Chicago Blackhawks: 5 Things That Must Happen to Make It Past the First Round

The playoffs are a week away and the Chicago Blackhawks are guaranteed at least one round of playoff hockey.

This season has had its ups and downs, consistencies and inconsistencies, and a fair share of drama concerning suspensions and concussions for the Blackhawks.

But when the playoffs begin, all that will be in the past and the focus will be on obtaining a Stanley Cup.

The Blackhawks have yet find out who they will face in the first round of the playoffs; six different possibilities still exist even with just two games left in the regular season.

Regardless who they play, it will be vital that the Blackhawks have a strategy heading into the matchup. Certain things need to improve or happen in order for the Chicago Blackhawks to make the second round of the playoffs.

These are the five things that must happen to make it past Round 1.

Consistent Goaltending

This is the time that Corey Crawford must stand up and prove that he is Chicago's No. 1 goalie.

Consistent goaltending is a must for any team in the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

Crawford has had a shaky season, slumping for the most part while backup goalie Ray Emery has been handling half the workload. Confidence in Crawford is crucial, as coach Joel Quenneville goes with a goalie to lead the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup.

Regardless of who the Blackhawks play in the first round, Crawford will need to be on his game in order to have a shot in every single game.

Patrick Kane

Patrick Kane will need to keep playing at the level he has been recently.

Kane has looked like a man possessed with the puck in the last nine games, sending out sweet passes from across all angles of the ice to teammates, and dekeing out opponents to get to the front of the net.

His play at the first line center position has elevated the 'Hawks offensively, and even defensively.

Hot Streak

It's fair to say that any team that wants to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals needs a little bit of "puck luck" in order to make it; the Blackhawks are no exception.

The Blackhawks look to be on the verge of a major "hot streak" once Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith come back to the lineup, and will be imperative come postseason.

The return of those two prominent players will ignite the rest of the lineup and gear them up for playoff hockey. It will be necessary that they start to gel on all cylinders of their game.

It will also be important for the Blackhawks get a consistent power play and make the opposing team pay for their mistakes. Momentum will swing the Blackhawks' way and so will their ability to take control of the game.

Hot streaks are born when teams gain confidence, and confidence is gained by taking control of the hockey game.

Road Warriors

The Blackhawks were below .500 on the road this season. That needs to change now.

Taking care of business on home ice is necessary, but doing so away will be even more important, as it is looking more and more likely that the Blackhawks will have to start the playoffs on enemy ice.

Take the crowd out of the game by scoring early, maintain a tough and physical defense, and out any hope of the opposing team and fans.

Ugly Goals

Crash the net, dump the puck and win puck battles—that is what playoff hockey is all about.

Throughout the regular season the Blackhawks have had major trouble with all three of those things. Scoring the ugly goal is all the more crucial, as goals come at a premium in the postseason.

It will be important to get the big guys in front of the net and force a tough save from the opposing netminder.

Do these things and the Blackhawks will be looking at a first-round win.