For the first time since the 2016-17 season, playoff hockey was back in Chicago. Well, actually Edmonton, but the city was able to feel the postseason buzz again.
The Blackhawks weren’t going to make the playoffs before the NHL put its season on pause March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s just the reality.
But they did make the most of their opportunity in the 24-team tournament by beating the No. 5 seed Edmonton Oilers in four games of the qualifying round and going five games with the No. 1 seed Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs before getting eliminated.