As a playoff odds to continue to dwindle for the Blackhawks, they enter the tail-end of a two-game set in Detroit on Saturday night with a win essentially required if Stanley Cup Playoff aspirations are going to remain a reality at 1901 W. Madison.
That necessity was triggered by a 4-1 loss on Thursday night in a game which the Blackhawks coach and players maintained that they were just unlucky, although the scoreboard cared not for that assertion. Detroit outscored and outshot Chicago, while the power play that has carried the Blackhawks for much of the season went 0-for-3, failing to convert on a pair of unnecessary too many men penalties taken by Detroit.