With 30 Games Left, Blackhawks Need Points
The defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks sit in 11th place in the Western Conference with 30 games left to be played.
It's safe to say that the team has their work cut out for them as they continue their road trip, and the remaining games on their schedule. But by no means is the season doomed. A win over the Calgary Flames on Monday night would put the Blackhawks in a tie for 8th place with the Los Angeles Kings.
Because the Western Conference is so competitive this season, 14 of 15 teams still have a shot at the playoffs, every game becomes more important. And every time the Blackhawks have the opportunity to gain a standings point they have to come through.
Late game collapses, like Friday night against the Vancouver Canucks, can be a killer for the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks had a 3-2 lead over the Canucks with under 13:00 left in the game. At the 10:00 mark they gave up a goal to Henrik Sedin and six minutes later his brother Daniel Sedin scored the game-winner.
The Blackhawks just can't afford to lose out on standings points when they have leads in the third period.
Their current road trip has four remaining games on it, and only one of those opponents is ranked behind them in the standings. At the minimum, the Blackhawks have to pick up four of the eight possible points in those games. Anything less and the hole they're in gets deeper.
With a challenging schedule remaining, the Blackhawks don't want to have to go into the last few games of the season without a playoff position secured. Their final two games are a home-and-home series with the Detroit Red Wings.
