On an eight-day NHL road trip, you’d typically expect more than three games. But that’s the task that faces the Chicago Blackhawks beginning tonight, and the first two games are far from gimmes.
The Blackhawks head to Pittsburgh tonight as the Penguins are likely looking for revenge after their season-opening 10-1 setback. Then, the Blackhawks visit the league-leading Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday.
Neither of these matchups are terribly appealing for the Blackhawks, but recent offensive efforts at least suggest Chicago is finding its stride shooting the puck. The Blackhawks have posted 15 goals the last three games, and they’d have three wins in those events if not for a clunker from Corey Crawford against the New Jersey Devils.