The Chicago Blackhawks have been playing very well, especially considering most of the games have been without Connor Bedard and all of the recent games have been without Frank Nazar. The Blackhawks have gone 6-3-1 over their past 10 games and are the hottest team in the wildcard race in the Western Conference.
The Blackhawks are now just three points out of the second wildcard spot and four points out of the first wildcard spot and the chance to play a team that isn't the Colorado Avalanche. Of course, in a season like this, Chicago would just be happy with playoffs and the chance for all the young players to gain experience, no matter who they play.
Of the 10 teams in the West wildcard race, only three of them have won six of their past 10 games, Chicago being one of them. The difference is the Blackhawks have gained a little ground on those other two teams - San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators - because the Blackhawks lost one game past regulation, earning a point. The Sharks and Predators have four regulation losses in their past 10 games. Every point matters.
Bedard missed 12 games in a row, returned for two, and then was out with an illness in the previous loss. After losing five in a row to start out after Bedard got injured, the team won five of the next seven and have won one of the past three since his return from the shoulder injury.
The Blackhawks are very much in the wildcard race. The Sharks have weaker depth than the Blackhawks and the goaltending isn't playing well, the Los Angeles Kings are without Anze Kopitar and haven't been anything special this season, the Nashville Predators are a very up-and-down team, and the Anaheim Ducks have been a bottom-3 team over the past month-plus. If the Blackhawks stay the course, it could be a fun ride down the stretch.
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