The Chicago Blackhawks are now in total control of their destiny. After beating the Detroit Red Wings Friday night 4-2 the ‘Hawks have inched closer to clinching a playoff spot.
But they’re going to have to prove themselves again.
The Dallas Stars are not going away easily. They’ve been trailing the ‘Hawks, hoping to grab a playoff spot late in the season for the past two weeks. The Stars needed to win their game Friday night and did, forcing the ‘Hawks to now, at least, earn a point in Sunday’s game against the Red Wings.
After 81 games of grinding it out, it all comes down to game 82.
A win, an overtime loss, a Dallas loss, or Dallas overtime loss will all give the ‘Hawks a playoff spot. It’s a lot easier said then done, especially for a ‘Hawks team that has had a roller coaster season plagued with inconsistency and third period blowouts.
The ‘Hawks need to find a way to play with the kind of urgency and determination they showed on Friday. Three goals early in the first period buried the Red Wings, and while I love close games, I’d rather not have as heart attack over a hockey game.
The first line and second line attacking the net was key to the success of the ‘Hawks Friday night, proving, once again, that when the top line performs well the team wins. But the lack of production from the bottom two lines still bothers me.
Good teams get production from their stars, but great teams get it from everyone
Sunday’s game will be in Chicago at the United Center, so there should be no problem with crowd support. It actually fits into the dream finish of clinching the playoffs in front of your home crowd.
With all these advantages, there is still one glaring problem:Detroit will come back with a vengeance.
Rivals love to see ruin each other’s day, and what’s worse than beating your rival and be the reason for them possibly not making the playoffs?
With such much to win and possibly lose, the ‘Hawks better play their best, or it could cost a whole year full of proving that they can still be a force in the NHL.
The Chicago Blackhawks Get A Chance to Defend Championship All Thanks To Minnesota
Read MoreFor More Great Chicago Sports Content
Get the latest Chicago sports news, analysis, and breaking stories on the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Sky, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, so you never miss a story on your favorite Chicago teams.
Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE
