The calendar has flipped to April, which means we've reached the final week of NHL regular season. Time is running out for bubble teams to make a run and get in. But at this point those clubs need help, too.
The Blackhawks are six points out of the second wildcard spot in the Western Conference with four games remaining. Their odds are down to 0.4 percent, according to hockeyreference.com, and they could mathematically be eliminated from contention by the end of Monday night with a loss and Colorado win.
But until the math says they're out, the Blackhawks will never say never — even if they internally have maybe allowed themselves to think otherwise.