Since 2013, it’s become routine that I write an article like this talking about how the Blackhawks are one loss away from elimination in the playoffs. I wish it were different. I wish the Blackhawks were up 2-1 or 3-0 as I type this. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
The Blackhawks are down 3-0 in this series against the Predators. It’s been frustrating. It’s been annoying. I am writing this just after 1:00 a.m. because I know I am not going to sleep much. This is what happens when I am pissed off.
The Blackhawks were up 2-0 in the 3rd of Game 3 when things just fell apart. Horrible bounces and inability to clear the puck gave the Predators two goals. That’s hockey. People want to talk about how other sports are random, hockey beats it all. This game is so fucked up and with all of the rule changes in the last decade, teams can come back in a hurry. That’s what happened in this game.
I am not going to go all meatball by saying the Blackhawks aren’t trying. No. These are the motherfucking Blackhawks that many of us loved since childhood. These are the mighty Blackhawks. This is the team that has spoiled us with three Stanley Cups since the start of this decade. They even had a chance for a fourth one in 2014. This team didn’t all of a sudden turn into a bunch of bums. It’s just how the game is played. The Blackhawks had a ton of breaks go their way in those Cup years. This year, it isn’t happening.
The last time the Blackhawks have been swept in a series was 15 years ago against the Joel Quenneville-coached Blues. Because this is hockey, the law of average says the Blackhawks will be swept again in due time and it just may be this Thursday.
One thing about these Blackhawk teams since the start of the decade: They don’t give up. In 2011, they were 3-0 to the Canucks and forced Game 7. Sure, it sucked that a shitty turnover in overtime lost that game. But they didn’t throw in the towel. 2014 was similar with them down 3-1 to the Kings in the Conference Final. Overtime got the best of them again, but as it went for 2011, they didn’t go down quietly. Let’s not forget 2013 when they were down 3-1 to the Red Wings. I didn’t declare the season over, but I didn’t feel all that great. They won three in a row and the series. We all know what happened after that.
Yeah, it sucks they keep getting down 3-0/3-1/3-2 in these series, but damn. I wish they would just sweep everybody en route to a Stanley Cup. That just doesn’t happen.
But, this one question remains:
Can Quenneville and his mighty Blackhawks pull off the biggest comeback of this decade by winning four in a row against the Predators?