The Blackhawks are back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Chicago advanced past the Qualifiers with a 3-1 series win against the Oilers. The Blackhawks eliminated Edmonton with a 3-2 victory in Game 4 thanks to a late goal from Dominik Kubalik and Corey Crawford’s 43-save performance to move on to face the Western Conference’s first seed, which was won by the Golden Knights in the round robin.
It might be the worst possible match up for the Blackhawks. Vegas is everything the Blackhawks are not — deep, able to roll four lines that can score and drive possession; fast, with players like William Carrier and Chandler Stephenson; and aggressive, as their penalty kill style, or power kill, led them to a NHL-high nine shorthanded goals this season.