Chicago Blackhawks: 5 Reasons They're Going to Be a Tough out in Playoffs

With their win over Nashville on Saturday, the Chicago Blackhawks clinched their fourth straight trip to the NHL playoffs.

With 97 points, the Hawks are guaranteed of finishing no worse than sixth in the Western Conference. However, depending on how the last week plays out they could finish as high as fourth.

Whether they end up facing Nashville or Detroit in a battle of division rivals or face the winner of the Pacific Division in the first round, the Hawks are going to be tough to beat.

While goaltending may still be a big question heading into the playoffs, the Blackhawks have a lot going for them. A lot of things a few other teams are lacking.

So as the Hawks get ready to make another run for Lord Stanley's cup, what are the five things that are going to make them tough to beat?

Depth

While it might not be as deep as the 2010 team, this Blackhawks team is pretty deep.

Coach Joel Quenneville gets production from all four lines and with the addition of Johnny Oduya the defense goes five deep.

Having five defensemen who can play 20 minutes a night takes so much pressure off Quenneville as well as Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith. Just knowing that Keith and Seabrook don't need to be against the top line every shift is a huge relief.

During the 2010 season, the Blackhawks had 11 players score double-digit goals. This season they have eight and three more knocking at the door with nine each.

If Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa each score one more goal, the Hawks will have three 30-goal scorers. If Dave Bolland gets one more goal this season he will have 20 to give them three 20-goal scorers as well.

I wonder how many goals Andrew Shaw would have scored if he were up with the team all season? He has 11 in just 35 games.

Star Power

How many teams have stars like the Chicago Blackhawks?

They have four forwards who, if not for injury, could have been All-Stars this season.

Patrick Kane has been on fire as of late, scoring eight goals in the last 16 games. Patrick Sharp leads the team with 33 goals and Marian Hossa leads the team with 48 assists.

If it wasn't for his injury, Jonathan Toews may have led the team in both categories. In 59 games this season he has 29 goals and 28 assists, and his 57 points still ranks third on the team.

Not bad for a guy who hasn't played in nearly two months?

On defense they have a former Norris Trophy winner in Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. Both helped Team Canada win the gold a few years back in the Olympics.

How does the old saying go?

You will only go as far as your stars take you. Well, I'll take the Hawks' stars over any other team's in the league.

Experience

Remember, this team is just two years removed from hosting Lord Stanley's Cup.

From that 2010 championship team, the head coach and nine players remain. Thankfully for the Hawks those nine are very key players.

We aren't talking about guys who hardly saw the ice two seasons ago and now are being asked to carry the load.

On defense they still have Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson.

With the forwards they still have Patrick Sharp, Dave Bolland, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa and Conn Smyth winner Jonathan Toews.

The only player that is being asked to play more now is Bryan Bickell. He only played in 16 regular season games and four playoff games that season. Now he is a key member of the third line with Bolland.

To go along with these guys, general manager Stan Bowman also added players like Andrew Brunette, Johnny Oduya, Sean O’Donnell and Jamal Mayers who have a wealth of playoff experience.

This team knows what it takes to win a playoff series, which a team like the St. Louis Blues can't say.

Health?

I put the question mark there because we still don't know when we might see captain Jonathan Toews back on the ice.

He has been practicing and has been cleared for contact but still hasn't played in nearly two months.

The Hawks have struggled with injuries all season long. Patrick Kane has been the only player to play in all 80 games. Marian Hossa was close but missed one game.

Dan Carcillo is done for the season, as is Steve Montador most likely. After playing against the Devils last week, Montador has been ruled out indefinitely.

The only other player who is listed as injured is Sami Lepisto, who just started skating again.

If Toews is healthy next week when the playoffs start, it might be the first time they have been truly healthy all season. I think the rest of the Western Conference might be a little worried about that considering how the Hawks have been playing as of late.

They Are Hungry

This will mark the Blackhawks' fourth straight trip to the postseason.

In the three previous years they made it to the Western Conference Finals, Stanley Cup Finals and then lost in the first round of the playoffs last season.

Several Hawks players were not happy with having a long summer last year.

They don't want to have another season end in April. These guys don't want to hit the golf course anytime before June.

They look back at that first-round series last season against Vancouver and they see a missed opportunity. They pushed the Canucks to overtime in Game 7.

The same Canucks team that lost in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Even with all those struggles last season they still think they could have repeated as champions, and that is what will drive them this postseason.