will shine with a 3-2 victory over a desperate Dallas team.  The Hawks raw star power and depth has given them the edge all year and should help keep everyone well rested in the remaining games.

Morrow Points The Hawks Eastward To His New Team And To The Opponents The Hawks Might Face For The Cup. – Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Blackhawks are firm believers in focusing on the now, and while that’s great for team focus, it’s not as fun for the fans who like to look at possibilities.   I am well aware that I’m jumping the gun here, but it’s still important to know your enemy.  With the playoffs looming and playoff spots solidifying, it’s time to break down the toughest threats in the East for the Blackhawks.

 3) Pittsburgh Penguins  (09-12 The Hawks Record: 2-2-0)

A fast team that is willing to hit, the Pens have a respected transition game.  Earlier they had some questionable goaltending and some defensive lapses, but it looks like they have gotten back on track.  Crosby leads the team in points with 56, and an astounding 41 assists. Kunitz, Letang, Neal, Dupuis, Malkin, and Martin all have 20+ points, so the offense is coming from a lot of places.  Both goalies are playing above league average, so it’s hard to say that they are having much trouble in net, but right when the Pens were loading up with Morrow and Iginla, they suffered the loss of Crosby and Neal.  Crosby took a puck to the mouth and Neal reportedly has a concussion. Those two injuries could hinder the Pens’ chances, but don’t consider them weak; they have enough star power to make anyone pay.  If Crosby is back in time for this matchup, Toews will have his work cut out for him, not just defensively, but at the dot as well.  The Hawks will need to be quick and thorough in their exits and clog up the neutral zone to prevent the Pens from gaining easy entries.

2) Montreal Canadiens  (09-12 The Hawks Record: 2-2-0)

Montreal has been a surprise for a lot of people.  Between their terrible performance last year and the P.K. Subban drama at the start of this season, most expected only a minor improvement from last year.  To put the improvement into perspective, it took them 56 games last year to tally the same amount of points they have earned in 39 games this season.  They are a small team, but their goaltending and team play have been the main reasons for their success.  Their offense has been spread remarkably evenly between 14 different players, with Subban leading the team in points.  No longer are they getting bullied by the Bruins, they are focused and refusing to be pushed around or out worked.  After watching the Hawks struggle against the Blue Jackets, I can see Montreal being a tough matchup for the Blackhawks.  The Habs’ team play very nearly rivals the Blackhawks’, so this series could easily come down to who makes the first mistake.

1) Boston Bruins (09-12 The Hawks Record: 2-4-0)

The Bruins are a tough defensive team, and they have shown some dominance against the Hawks in the last few seasons.  While Thomas might be in a bunker somewhere, Rask has had no problem stealing the show.  Rask and Khudobin have similar stats to our very own Emery and Crawford, who are both ranked in the top 15 in SV% and GAA.  In my top 10 toughest western matchups, I said that the Blues are an upgraded Columbus.  Well, the Bruins are an upgraded Blues team.  They have a lot of gritty hardworking players, and they added even more veteran experience with Jagr.  Their leading goal scorer is Marchand, who is also leading in points, while Bergeron and Krejci are tied for the team lead in assists.  Another positive aspect that the Bruins possess is Bergeron’s ridiculous face off percentage.  A key to the Hawks success is puck possession, and they will have to get through Bergeron on any key draws.  Between their size, strong defense, and goaltending, I see Boston being the toughest opponent the Hawks would have to go through for the cup.

All Of The Hawks Will Need To Bring Their “Toews Game” If They Want Another Chance To Hoist The Cup. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Giglio-USA TODAY Sports

When deciding on the top ten most difficult teams for the Hawks to face, it would be easy to rank them by points, but that doesn’t quite give an accurate picture of the different degrees of difficulty.  The Blackhawks have shown a tendency to repeat history with certain teams, and that can become a very large issue when you start playing in a best of seven series.  So let’s take a look at ten teams that can cause the most trouble for the Hawks when the post season starts.

