Don't count them out
DALLAS -- Denis Savard isn't a mathematician and he doesn't play one on TV.
But the Blackhawks' coach is becoming quite the whiz at deciphering the intricacies of the NHL schedule in this, the final five-week run of the regular season.
In particular, Savard's most interested in the handful of teams fighting for the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference.
In his view that includes his young Hawks, who are on the outside looking in. But as of Friday, they were just 6 points out of the final playoff spot behind Colorado (72 points).
So, earlier this week, Savard pulled out the markers, pulled out the big sheets of paper and went to work -- a la "A Beautiful Mind," devouring every last detail.
"I wrote everything," he said. "I put all the six teams -- Vancouver, Nashville, Colorado, St. Louis, Columbus and us. There's two spots open. Not that we can't get the sixth (spot) if Minnesota falls apart or somebody else does.
"Realistically, though, there's two spots open for those six teams. You look at everybody's schedule … Colorado has to play Vancouver four times, Nashville's on a six-game road trip, St. Louis has to go on a nine-game road trip … our schedule favors us.
"We have to win our games, no question, but we hope that Colorado or Vancouver -- that one of them --sweeps those games and, if we win our games, we've got a shot.
If the Hawks (30-28-6) maintain their winning record over the final 18 games but fail to make the playoffs, it will mark just the second time in franchise history that a Hawks team has finished above .500 and missed the postseason.
The only other Hawks team to accomplish the feat was the 1968-69 edition, which finished 34-33-9 and failed to qualify.
Regardless of whether they make the playoffs this season, Savard likes what he sees in the very near future.
"They've really come a long way," Savard said. "In training camp we weren't sure where they were going to be.
"Youth and energy and skill -- like we have -- might get us to the playoffs. I've seen young teams do it before."