Brandon Saad

Andrew Shaw and Patrick Kane scored in the shootout and Marian Hossa added two goals in regulation to lift the Chicago Blackhawks to 13-0-3 on the season.

As the horn sounded to signal the end of regulation with the score knotted at three goals apiece, Chicago officially tied the NHL-record-holding 2006-2007 Anaheim Ducks by starting the season with sixteen consecutive games without a regulation loss. That Anaheim squad lifted Lord Stanley’s Cup at season’s end, and dreams of a second parade in three years are surely dancing in the heads of Blackhawk fans across the state of Illinois tonight.

Chicago entered tonight’s shootout with a paltry 1-3 r...

The Chicago Blackhawks can do no wrong these days.

Best record in the NHL. League leader in points standings,etc,etc. 

Someone has to be the guy to point out the glaring weakness: The quest for the third man in the shootout period.

One can argue that the third shooter dilemma has been the team’s toughest opponent thus far. It has gotten to the point when fans and even people who claim (I use that term loosely) to know the game can figure out that the team is better off winning a game in regulation.

After Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, it’s been slim pickings for coach Joel Quenneville. Marion Hossa, Brandon Saad, Patrick Sharp, who needs to start...

The past two seasons were a struggle for the Blackhawks. Although they qualified for the playoffs both years, neither route was ideal.

In 2011, gutted post-Cup victory, they backed into the playoffs based on the Wild's win over the Stars in game 82. The battle leading up to the playoffs left the team battered and tired - yet they still pushed the Canucks to Game 7 OT in the first round.

In 2012, they had a bit more of a cushion, but 101 points in the ultra-competitive West was only good enough for 6th place. Although the Blackhawks pushed the Coyotes to five OT games, and then lost to Phoenix 0-4 in Game 6 on home ice.