10) Phoenix Coyotes (Our Record: 3-0-0)

The Coyotes would have been higher on this list, but the Blackhawks seem to have found some extra firepower this season, most likely due to the bad blood from last year’s playoffs.  Oliver Ekman-Larsson has played himself into a very nice contract and leads the Yotes in both assists and +/-.  Shane Doan continues to be the strong leader this team needs and is currently leading in goals scored.  I can’t talk about the Coyotes without mentioning their angry, raging, Olympic diver of a goaltender Mike Smith, who is having an average season at best.  With a +1 goal differential, they aren’t exactly a juggernaut. With the Hawks’ control over their games against them, I don’t see them as much of a threat, but you can’t count them out.

9) Columbus Blue Jackets (Our Record: 3-0-0)

Columbus is a very hard working, gritty team that has had to be those things, because they really only have one big name in Marian Gaborik.  The main guy leading the Blue Jackets into the playoffs is Sergei Bobrovsky; you know, that goalie the Flyers didn’t want, the guy that has actually been playing some great hockey.  His stats completely coincide with the eye test; he’s sitting at a .929 SV% and a 2.09 GAA, and that has been enough for the Jackets to beat teams when combined with their impressive work ethic.  When you look at the stats of this team, there are a lot of names in all different categories.  This team seems to truly abide by the “play for the crest, not the name on the back” mantra.  They have shown that they can out work the Hawks, but their lack of star power keeps them from being serious a threat, and their -10 goal differential backs that up.

8) San Jose Sharks (Our Record: 3-0-0)

The Sharks are a hard team to rank.  They have the stars, they have the goalie, but they can’t seem to completely gel.  Joe Thornton might be a career playoff choker, but I have a feeling he senses the window is closing for him and the Sharks.  Currently he’s leading the team in both +/- and assists, and he could easily carry that into the playoffs.  Patrick Marleau is leading the team in goals at 16.  However, he is another player that seems to disappear in the biggest moments of games.  I would love for the known chokers to do just that, and so would the Hawks, but we know that Niemi can come up big.  Niemi is playing like the goalie Hawks fans expected.  He’s rocking a .929 SV% and a 2.09 GAA and is the largest reason that the Sharks are where they are.  The Sharks can be a deadly team if they can get hot, but maintaining that level of play seems to elude them. While they are more of a threat than Phoenix and Columbus, Hawks seem to have figured them out as well.

7) Detroit Red Wings (Our Record: 3-0-0)

The Red Wheel keeps turning in Detroit but it has slowed down, and it wobbles a bit…. But it’s still running.  Lidstrom retiring was a big loss for the team, and it looked like it was going to be their downfall, but they have found some rhythm.  Shocking to no one, Datsyuk is really good at hockey.  He leads the team in goals at 13, has the highest +/-, and he never stops being a magician with the puck.  Henrik Zetterberg is currently leading the team in assists with 27.  That’s more than Kane has, to put it into perspective.  Jimmy Howard has been decent; he is playing about league average.  The Redwings are a surprising -2 in goal differential and have really felt the sting of losing some vet depth on defense.  The Hawks can’t take this veteran team lightly.  While they are not going to out skate the Hawks, they have a fairly large bag of tricks.

6) St. Louis Blues (Our Record: 2-1-0 )

The Blues were expected to run away with the division, and the conference, but then they ran into a wall.  Their once strong goaltending has looked very fragile, their boring defensive system isn’t there, and their goal scorers are struggling.  When the Blues play their game and don’t lose focus, they are a very tough team.  Their captain David Backes has 125 hits, which, needless to say, is a lot of hits, and a lot of hard work.  Chris Stewart leads in goals with 16, while Alexander Steen leads in assists at 18.  While Elliot played like Elliot at the beginning of the season, he has gotten his act together and has played pretty well recently.  Halak has been injured a lot in his career, and this season he appears to be held together with tape.  Unsurprisingly, he is currently injured again. They sort of remind me of an upgraded Blue Jackets team, but with some decent star power, and the Hawks will need to play a full 60 and maybe then some.

