Hawks may need more than 96 to make playoffs

Earlier in the season the general consensus was it likely would take 95 points to make the playoffs in the Western Conference.

Now it appears 96 might not be enough to get in the tournament due to the tightness of the race and the number of 3-point games happening.

“It's been a very amazing race,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “We just know we have to take care of own business. Watching other games it's almost like you get the worst-case scenario, but that's the way it's been going with all the 3-point games.

“I think we were all forecasting what it was going to take to get in, but now I think it's a higher number than we thought a little while ago.”

While things could change over the last two weeks it appears to be down to a five-team race for the last four spots between the Hawks, Los Angeles, Nashville, Anaheim and Dallas. Of course, that's assuming Vancouver, Detroit, San Jose and Phoenix will be the top four seeds.

Calgary's loss at San Jose on Wednesday night seriously damaged the Flames' hopes since they have only six games remaining.

Keith and Seabrook:Joel Quenneville's decision to reunite Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, his top two defensemen, comes at the most critical point in the season when lockdown defensive play matters the most.Quenneville will use Keith and Seabrook in all the key matchup situations, such as Saturday against Anaheim's super first line of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan.#8220;That's going to be the assignment, and it's going to be tough matchups game in and game out,#8221; Quenneville said. #8220;They thrive on that and that's what made them so successful as a partnership over the past few years. They're exciting about being back together and looking forward to the challenge.#8221;The Hawks have allowed just 1 goal in the last two games, and that was a deflection off Nick Leddy last Sunday against Phoenix.#8220;I think defensively at this time of year and going into the playoffs, that's the type of hockey that's necessary to be a winning team,#8221; Quenneville said.#8220;Playing hard in your own end, being aware in the offensive zone and being responsible checking throughout the neutral zone. When we think we want to outscore teams, that's when we get in trouble.#8221;30 for 50:Corey Crawford's next win would be his 30th of the season.The last Hawks goalie to win 30 games was Jocelyn Thibault (33) in 2001-02. Crawford and Thibault would be the only Hawks goalies to do it since Ed Belfour in 1993-94.Tip-ins:With 2 assists against Florida, Jonathan Toews has 24 points in the last 16 games. #8230; Marcus Kruger's line from Wednesday: 11:37 minutes with 1 shot, 1 penalty, 2 hits, 1 giveaway, 1 takeaway and 2-for-5 on faceoffs. He got 39 seconds of power-play time and no time killing penalties.