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The Blackhawks finished up their 2013 Circus Road Trip with a 5-2 victory over the Coyotes in Glendale, AZ last night, going 6-1 on the trip as a hole, and pushing their record to a league best 20-4-4.

The Hawks were firing on all cylinders, yet again, getting goals form all four lines and another solid performance from new (and increasingly likely season-long) backup goalie Antti Raanta.

All would seem to be well on the Good Ship Blackhawk. But your old Uncle JJ always has to find some parade to rain on.

I'm not sold yet.

6-1.

6. And 1.

The Hawks lost one game on this trip, in Colorado. Well, they didn't just lose it. They got destroyed. And the Hawks have yet to beat the St. Louis Blues this year.

The fact is, the Hawks have beaten, and done so with the consistency of a champion, the teams they should beat. A solid home victory over San Jose was a nice statement. But the Hawks have at least one significant dragon to slay before the crown settles too easily.

St. Louis. Maybe Colorado.

It's easy to assume the reigning Stanley Cup champs, stacked with talent, character, and with all the skins on the wall, will ultimately prevail over teams like the Blues, but the proof is in the pudding.

It remains to be seen if the Hawks will be the better team than the Blues and possibly the Avalanche.

Your thoughts?


JJ

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