5.08.2013

Chicago's Chances Moving Forward.



As the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs continue, more and more upsets are brewing each night. The Western Conference’s Northwest Division Champion, Vancouver Canucks, saw their season end quite abruptly, when they were swept, in 4 games, by the 6th seeded San Jose Sharks after losing a 4-3 decision in overtime Tuesday night.

For Chicago Blackhawks fans, this is music to their ears. The Vancouver/Chicago rivalry has become quite a battle since Chicago’s Stanley Cup run in the ’09-’10 season, where the Blackhawks defeated the Canucks in the Western Conference Semi-Finals winning 4 games to 2. In the following year, the two teams met in round 1 of the playoffs. Vancouver went up early in the series 3 games to none, only to see their opponent come soaring back to even it at 3 games each. Game 7 took overtime for a final decision, as Vancouver’s Alexandre Burrows scored on slap shot to end Chicago’s comeback, and move his Canucks on to the next round.

At this point in the season, every game a team plays will be a battle for at least 60 minutes, as we have already seen many games head to overtime. The Chicago Blackhawks currently hold a 3 games to 1 lead over the Minnesota Wild, which will continue back in Chicago for Game 5 on Thursday night. The top seeded Blackhawks have not yet lost at home this post-season, and carried an 18-3-3 record at home during the regular season. Minnesota fans, you could be in trouble…

Behind a shutout victory from Blackhawks goaltender, Corey Crawford, on Tuesday night, the Hawks depth only increases. For example, Blackhawks 4th liners Michael Frolik and Marcus Kruger both logged over 11 minutes on Tuesday nights 3-0 win over the Wild. Of course, fan favorites Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, and Marian Hossa continue to produce, as they have provided a combined 13 points over the past 4 games. The defense continues to shine as the Blackhawks have only allowed 6 goals thus far in the series, and hope to continue along that path as they head home for a potential series clinching game Thursday night.

For their success to continue, look for the captain, and 2010 Stanley Cup Finals MVP, Jonathan Toews, to pick up his scoring. Toews is without a point through 4 games in this year’s playoffs. Luckily, the Blackhawks have not been affected too much by Toew’s slow start, as they have found offense from centerman, and recently acquired veteran, Michal Handzus, who assisted the game winning goal Tuesday night. Handzus is also a great competitor in the face-off circle, winning more than 65% of his draws each night.

The Chicago Blackhawks are an early favorite here in the 2013 shortened season, and have seemed to be virtually unstoppable at certain points this year. They are the league’s President’s Trophy winner, and will have home ice through the rest of the playoffs, which will be a huge key to their success as they arrive to play each night. It takes 16 wins to be crowned a Stanley Cup Champion, and with one more, the Chicago Blackhawks will be ¼ of the way there, to repeat what they did in 2010.

-JM Piotrowski

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