The wait is over. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are finally here.
Not that the regular season never has meaning for the Blackhawks, but this core isn’t measured by its 82-game season. It’s the four rounds that follow which define whether a Blackhawks’ season is a success or not.
Heading into this season’s playoffs, expectations are again high for the Blackhawks. A year ago, a long run just wasn’t realistic, and a first-round exit was probably what the Blackhawks deserved. A year later, the Blackhawks have a team more suitable to make another push for a Stanley Cup.