5) Minnesota Wild (Our Record: 1-1-1)

The Wild are a team that no one really puts in the upper echelon of elite teams, and rightfully so, but against the Hawks specifically, they seem to be up there.  They were another team that on paper should have been dominant but started off slow. The one thing a lot of people forget is the chemistry aspect; a lot of new faces were on the team, and they needed time to gel.  They are starting to find their rhythm, and Ryan Suter is earning his contract with 25 assists, not too shabby for a defenseman.  The other big name signing was Zach Parise, and he has quietly led the team in goals with 15 and currently boasts the best +/-.  While Backstrom is an upper tier goalie, he has struggled a bit this year and has been average at best; might be age catching up with him.  Despite most likely needing more time to become a more cohesive unit, they have continued to cause the Hawks trouble.  In the last four games, the Wild have taken the Hawks to the shootout three times.  Of those, the Hawks lost twice. The Hawks can’t play down to their opponents, and especially to a team who knows they can hang in there against us.

4) Edmonton Oilers (Our Record: 1-1-0)

As most Hawks fans know, the Oilers have caused some massive headaches for the Blackhawks.  Most games in recent years have been lopsided affairs, and while evenly split, you don’t really want to have a 50% chance in a series against a team that is statistically a lot worse than you are.  While admittedly the Oilers may not make it into the postseason, they are one of the more dangerous teams for the Hawks.  I haven’t exactly put my finger on what makes them our kryptonite, but maybe it’s just the youthful speed and apparent inability to accept that the Hawks should win.  Oh, and the massive amount of number one draft picks playing.  The Hawks need to come out hard and strong against them, because they can wear you down with speed alone.

3) Vancouver Canucks (Our Record: 1-0-1)

Of course a top 10 list couldn’t be complete without those pesky Canucks showing up.  They haven’t exactly been dominant this year, and there are two reasons for that.  First, injuries galore, and second, the emergence of the Wild.  The Nucks may not have been able to bring it consistently, but they certainly do when it comes to facing the Blackhawks, and with Kessler coming back very soon, they will be poised to try and take us down.  The Sedins are having a decent year but struggled early on, and their goalies have been hot and cold.  And, I don’t know if you heard, but Vancouver has had a little bit of a goalie controversy going on, and it’s still a mess.  While they seem to have settled on Schneider, who has been playing very well in the last five games, you never know when they might need Lu to step in.  They are a strong team, but their true consistency doesn’t show until they are facing down the Blackhawks.  Hawks can’t expect any slack from our hated rivals, their tenacity and affinity for cheap shots will bring the pain.

2) Los Angeles Kings (Our Record: 2-1-0)

The defending champs have come out of their cup hangover and have been playing much better overall.  As we saw during our loss to the Kings, they can really out work the Hawks’ defense with their relentless fore-check.  They have the solid defense and goaltending that would be needed to repeat, and their offense has awakened.  The Hawks can’t throw away the puck in their own zone at all against the Kings, otherwise it will end up in the back of the net.  This second half of the season has shown that we can sometimes get very sloppy in our own end, and this team knows how to completely destroy opponents that give them any opportunity.  Hawks need to keep their head on a swivel and really support each other in their own end.

