Coming out the gate in mid-January for the start of their season the Chicago Blackhawks opened on a four-game losing streak. Head coach, Jeremy Colliton, is a quarter of the way through his fourth season with the Hawks. With Team Captain, Jonathan Toews, out indefinitely due to medical issues, their rocky start seemed like it was going to last all season. However, Alternate Captains Patrick Kane and Andrew Shaw were able to lead the red and black and found a way to get themselves out of the loss column...but not by a lot. They have only beat out their competitors on an average of 1.9 points over the last 20 games. As for current standings, the Hawks are tied for 5th place with the Boston Bruins, making them 3rd within the Central Division.
Granted the Madhouse on Madison is nowhere as “mad” as it has been before. The National Hockey League has set up proper protocol for all things hockey. Colliton told the Chicago Tribune, “It’s a serious thing [COVID/Protocol], no question. Hence, all the precaution and the work the league has done to try to play and do it safely...we’ve got to do everything we can to protect ourselves, protect our teammates...but we’re also preparing to play a game.” Just like other teams the Hawks can be down a player or two due to COVID related issues making them strategically shuffle the line up to keep working towards that conference title and soon Stanley Cup.
Shyanne Sheehan - Editor in Chief