Jonathan Toews

With Pittsburgh beating Ottawa 4 - 1 and Los Angeles beating San Jose 2 - 0 last night, The Checking Line: Isles Edition will take a look into the other two semifinal series. (Photo Credit: Torch Creative)

In what has been a truly amazing year the Blackhawks ended their regular season at the United Center in the fashion that they began – winning. The game was really never in doubt from the moment the puck dropped on the Indianhead at center ice.

Like the past couple of games, again the Blackhawks had little to play for except that this group of extraordinary athletes has set a standard for themselves which they have not faltered from all season.

The Hawks jumped on top of the Flames early and often. The score could have been much higher save bounces not going the Hawks way. They completely dominated the Flames in the first period.

The scoring for the Haw...

Photo by Maggie Avila

Coming into this game the Blackhawks had absolutely nothing to play for other than their pride and improving themselves and continuing a seven game winning streak. The Phoenix Coyotes on the other hand were fighting for their playoff lives and had everything to play for.

The Blackhawks have to be commended for their character and focus. Everyone knows these games mean nothing to them and are really just glorified practices since they clinched their division and conference. They still managed to gain a point and come from behind to tie the game up and push the game to overtime and eventually the shoot out.

The Blackhawks still played a solid d...

The season is beginning to find its end. It is a time that we usually reflect on what has occurred and a time where we joyfully anticipate the upcoming playoff battles. This time of the year always has a few major questions though. The question that continues to plague me; however, is the one that so many hockey writers continue to write about. Does Sidney Crosby still deserve the Hart Trophy after missing so many games with a fractured jaw?

It is a question that I am entirely sick of, to be completely honest.  Mostly because the answer is yes and just about everyone knows this, but I highly doubt that hockey writers have to continue to post article after article on why he is s...