1) Anaheim Ducks (Our Record: 0-2-1)

The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim are the only team that the Hawks couldn’t figure out.  This is largely due to the ageless wonder Teemu Selanne, who, against all laws of time, is still putting up points.  That man is a wrecking crew against the Blackhawks; he always seems to score a timely goal and cause Hawk fans to shout at their TV’s.  Perry has struggled a bit this year, but struggled is a loose term; he still has 31 points.  Getzlaf is leading his team with 13 goals and 30 assists, but has sat out a few games with a day-to-day injury that can potentially debilitate the ducks if it nags him going into the playoffs.  The Ducks are fairly deep, but they are a bit slower than the Hawks.  Still, they are a much larger team.  They love to hit and that might be why they were able to put the Hawks away in third periods; they wear you out.  Their goaltending tandem has been strong, even with Hiller showing some struggles early on.  The Hawks can’t underestimate him; he is still a star goalie.  In a grind-out series, the Hawks have the advantages of youth and the ability to roll four solid lines.  The Ducks’ bang’em up strategy can wear the opposing team down, but if you can’t focus on just one line, you end up wearing yourself out.  That’s not to say that the Hawks can’t reciprocate and send some tough love back to the Ducks’ stars. The Hawks need to bring some intensity not just to this team, but to all future opponents on the road to the cup.

Apr 7, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Bryan Bickell (middle) is congratulated by left wing Viktor Stalberg (left) and center Michal Handzus (right) for scoring a goal against Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35) during the second period at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Hawks had their chance to clinch a playoff spot with a point on Sunday night against the Nashville Predators, and although they dominated the game at times a point wasn’t secured until late in the third period and it wasn’t without a little bit of nervous stretches before the Hawks stars sealed the win.

The first period began in dominating fashion for the Blackhawks.  At one point the Hawks led 12-3 shots on goal, with Pekka Rinne making big stop after big stop.  The best line of the period was the Andrew Shaw, Brandon Bollig, Michael Frolik line and they were finally rewarded with a goal when Frolik shot one from the boards that Shaw was able to tip in for his 8th goal of the season.  The Hawks went to the power-play and had many chances including a blast from Patrick Kane, but they came up empty-handed and though dominating the period the kill seemed to give the Predators a jump in their skates.  Late in the period a Jonathan Toews pass went right off Johnny Oduya‘s skate and caused a Predators rush that ended up with a Nick Spaling goal and a 1-1 tie.  The Hawks out shot the Predators 17-7 for the period but it was all for nothing with a costly turnover that led to a late period goal.

The second period started just like the first period with the Hawks in full control of the action.  The Predators had a rare turnover at center ice which led to a Bryan Bickell rush and goal when he put his sneaky wrister between Rinne’s legs for a 2-1 lead.  Two things that the Hawks struggle with are faceoffs and powerplays and it was a lost faceoff that led to the tying goal when Shea Weber blasted one past Ray Emery for the equalizer.  The Hawks again had plenty of opportunities but Rinne was able to stop all but the Bickell goal.  Duncan Keith had two bad turnovers one leading to a great chance but Ray Emery came up big to keep the game tied at two when the horn sounded for the end of the 2nd period.

The third period did not start like the first two with the Predators scoring the first goal of the period when David Legwand broke the tie when he deposited a loose puck in front of Ray Emery into the back of the net.  The Hawks turned on the pressure and Coach Q changed up the lines putting Patrick Kane with Toews and Saad and it paid off nicely on this night when Brandon Saad knocked home a rebound to tie the game. It only took 55 seconds later for the Hawks to take the lead for good when Patrick Kane on a rare fore check found a wide open Toews and he put a wicked wrister past Rinne -crossbar-and in the net.  Ray Emery had to come up big once late in the period which led to Rinne getting pulled in the final minute and when a Predator shot was knocked down Saad led Kane for the empty netter and final nail in the Predator coffin and 5-3 victory.

-The Hawks are the first team to clinch a playoff spot

-I doubt it is for Coach Q, but I would think that a goalie controversy could be starting in Hawks fans thoughts.

-Michal Handzus continues to help the Hawks at the faceoff circle.

-Johnny Oduya 2/3 week stretch of shaky turnover hockey continued tonight.

-The Hawks play again Tuesday night in Minnesota puck drops at 7 Central.

-Patrick Kane scored his 20th goal and now has 6 straight season with 20 or more goals.

