Chicago Blackhawks: Core players know about adversity

The Chicago Blackhawks have a group of players that know what it is like to deal with adversity in high-pressure situations.

The Chicago Blackhawks are an NHL franchise that has had a lot of success in the recent past. They won the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013, and 2015. To win that much, you have to overcome some adversity to get to the top of those mountains. Men like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, and Corey Crawford know what it is like to be down and out with everyone picking against them. They also know how it feels to win and lose in those situations.

The Hawks were one of the best teams in 2010. They were coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Detroit Red Wings in the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals but they were motivated going into the year. The only adversity they had in 2010 was in the first round against Nashville. Tied 2-2 in the series, they were shorthanded with under a minute to go and Kane scored a goal to tie the game that Marian Hossa eventually won in overtime. That season might have been very different if they go back to Nashville down 3-2 instead of up 3-2.

In 2013, they had to deal with a short season to start things off. A lockout forced the season to start in January and the Hawks came out with a 24 game point streak, starting their season 21-0-3. It was an incredible run that finished with them hoisting the Stanley Cup. The lockout wasn’t the only bit of adversity they overcame, however.

They were down 3-1 in the second-round series against the Detroit Red Wings and came all the way back to win game seven in overtime. Then in the Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins, they were a minute away from coming back to Chicago for a decisive game seven. Instead, they scored two goals in 17 seconds to win the Stanley Cup on Boston ice. It was an incredible display of will to win and perseverance.

2015 was a time of great perseverance as well. They were down 3-2 in the Western Conference Finals against the Anaheim Ducks before winning both games six and seven to advance to the Stanley Cup Final where they would defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. In reality, Anaheim and Tampa Bay were probably better teams on paper but Chicago prevailed because they knew how.

This core knows how to win. They might not have the supporting cast that they once did, but with the right guys leading the way, you never know what might happen. When the Edmonton Oilers line up against them in the “play-in series”, they will do it knowing that Chicago has a core that might be able to get it done. It should be a very compelling series for that reason alone.