Chicago Blackhawks look better than ever as they streak along
At 32-14-4, the Blackhawks lead the Central Division and are playing about as good as I've ever seen them play.
Now don't get me wrong, a team who has won three Stanley Cups in six years has had several great winning streaks, but there is a difference between streaks and dominant streaks. The Hawks simply expect to win every night.
Could they be peaking too soon? Who said they are peaking yet?
I remember when they won their first Stanley Cup, I wrote they would win five in 10 years. Now remember I'm a lifelong Chicagoan who has seen it all, and as I look back I know my prediction was brazen. But it looks pretty good right now.
Patrick Kane - barring a catastrophe, and we know he is capable of one - should be the league MVP.
But just imagine how different the season would have been if the allegations of wrongdoing Kane faced in the summer were proven true. Instead, Kane was vindicated and could continue to focus on playing awesome hockey.
Doing national radio is a blast, but because it's national, I have to spread the wealth, and hockey usually is considered a non-subject on sports radio.
But this year the Hawks have made national headlines - first with Kane's amazing 26-game scoring streak and now the boys winning 12 straight.
The Hawks' streak ended Thursday night, but I couldn't be happier the Hawks are keeping the NHL and hockey in the national conversation.
Panthers vs. Cards must-see:
The AFC and NFC championship games are this weekend, and while everyone is talking about the star quarterback matchup between the Denver Broncos' Peyton Manning and New England Patriots' Tom Brady, the better game may well be between the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals.
I'll be rooting for the Panthers and Ron Rivera, as I think most of Chicago will.
"Chico," as his friends call him, was close to being fired a couple of years ago, but now this feel-good story has him as a favorite to win coach of the year.
The Cardinals' Carson Palmer played tight last week but still managed to defeat the Green Bay Packers 26-20. At 14-3, the Cardinals just don't seem to lose, but neither do the Panthers, who are 16-1.
I think Carolina wins the game and rushes for more than 130 yards with Cam Newton leading the way. Defense also will be a big key in the victory as Carolina looks primed and ready to go.
We'll see, but life isn't just Manning and Brady.
• Mike North's column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com and follow him on Twitter@ north2north.