For more Blackhawks conversation follow us on Twitter @Blackhawk_Up or Friend us on Facebook at Blackhawk Up.

Crawford is keenly aware of his situation. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

With all the trade talks going on today, it makes you take a step back and look at the Blackhawks options. While the Hawks weren’t buyers today, it could be different come summer.  Looking at a players performance is always a good thing; you can break down mistakes and praise good decision making.  I’m sure they went over the Nashville game with Corey Crawford, and he would probably like to have the both goals back.  With one mishandled cover up, he brought horrible OT playoff memories surging back.  In general, Crow has been making the big saves, but some of the easier ones have eluded him.  Right now Crawford is sporting a solid 1.97 goals against average, and a .925 save percentage, which puts him above the .910 league average.  He is currently being backed up by Ray Emery who is on the last season of his contract.  Emery is sporting a 2.09 GAA and a .919 Sv% which again puts our goalies above league average.  The Blackhawks have fully supported their goalies and Q still stands behind Crawford, and rightfully so, he still is overall playing well. Crawford has another season with the team, and while the Blackhawks brass say that he’s the number one guy, their actions over the summer showed doubt.

Before the lockout, Bowman was talking with the LA Kings about their backup, Jonathan Bernier, who is on his final year of his contract.  Bernier has a 1.95 GAA and a .919 Sv% which puts him right up there statistically, but keep in mind the kings struggled a lot early on this season.  Currently, Bernier’s cap hit is 1.2 million and is due for a raise next signing.  This still puts him within range of the Hawks, depending on moves they make over the summer.  Bernier is a legitimate option, but he comes with a price; he wants to be the #1 goalie.  Bernier has been vocal about his displeasure with the way his career has been handled and is more than willing to get out of the shadow of Jonathan Quick, even if the money isn’t the huge paycheck he might want.  This may not even need to be considered if Crow can prevent the massive mental lapses that he displayed last year in the postseason.  Another viable option would be Tampa Bay’s newly acquired net minder, Ben Bishop, who is also on the last year of his contract.  His cap hit is currently 625k, and again, is due for a raise.  Bishop is a 6’7” monster of a goalie who has been stuck backing up star goalies like Halak and Anderson.  As of this writing, Bishop hasn’t signed an extension with his new team, and with the cap going down next season, his new contract could be modest and short term with room to improve in his next signing.  Bishop has always seemed to have our number, he is fairly quick for a big guy, and his size and speed are great assets for a goalie.  As we saw today with the trade deadline coming to a close, Bowman doesn’t like to trade his prospects or break up the current roster, so we may need to look in our own system.

Right now we have 3 goalies worth noting. When Carter Hutton was first acquired by Rockford, he had back-to-back shutouts, which really sparked some hope for our in the net depth.  Currently, Hutton’s stats are decent at best, 2.79 GAA and .907 Sv%.  The hogs went on a slide and didn’t help their goalies out in that losing streak.  Earlier this year, the Hawks traded for goalie Henrik Karlsson, another 6’7” monster of a man.  Karlsson played for Calgary but his stats throughout his professional career have been average at best; maybe his size alone raises expectations.  This season with the Hogs he has sported a 2.79 GAA and a .907 Sv%.  While I think he could be a suitable back up, especially at 615k, he still isn’t going to steal the job from Crow. The other prospect is currently with the Portland Winterhawks.  Mac Carruth is signed with us for a few more years and is developing nicely. His career stats have gotten better each year and finished up his season with a 30-7-0 record, though there is no reason to jump the gun and risk his development.

The season is winding down, and with a variety of options available, Crow and Emery are in control of their futures. While we are all upset with Crow’s Nashville performance, we tend to forget that he still made some big saves when all the momentum was with the Preds.  Crow was given the nod earlier today for the start against the Blues where we can expect a bounce back performance. What do you think of the Blackhawks options? Will Emery be back next season? Will there be a trade to come next summer?

