Hello. The Chicago Blackhawks are tied for the Central Division lead based on points today. It is February 18, 2021. This is all a reality.
It feels so weird to say that the Blackhawks are actually, yes, good. No one expected this Chicago squad to be competitive like this in 2021. The writing was on the wall for this season that it would be a no good, miserable year. Yet here we are, talking about playoff positioning, Calder Trophy candidates, and dare I say Hart Trophy candidates? What year
IS this?
• Last night, the Blackhawks were able to dispatch of the Detroit Red Wings with a 2-0 win. Leading the way were two of the three Calder Trophy candidates on this Blackhawks squad as Kevin Lankinen notched his first career shutout and Philipp Kurashev scored one of the slickest goals of the year.
We Know the 2021 Blackhawks Are Fun and Young and Exciting, But How *Actually* Good Are They?
The start to this pandemic-shortened 2021 season has been unexpected(ly pleasant) for the Chicago Blackhawks. Through 17 games, the team has gone 8-5-4, gaining at least a point in 12 of their last 14 contests. Perhaps they’re not (seriously) contending for a Stanley Cup just yet, but they absolutely are contending for a playoff spot in the new, one-time only Central Division. And that’s been an absolute blast to follow.
Indeed, based both on points (20) and points percentage (.588), the Blackhawks sit fourth in the division, which would put them into the postseason picture if the season ended today — specifically, that would mean a first-round matchup against the Florida Panthers.