The Chicago Blackhawks had made the 2009 Western Conference Finals, and they had a sensational 2010 regular season which all led to what ended up being a magical 2010 Stanley Cup Playoff run which ended with the Chicago Blackhawks hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time in 49 years.
The Chicago Blackhawks took on the Nashville Predators in the opening round of the playoffs which was probably the worst possible matchup the Hawks could face in the playoffs in 2010. Nashville Predators coach Barry Trotz was in full suck all the wind out of the ice rink mode with goalie Pekka Rinne leading the way.