March 3, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago Blackhawks celebrate their 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings at the Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

This past week has sparked major change in the league. The Chicago Blackhawks lost for the first time this season, and sticking to Chicago, the Hawks were the cover of Sports Illustrated. This week was huge for hockey, they can finally say they are something, people are actually watching. We should be prepared for the wave hockey is going to make down the stretch this season, this is going to be a fun finish. However let’s get to the Western Conference Rankings.

15. Calgary Flames (9-11-4)

Lets welcome the Flames as the official worst team in the conference. All season long the Flames have gotten themselves to the point where they can’t get that big goal, or when they get close the defense closes and they find themselves stuck. Calgary forward, and pride and joy Jarome Iginla has been way too average this season. He has 7 goals and 12 assist, but is getting killed with a -3 rating this season. We will have to see how the Flames come back this season, they need a quick turn if they hope to make a statement.

14. Colorado Avalanche (10-11-4)

Colorado may be number 14 On my power rankings, but they feel like number 1 in the hockey world. Colorado took down the Chicago Blackhawks Friday night with a huge 6-2 victory. Though they took down the Hawks they seem to not be able to overcome themselves. The team chemistry just isn’t there for the Avs, they tend to look lost, and often dont have any real veterans to turn to. Look for the Avalanche to sink down as the season moves along.

13. Columbus Blue Jackets (10-12-5)

The Jackets had a solid week winning 5 straight games. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky looked strong this week, but the team as a whole showed the promise they started the season with. Columbus needs to continue to be a physical team this season, and they will continue to see success and rise in the standings.

12. Edmonton Oilers (10-11-5)

Edmonton has shown many different faces this year, they handed the Chicago Blackhawks their second loss of the season in a 6-5 offensive battle. Edmonton started the season as a legitimate contender for a top playoff spot. However they have shown many signs of inexperience, and many goaltending questions. We should keep our eye on the Oilers to see hare they might pull themselves out of this hole their in.

11. Nashville Predators (11-9-6)

Nashville has really come around the start of the season. Goaltender Pekka Rinne has 10 wins now, with a 2.00 GAA this season. Though the offensive firepower isn’t there the defensive side of the game has been quite impressive stairs far. For the Preds to move up they need the production from the offense as well, look for the Kostitsyn brothers this season.

10. San Jose Sharks (11-8-6)

San Jose has had a very questionable season this far, they tend to show spurts of success, but can’t close games so far. The play of Goaltender Anti Niemi has been on and off, but that may be due to the defensive side. Keep an eye on how the Sharks rebound in the second half.

9. Dallas Stars (12-11-2)

Dallas has had a solid start to the season, but in their last 10 games they have gone 4-5-1. The interesting part of the play in Dallas has been the effort from the veterans. Jaromir Jagr leads the team in goals, and still he continues to impress the Hockey world.

8. Minnesota Wild (13-10-2)

Minnesota has been so interesting to watch this year, they tend to find a way to get wins, but on top of that they find good goaltending to keep them in games. After the offseason, the Wild started slow then came out with fire here at the midway point Of the season. Keep an eye on this team they can be potentially dangerous down the road this season.

7. Detroit Red Wings (12-9-5)

Detroit has a lot to prove yet this season, they need to show the hockey world they can play with the young players. As of right now we see the Wings as a playoff team, but with this mad rush of games to close the season, can the Red Wings keep up.

6. St. Louis Blues (14-10-2)

St. Louis had all the hockey world scared at the start of this season, but at the halfway point they are nearly invisible. Despite all the success they been expect to have, they seem to look flat, or even confused during games. Look for the Blues to find their way this season, and get back in the race.

5. Phoenix Coyotes (13-10-3)

Phoenix has now entered the building. After the flat start this season, the Coyotes have now shown they can still be a legitimate playoff contender. Look for the Coyotes to keep up the fire and move forward at the end of the season.

