The Weekly Macklin Celebrini Watch: Chicago Blackhawks Barely Still Have The Best NHL Draft Lottery Odds

Another week ended with the Chicago Blackhawks with a slim lead in the Tankathon.com/NHL standings over the San Jose Sharks.

The Blackhawks even picked up two points in the standings with a road win last Tuesday over the Arizona Coyotes.

Thankfully, the Sharks picked up three points with a shootout loss to the Dallas Stars and a victory over the Ottawa Senators.

Can the Chicago Blackhawks maintain their lead this week?

The Hawks play three home games this week. Two of them are winnable.

The Blackhawks host the Coyotes tonight at the United Center. Two things might work in the Hawks' favor of a possible defeat in this game. This matchup comes at the backend of a road/home back-to-back and backup goalie Arvid Soderblom likely will start in goal.

Although, he was really good last Tuesday against the Coyotes.

The Anaheim Ducks will kick off a four-game road trip with a game against the Hawks on Tuesday night. The Ducks are currently in third place in the Tankathon standings. However, they have won three of their past five games.

The Los Angeles Kings come to town on Friday. The Kings are currently holding onto third place in the Pacific Division. If you are rooting for the best odd in the NHL Draft Lottery, then hope at the very best, the Hawks come out with an overtime or shootout loss in one of these games.

Did the San Jose Sharks get worse at the trade deadline?

Yes, the Sharks traded away goalie Kaapo Kahkonen, defensemen Nikita Okhotiuk, center Tomas Hertl, and winger Anthony Duclair.

Hertl and Duclair were among the Sharks' top-five scorers. Kahkonen was the Sharks' starting netminder.

Losing that much talent is certainly not going to help the Sharks close out the season strong.

San Jose kicks off a four-game road streak this week. The Sharks are 6-21-4 on the road. The Blackhawks are the only team with a worse road record than the Sharks.

The Sharks play the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. The Flyers are clinging to third place in the Metropolitan Division. San Jose then goes to Pittsburgh to face the Penguins. The Penguins may not be going to the playoffs this year, but they still have Sidney Crosby.

San Jose wraps up the week against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference so that is the game that gives the Sharks their best chance to pick up some points in the standings.

How did Macklin Celebrini play last week?

The probable No. 1 overall pick had two goals and an assist for Boston University on Thursday in a 4-2 win over Providence.

He then wrapped up his first collegiate regular season with a goal and two assists in the Terriers' 6-1 victory over Vermont on Saturday.

Celebrini finished his freshman regular season with 29 goals and dished out 25 assists.

Macklin will be back on the ice for Boston U. on Saturday when the Terriers play the second-lowest remaining seed in the Hockey East Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

How did Blackhawks prospect Ryan Greene play for Boston University last week?

He picked up two assists on Saturday.

He finished his sophomore regular season with nine goals and 21 assists.