Running down a dream: Blackhawks remain on the hunt for a playoff spot
A couple of hours before jetting off to Denver for the biggest game of the Blackhawks season, a chilled-out Brendan Perlini was enjoying some Chobani yogurt at his locker stall inside MB Ice Arena.
As a small group of reporters approached, Perlini displayed his carton for the lone camera on hand and offered up his services to the company.
His asking price? A cool $1 million.
Clearly the pressure of this playoff race is really eating at Perlini.
The thing is, he likes that the Hawks are nipping at the heels of Colorado, Arizona and Minnesota for the final wild-card spot in the West. Perlini even drew a golf analogy to explain himself: Think of the Hawks as the third-place guy at the Masters on Sunday.
Sure, there's still pressure.
But it's nothing like what the leader feels while sleeping on that lead.
"Everyone's watching him," said Perlini, who has 8 goals in the last nine games. "Some guys, they run with it and they go and win.
"But a lot of those guys, the pressure gets to them and you always see the guy in second or third make a few birdies, get hot - boom - he's rolling.
"If you compare that to where we are, I'd rather be (chasing). Obviously you want to be in, but if you're right there, there's pressure on those teams. "We're like the lion on its prey right now."
If that's the case, then the Hawks had better devour Colorado on Saturday and then again Sunday at the United Center. And they'd better keep on rolling on a three-game trip that begins Tuesday at Arizona.
The Hawks, who are 5 points behind Minnesota for the second wild-card spot, just blew two huge chances to tighten the race by falling in overtime to Vancouver and in regulation to Philadelphia.
Perlini and Chris Kunitz admitted the mood in the locker room after the loss to the Flyers Thursday was a bit more down than it should have been.
Dominant Hawks teams of the recent past would have brushed off a loss or two because they knew the dangers of getting too high or too low at this time of year.
This, of course, is not one of those teams. It's filled with inexperienced players who are looking for leaders like Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Corey Crawford to lead by example.
Kunitz said that's exactly what is happening behind closed doors, but Knute Rockne-like speeches don't go very far when you don't execute in crunchtime.
"Guys understand the importance, and coaches put that out there for us and let us know the other team is scratching and clawing to keep their playoff picture alive too," Kunitz said. "I just don't know if we're showing the right urgency on the ice, (and) doing the right thing at the right time every single shift that's going to contribute to being a team that's going to be in the playoffs."
Tough words for sure, but what else should we expect from a 39-year-old who has won four Stanley Cups?
Now it's up to all of the Hawks to prove they belong in the postseason.
Kane needs to get hot again, as does the power play. Crawford must continue his stellar play in net.
Brandon Saad, Artem Anisimov and others need to be an annoying presence in the crease.
Nobody can take a shift off or make a critical mistake against the fast-moving, highly-skilled Avs.
Defensemen - and some forwards - must be willing to lay out and sacrifice their bodies by blocking shots. Pay the price because one goal could mean the season.
It's playoff time. Play like it or start making tee times.
"We let it slip away last game," Kunitz said. "We could see it on the bench a little. We had jump and we were doing things, but we weren't committed to that … playoff style, win-or-go-home type of mentality.
"That's something we have to bring back. We did it a few games in a row there and felt really good about ourselves. … We've got to get back to playing the right way if we're going to give ourselves a chance to get in the playoffs."
Scouting report
Blackhawks vs. Colorado Avalanche, 2 p.m. Saturday at the Pepsi Center
TV: NBCSCH • Radio: WGN 720-AM
The skinny: Colorado just won huge games against New Jersey, Minnesota and Dallas to leap over Arizona and into the second wild-card spot in the West. Philipp Grubauer made 44 saves - 23 in the third period - in the 3-1 win over the Stars Thursday. He has allowed just 2 goals on 104 shots during the team's three-game winning streak. … The Avs have three 30-goal scorers: Nathan MacKinnon (37), Gabriel Landeskog (33) and Mikko Rantanen (31). … The Hawks have won two of three vs. Colorado, but lost 5-3 at home Feb. 22. J.T. Compher snapped a 3-3 tie with 5:22 remaining, and Carl Soderberg added an empty netter in the final minute. ... Blackhawks forward Drake Caggiula (concussion) did not travel to Colorado.
Next: Colorado Avalanche, 7 p.m. Sunday at United Center
- John Dietz