Blackhawks remaining schedule will be an outright roller coaster

The Chicago Blackhawks won’t make the playoffs once again, but that was a given before the season even started. Improvement, we all thought, was, but it’s been hit-or-miss if you want me to be generous about it. 

Anyway, the Hawks still got 11 games left heading into Tuesday and wow, I haven’t seen such a lopsided schedule yet. One look at their upcoming games might send you into a panic, and thinking there’s no way they’ll have any momentum for the final slate of contests starting on April 6th. 

But the other side of you may look at what’s in store for the Hawks, and say, “Maybe they’ll have some learning experiences, then end the season on a high note.” This is because the Blackhawks have nothing but a plethora of tough matchups on the upcoming slate before things get rather lenient starting with 10 days remaining in the regular season. 

What makes the Blackhawks upcoming slate of games so tough?

One glance will tell you why it wouldn’t surprise me if the Hawks embarked on another unfortunate losing streak. The next few games are full of potential playoff contenders and those who are shoo-ins for postseason play. Check them out:

• New Jersey Devils
• Vegas Golden Knights
• Utah Hockey Club
• Colorado Avalanche
• Washington Capitals

That’s no easy feat, even for a well-versed team a rung or two ahead of the Hawks. Like the St. Louis Blues. But Hawks fans shouldn’t get too hung up on this, except if you’re in that contingent hoping they can snag the best possible position to land the first overall pick. 

If not, then the opposite is true, because the Hawks schedule gets way, way more lenient. It’s like choosing the toughest opponents first before the competition gets very, very favorable. So, if you’re in the group of fans that would rather see the Hawks keep playing their hearts out - and they will - you’re in luck. 

Blackhawks final slate of games gets easy for the most part

While there are some tough matchups on paper, the Hawks absolute final slate this season comprises either non-playoff contenders, surprise teams, and in one case, a team that should have locked up the top seed in the Central Division. 

• Pittsburgh Penguins
• Pittsburgh Penguins
• Boston Bruins
• Winnipeg Jets
• Montreal Canadiens
• Ottawa Senators

The Penguins and Bruins have been a pair of teams in turmoil at varying points this season. So have the Blackhawks, but they’ll at least have a far more favorable chance in all three matchups. 

As for the Jets, there’s a good chance you’ll see a “B-team version” of them on the ice if they have both the Central locked up and the top overall seed in the Western Conference. So, once again, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Blackhawks figured out a way to get the best of their division rivals. 

The Canadiens and Senators are both good teams, but they’re surprises and you can’t help but wonder if either is as good as their records. Both could also have locked up a spot as wild cards by the time these games roll around, giving the Hawks a chance to end the year on a high note.