The defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks are a good hockey team about to enter the playoffs with more questions than answers.
They lost in OT last night to a likely playoff opponent in the Blues. To my eye, the Hawks played well, and certainly well enough to win. and while not making excuses, I would argue that the suspended Duncan Keith was the most glaring absence for either club.
All that said, while there were some positives for the Blackhawks last night (and recently) like the play of Richard Panik, Andrew Desjardins, Jonathan Toews, Andrew Ladd and a defense that wasn't really trainwreck-y, you continue to get the feeling that for this team to make a deep playoff run, it will need to get a lot healthier in a hurry (Hossa, Crawford, Shaw)—and get on a roll like it hasn't really been in the last 30 games or so.
We learned last night that Bryan Bickell hasn't brought anything special or different back from Rockford with him.
Teuvo Teravainen reverted back to alligator arms to avoid contact on more than one occasion last night.
And the whole team looked very tired and a step behind late in regulation and in overtime.
I will update with any injury newsand provide a preview for the season finale tomorrow in Columbus.
All for now,
JJ
FOB (good peeps, good reads)
Chris Block Al Cimaglia http://www.thethirdmanin.com
Frank Nova http://www.hockeenight.com
Greg Boysen http://www.letsgohawks.net
Puckin’ Hostile Crew http://www.puckinhostile.com