Central Division Update
This point of the NHL Regular-Season marks a crucial time where teams in both conferences fight for a playoff spot.
Most teams fight all season just to make the playoffs while others fight for the top seed for the coveted home-ice advantage.
The Chicago Blackhawks have a current record of 41-16-15 and a total of 97 points in 72 games played (as of 3/24/2014).
This is a good record but the Blackhawks should not be satisfied just yet, as they are in no position to coast until the playoffs.
Currently, the Blackhawks sit in 2nd place in the Central Division (as of 3/24/2014).
The St. Louis Blues lead the division and the Western Conference with 103 points in just 71 games played. I believe they will surely maintain the position moving into the playoffs.
The Colorado Avalanche have been chasing the Hawks all season and have even advanced in the standings over the Hawks.
Now, the Avs sit in 3rd in the Central with 94 points in just 71 games played. With a game advantage over the Hawks, the Avs can still potentially take back 2nd place in the Division.
This competition for 2nd place in the division will surely be fought until the end of the regular-season between Chicago and Colorado.
However, the playoff battle does not end there in the Central Division. Fellow Central Division contenders like the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars still have a chance.
The Minnesota Wild are in the No.1 Wild Card position for the playoffs as of now. They have 85 points in 72 games.
If the playoffs were to start, regardless of which teams earn the 1st, 2nd, 3rd spots in each division, Minnesota would be selected as a 4th place contender in the playoffs. There they would play against the 1st place team in either the Pacific or Central Divison.
The Dallas Stars have had some success this season but struggled to really capture their full potential.
The Stars have 77 points in 70 games and are sitting in the No.3 Wild Card slot (as of 3/24/2014).
Above them in the standings sits the Phoenix Coyotes with 79 points in 71 games. I think the Coyotes are going to have a run for their money with the Dallas Stars.
This battle for the second Wild Card selection will also be one to watch, as it will be a tough fight to the end.
Stay tuned to hear which teams have the advantage as the 2013-14 NHL Regular-Season comes to an end.
Blackhawks News
This past week for the Blackhawks has been up and down. The Hawks had played 4 games since my last article was written.
The Hawks played squared-off against the Philadelphia Flyers, the St. Louis Blues, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Nashville Predators.
The Hawks, playing against two Western Conference and two Eastern Conference teams, beat one team from each conference.
First, the Hawks lost an upsetting game against the point-streaking Flyers. The game was lost in overtime with only seconds left.
Not to mention, the game-winning goal was set up by a crappy turnover made by the Hawks.
Even though the Blackhawks lost, it was still crucial that they received a point for the overtime loss.
When the Hawks set out to play the Blues, they had one thing in mind: foreshadowing.
“Why would the Hawks have a literary term like “foreshadowing” in their minds to play against the Blues?” you may ask.
It’s because the Blackhawks wanted to let the Blues know that the game being played that evening would foreshadow the outcome if the two teams met again in the playoffs. See what I did there?
The Hawks would go on to put a whooping on the Blues in a 4-0 victory. Hopefully, this will foreshadow the meeting of these two teams if they meet again in the post-season.
Next up was the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hawks, without skipping a beat, defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in a 3-2 victory.
Finally, the Hawks squared-off against a fellow Central Division opponent, the Nashville Predators.
This game was ugly. Despite a few good checks (hits) and even a scrap (fight), the Hawks did not do much.
The defensively sound Predators blanked the Hawks as they fell in a 2-0 loss at home.
In other news, Patrick Kane’s injury, sustained against the St. Louis Blues, will keep him sidelined for about 3 weeks.
This injury did not seem to be too serious, however when asked about if Kane would return right away for playoffs Coach Quenneville said, “We’ll see.”
I personally think that this 3-week timeframe (remainder of regular-season) is a precautionary approach to Kane.
I think he will be just fine and will return to the lineup shortly after the regular-season ends.
In the meantime, however, the Blackhawks have recalled forwards Jeremy Morin and Teuvo Teravainen to help fill Kane’s absence.
Much is expected from the young forward Teravainen as he has been referred to as “the future” of the franchise.
There has been no official word, at least not yet, of when Teuvo will start his NHL career. One thing is for sure, however, many Chicago fans, like myself, CANNOT WAIT to see him play!
Frank Markasovic
Sports Editor