The Chicago Blackhawks did a great job of avoiding the dreaded Stanley Cup hangover from last year’s victory over the Boston Bruins, but there is an even greater challenge waiting for this club.
This year’s run for the Cup will be more grueling than ever for the Hawks. History hasn’t been kind to past Stanley Cup champions, as it has been 15 years since a team has repeated (Detroit in 1997 and 1998).
To make matters worse, the new playoff format is bound to make this year’s Stanley Cup chase more excruciating and physically demanding for the club than in 2010 and 2013.
Last year, the Blackhawks played the Wild, Red Wings and Kings en route to their showdown against Boston in the Stanley Cup Final. They are bound to face some stiffer competition this time around.
The West is undeniably the more talented of the two conferences. It is difficult to predict who will represent it when the Western Conference Final rolls around. It seems as if almost every team currently in the playoff picture is a powerhouse. Chicago, St. Louis, Anaheim, San Jose and Los Angeles could all be looking at a shot f ...
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Article written by Joseph Sykes
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