Chicago Blackhawks Playoff Look

Photo by Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Blackhawks lost their second straight game on Monday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Previously, the Hawks lost to the Florida Panthers. Of the two games in Florida, the Blackhawks allowed a combined 12 goals and gained one point in the standings as they try to win the top seed in the Western Conference playoff series. 

After getting a point against the Lightning on Monday night, the Blackhawks extended their lead over the second place Minnesota Wild to eight points for the number one spot in the Western Conference. The Minnesota Wild only have seven games left to play in regular season so they have to push extra hard to catch up to the Blackhawks. 

Throughout the whole NHL, the Blackhawks are very close in clinching the number one seed. However, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins are tied with the Blackhawks at 103 points, but both teams have games in hand on the Hawks. Also, Washington currently has a three-point lead on Chicago in the President’s Trophy race, and they also have two games in hand. 

To view all the standings go to: https://www.nhl.com/standings

So who will the Blackhawks play in the first round? 

Well, St. Louis and Nashville are tied for third place in the Central Division. Whichever team finishes in fourth place will secure a wild card spot, and if they finish behind Calgary in the standings (the Flames currently have a two point lead on the Blues for the top wild card spot), then they would have to face the top-seeded team in the West, which is currently the Blackhawks. However, the San Jose Sharks and the Edmonton Oilers have a chance to play the Hawks since both teams currently hold a one-point lead over the Flames in the race for the division seeding.

The Blackhawks have 6 games left in regular season. Only 2 of these games are held at the United Center. The Blackhawks will have to play tough road game hockey in order to keep the number one seed. Along with 4 road games, the Hawks have to face defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in Pittsburg.