The Chicago Blackhawks are still lurking in the NHL playoff hunt, as they are now just four points out with 26 games to go after a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings.
The big question on the minds of Blackhawks fans is this: what has been behind the team’s resurgence?
Here are some key numbers from the last seven games, as the Blackhawks try to make an improbable playoff run:
121 – Patrick Kane Putting Up MVP Numbers
For a brief moment on Sunday, Kane tied for the league scoring lead with Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov, and although the Tampa star ended up moving past him, he is still on quite an incredible pace.
As of right now, Kane is on pace to notch 121 points, which would smash his previous career high in that category. In that 2015-16 season, in which he registered 106 points, Kane won the league’s Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, and he might be on his way to another nomination for the prestigious award.
21 – Chicago Has Detroit’s Number
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After years of dominance on the part of the Red Wings, the Blackhawks have turned the tide in a big way in their last 21 games, registering a 14-3-4 record in those contests against the Wings.
That includes Sunday’s win over the Wings, which puts the Blackhawks four points out of the final wild card spot in the Western Conference.
14 – Kane, Toews, and DeBrincat All on a Roll
As the Blackhawks have won seven games in a row, they have gotten some huge production out of several key players.
Jonathan Toews has 14 points in the seven straight wins for the Blackhawks, as he has seven goals and seven assists. Alex DeBrincat has been equally impressive, with four goals and 10 assists in that same stretch.
As for Kane, all he’s done is register at least one point in 14 straight games, the longest-current streak in the NHL. In the seven straight games the Blackhawks have won, he has six goals and 10 assists, and has a staggering 32 points during his 14-game point streak.
4 - Blackhawks Rocking and Rolling on the Scoresheet
Since January 20, the Blackhawks have been rolling in a big way on offense, and that dominance is reflected in the NHL’s scoring leaders since that date. According to the league, the top four scorers in the NHL since Jan. 20 have been Blackhawks players.
Kane currently leads the way with 14 points in that span, while Toews, DeBrincat, and Dylan Strome each have 12 points over that time.
.940 – Cam Ward Helping Backstop the Blackhawks’ Success
While the Blackhawks’ offense has been getting plenty of attention in recent games, their goaltending has been equally up to the task.
During their seven game winning streak, Cam Ward has stopped 142 of the 151 shots that he’s faced, registering a .940 save percentage over that time. Collin Delia hasn’t been quite as good, but he’s been just as effective, winning three games and putting up a .903 save percentage in those contests.
