Chicago Blackhawks: Three points vs TB Lightning is outstandingon March 8, 2021 at 12:00 pm

The very next night needed the extra session as well. The Hawks bounced back strong and got it to overtime again but they wanted a different result this time. The Lightning had a 4 on 3 power play in the final minute of the OT period and came oh so close to doing it again for the second night in a row but the Hawks prevailed. In the shootout, Malcolm Subban and Philipp Kurashev did what needed to be done and the Hawks won.

Right there they should be proud of how the series has gone. We all said that getting three out of six possible points vs the champs would be acceptable. You know you are feeling good, however, when that final game ends in a loss and you are still mad about it despite the three earned points we wanted.

The Hawks were up 3-0 before the Lightning roared all the way back to score six unanswered and win the game 6-3. It was a tough game because five points out of six were on the table but then they had to settle for only three. Things like that are going to happen, especially against teams like the lightning, but that doesn’t mean it should be acceptable. It stings but they were able to hang with one of the three best teams in the league over three.

Now, they have to look forward. It wasn’t nice of the schedule makers to make the Blackhawks play the Dallas Stars twice right after the Lightning three times but that is the way it is. Both teams are the reigning Stanley Cup finalists but the temporary division realignment has them in the same group.

The Stars have had a tough season because of some COVID-19 related issues along with some poor play in response but they are still the Stars. If the Hawks want to take advantage of a team like that, they need the same energy they had in the first two and a half games of this Lightning series. Now that we know who they can hang with, we have to really believe in them against anyone.