Chicago Blackhawks: Three points vs TB Lightning is outstanding

The Chicago Blackhawks were smoked by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first two games of the season at the Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay, Florida. It had some people thinking that the Hawks were going to be the worst team in the league, especially after they went down to play the Florida Panthers in Sunrise and got smoked again. Well, since leaving Florida, it has been a great season for the Hawks. Going into this three-game set with the Lightning, it was hard to forget how the first two went but this team is different now.

The Chicago Blackhawks went 1-1-1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning in their three-game set.

The first of three games was probably as disappointing of an ending as you could see as a fan of the team on the wrong side. Victor Hedman’s shot was deflected by Alex Killorn and crossed the goal line with 0.1 seconds left on the clock in overtime. Boom, the Lightning win before the Hawks even have a chance in the shootout. It was one of the closest calls you will ever see.

The very next night needed the extra session as well. The Hawks bounced back strong and got it to overtime again but they wanted a different result this time. The Lightning had a 4 on 3 power play in the final minute of the OT period and came oh so close to doing it again for the second night in a row but the Hawks prevailed. In the shootout, Malcolm Subban and Philipp Kurashev did what needed to be done and the Hawks won.

Right there they should be proud of how the series has gone. We all said that getting three out of six possible points vs the champs would be acceptable. You know you are feeling good, however, when that final game ends in a loss and you are still mad about it despite the three earned points we wanted.

The Hawks were up 3-0 before the Lightning roared all the way back to score six unanswered and win the game 6-3. It was a tough game because five points out of six were on the table but then they had to settle for only three. Things like that are going to happen, especially against teams like the lightning, but that doesn’t mean it should be acceptable. It stings but they were able to hang with one of the three best teams in the league over three.

Now, they have to look forward. It wasn’t nice of the schedule makers to make the Blackhawks play the Dallas Stars twice right after the Lightning three times but that is the way it is. Both teams are the reigning Stanley Cup finalists but the temporary division realignment has them in the same group.

The Stars have had a tough season because of some COVID-19 related issues along with some poor play in response but they are still the Stars. If the Hawks want to take advantage of a team like that, they need the same energy they had in the first two and a half games of this Lightning series. Now that we know who they can hang with, we have to really believe in them against anyone.