Chicago Blackhawks: Resurgent Top Line Makes Hawks Dangerous Once Again

When the Chicago Blackhawks made their way to the United Center for their game against the Minnesota Wild on February 16th, they were staring down a long road to even make it back to the playoffs. 

The Hawks were 11th place in the Western Conference standings then, three points out of eighth place and needing to leapfrog two teams, including the Wild, just to make it back into the playoff picture.

The Hawks went out in what essentially amounted to a must-win game against the Wild, and got a victory on the back of rookie goaltender Corey Crawford and his 33 saves.

Unfortunately the Hawks dropped a heart breaker the following Friday to the Blue Jackets and found themselves right back at the bottom of the heap. That's when the Hawks top line decided they would take matters into their own hands.

After the loss to the Jackets, the Blackhawks finally got hot and have since ripped off eight consecutive victories that has vaulted them into fourth place in the Western Conference, due in large part to the dominant play of first line stars Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.

During this eight-game winning streak, the trio have combined for 30 points and have been a large part all season long as to why the Blackhawks have the most dynamic power play unit in the NHL. At times this year the Blackhawks were offensively stagnant, but the resurgence of the Hawks' top line, especially Toews, who is often considered one of the best two-way players in the league, has made the Blackhawks formidable once again.

And there may even be more in store for the defending champions. While it may seem far fetched with just 16 games remaining in the regular season, the Hawks recent tear have put them just six points back of the division leading Detroit Red Wings.

One thing is for sure, if the Hawks are going to catch Detroit in the Central, they are going to need more of the same from that vaunted first line.