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In a very crowded Western Conference playoff race the Chicago Blackhawks are right in the middle of it all. A long winning streak could push them to hosting a home playoff series, but a long losing streak could knock them out all together.
Only six points separates the fourth place team and the 12th place team in the NHL's Western Conference. As a result, the Chicago Blackhawks still have time to secure a comfortable playoff seed.
It's been a relatively rough season through the first 50 games for the Chicago Blackhawks. Much of the overflowing offensive production for last season has dropped off in five-on-five ice time.
As part of their preseason schedule for next year, the Chicago Blackhawks will take on the Edmonton Oils at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Heading into the All-Star break, the Chicago Blackhawks are holding onto a playoff spot by a tread. Down the stretch they're going to need to capitalize on every opportunity for a standings point.
The Wild go into the break on a roll, with four wins in five games after the comeback victory. Chicago lost its second straight after a 5-0-1 stretch.
Both the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild have been playing good hockey as of late and are trying to rack up as many standing points as possible.
A potentially huge weekend for the Chicago Blackhawks, turned in to just a good weekend. The Blackhawks knocked off the rival Detroit Red Wings on Saturday but fell to the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.
Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews will play against the Minnesota Wild Tuesday despite missing Monday's practice.
Sunday was the only regular-season rematch of last year's Stanley Cup Finals and the Blackhawks didn't look like the winners they were last year.
