Blackhawks Busy Schedule Taking a Toll: Relief Nowhere in Sight

It is no secret that this years Chicago Blackhawks team is hot and looks ready for a big run in the second half. The teams game on Saturday night may have been an eye opener for fans and players alike. The teams schedule has been nothing short of hectic and as busy as any other team in the NHL.

Chicago went into the locker room on Saturday against the Minnesota Wild with a 5-1 lead and the game seemingly in their back pocket. The team has played at least every other night for the last nine days. With a little over 11 minutes to play in regulation Chicago was still up four goals.

From that point on it was as if someone had laced the Hawks water bottles with Ambien. The team fell asleep. Chicago gave up four unanswered goals in the final 11 minutes and seemingly did not want to let the roar of the 19 thousand plus Wild faithful wake them up. The Blackhawks survived the 5 minute extra frame however, the young talented group could not put the puck in the net in the shootout and eventually went down to the Wild team who had fought hard in the amazing comeback.

Getting back to the schedule. We all know the youth of the Hawks is a key to their team speed and ability to come with a constant wave game in and game out but, it was clear to me watching the game on Saturday that Chicago is a team made up of human beings. They are not a team that will never tire. With a game coming up tonight against the pesky Ducks who are trying to turn their season around, Chicago will have to make sure to rehydrate and rest or they will be in danger of losing their second in a row for the first time since November 26/27th when they lost two on the tail end of a six game west coast road trip.

Following the upcoming ducks clash the Hawks will have 3 days off which is a nice break. The problem is after the three days off they are hitting the road for an 8 game road trip that will be a real test of this teams ability to stay healthy and stay on top of the standings when facing a high level of adversity. Visiting rival Detroit and places like Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton and San Jose expect a playoff type atmosphere. Coach Quenneville eluded after a recent game when asked if he was happy with his teams performance that he thought they were happy with the direction but ask him again after this upcoming 8 game road trip and he will have a better idea with where his team is really at.

Honestly, it is a little bit of Joel not wanting to sound over confident. There is some real truth to his comments. IF the Hawks can come out of this road trip still on top of the conference and have had game where they do not fall asleep in the third period as they did in Minnesota on Saturday then, the team will have proven to a lot of people around the NHL that they are the most dangerous team and with their record as of now that in my mind puts them as the front runners for a long championship run.

As long as they can keep their legs underneath them...