"Every game now is a playoff game, pretty much. We've got to approach it like it's life or death."
Those were the words of Drake Caggiula and that was the mindset for the Blackhawks going into their five-game road trip in Western Canada, which was easily their most important swing of the season to date, given the circumstances: All five teams were ahead of them in the Western Conference standings, the Blackhawks were knocking on the door of a playoff spot and they had a chance to prove themselves ahead of the Feb. 24 trade deadline.
The Blackhawks finished the trip with a 1-4-0 record, picking up only two out of a possible 10 points.