4. Los Angeles Kings (14-9-2)

Los Angeles has now started to play like their old self. We need to keep an eye out for this team, they have a good chance that they may cool off soon, but when you least expect they will come back and make another run at the cup.

3. Vancouver Canucks (12-7-6)

Vancouver as expected is near the top of the standings. The biggest question was how the goaltending was going to work this season. We all got proven wrong with Luongo, but now they are getting plenty of production out of the Sedin Twins. Keep an eye on Vancouver they have a good team, and could cause some big damage.

2. Anaheim Ducks (19-3-3)

Well everyone Anaheim is officially not going away. With only being 4 points out of first place the Ducks have a lot to look forward to. The team has gotten production from all phases of the game, but I believe the big part of the team is Coach Bruce Boudreau bringing his playoff expierience to Anaheim. Look for the Ducks to keep their sights forward close out the season.

1. Chicago Blackhawks (21-2-3)

The Blackhawks are now back down to earth after losing their first games of the season, but have yet to win after the losses. The play of Crawford has been less than good, but they need to tighten the defense as well. Lets keep an eye on how they adjust to their first loss. Look for the Hawks to keep the top spot.

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Mar 1, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook (7) is congratulated by his teammates for scoring a goal for scoring the game winning goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during overtime at the United Center. The Blackhawks beat the Blue Jackets 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Blackhawks now hold the longest streak to start the season in NHL history, but for hockey it feels like so much more. This streak brought hockey to a whole new level, a national stage, but not only will the streak go down in the books for the longest streak, it will go down as a sense of hope for the fans after a brutal lockout.

In the heat of  the streak the Hawks brought attention to Hockey mynah the sport itself could never bring. Chicago was bringing something to the game that was unheard of, ESPN was comparing the Miami Heat to the Hawks, they were on the front lines of every major sports network.

it seemed like enduring every pre-game or all the intermissions only one thing was talked about and that was the streak, we saw the streak everywhere no matter what channel. NBC sports network used the streak to their advantage and talked  about it with every chance.

The crazy thing about the Hawks run is the amount of fans the Hawks have gained, if you noticed the Hawks had a big following wherever they went, the amount of fans that came out to every game could nearly match the home team every game.

At the end of the day we as fans should be really thankful for what this team gave us. Not only did we witness our team win, we witnessed a team touch greatness when less than 3 months ago we had nothing to look forward to. We as fans don’t witness this often and need to then see that this put hockey on the map. This is something we may never see again we should take this glory and cherish it to come.

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Feb 17, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Patrick Sharp (10) is congratulated by his teammates for scoring a goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings went head to head sunday afternoon. Aside from it being hockey night in America, this game meant much more for Los Angeles, After the Hawks destroyed the Kings on opening day. The Hawks got off to a quick start scoring twice in the first period. It took until the third for the Kings to find their scoring. But the Hawks proved strong winning again 3-2.

The story of todays game was Chicago getting a point in all 15 games this season. The player of todays game was Patrick Sharp, not only did Sharp get a 2nd period goal, but was all over the ice today with his good defense and found many chances to score. Chicago gave up 2 powerplay goals today which was very abnormal, but killed off 2. The scored one powerplay goal in 5 chances. Ray Emery has showed hes ready to jump in for Corey Crawford winning again today, and is undefeated on the season. The Hawks got goals from Seabrook, Toews, and Sharp.

The Kings are off to a slow start this season, losing again today. The Kings got both goals on the powerplay today, and they were both scored by Mike Richards in the 3rd. Quick got the loss again today, but looked strong today stopping all shots for nearly 2 periods. The Kings have really struggled this season starting 5-5-2, which after the Stanley Cup winning season last year is really disappointing.

The Blackhawks take on Vancouver Tuesday, and look to continue this streak. They loom to welcome in the rivalry, especially after the Canucks handed the Hawks a shootout loss this season.

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