When In Doubt, The Central Still Belongs to the Blackhawks

The winds of change seemed to blow through the Midwest last season as Brent Seabrook's slapshot
caromed off not one, but two posts in Game 7 of the NHL Western Conference First Round against the St. Louis Blues. The shot, which would have tied the game with just 1:30 left in regulation, narrowly missed and the Blues closed the series in dramatic fashion.

The mighty Chicago Blackhawks, owners of three Stanley Cups since 2010, had fallen. Not only had they fallen, they bowed out early to a Central Division opponent. Since the NHL realigned in 2014 and adopted its current playoff format, the Blackhawks were 4-0 in playoff series against Central Division opponents until last year's loss.

The analysts had been trying to hype up the story for years - that the Blues, Wild or Predators were ready to unseat the Blackhawks. When the Blues won, the media only heightened that chatter, highlighting the physical youthfulness of the Blues against the tired legs of the Blackhawks, a franchise that had finally lost a step due to years of success both for Chicago and Olympic teams.

Those winds of change have been silenced as the Blackhawks, perhaps rejuvenated from a longer offseason, marched to a Western Conference-best 50 wins this season. Now it's time once again, to see if someone can dethrone Chicago.

Nashville will have the first crack. The Predators have come close before, but have yet to defeat Chicago in the playoffs with Jonathon Toews and Patrick Kane running the show. The offseason trade for P.K. Subban was a change for Nashville as they try to advance past the second round for the first time in program history. First though, they have to beat a Blackhawks team that has been so deep and well-rounded that there's no telling who will do the scoring night-in, night-out. If the past tells us anything it's that Chicago may just go win the Stanley Cup again. The past two times they played Nashville in the first round (2010, 2015) they won it all.

The Blues have looked incredible at times this season and they have been especially sharp since firing Ken Hitchcock in favor of Mike Yeo. Yeo was fired by the Wild at the end of last season and that makes the matchup between St. Louis and Minnesota extra enticing. There's no doubt Minnesota would like another crack at Chicago, while St. Louis would love to prove that last year's series win and this year's Winter Classic third-period demolition of Chicago were no fluke.

While all three Central Division playoff opponents have their strengths, no team can boast the talent and experience Chicago has. Three banners from this decade hang in the United Center and the front office in Chicago has found a way to retool the team around the core year after year.

The Blackhawks may have left the playoff party earlier than usual last season, but that doesn't mean the times have changed. In fact, it may mean this year they are stronger than ever.
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Central Division Playoff Schedule
April 13 Nashville Predators 8:00 p.m. Chicago Blackhawks United Center
April 15 Nashville Predators 8:00 p.m. Chicago Blackhawks United Center
April 17 Chicago Blackhawks 9:30 p.m. Nashville Predators         Bridgestone Arena
April 20 Chicago Blackhawks TBD Nashville Predators         Bridgestone Arena
April 22 Nashville Predators TBD Chicago Blackhawks United Center
April 24 Chicago Blackhawks TBD Nashville Predators         Bridgestone Arena
April 26 Nashville Predators TBD Chicago Blackhawks United Center

April 12 St. Louis Blues 9:30 p.m. Minnesota Wild Xcel Energy Center
April 14 St. Louis Blues 8:00 p.m. Minnesota Wild Xcel Energy Center
April 16 Minnesota Wild 3:00 p.m. St. Louis Blues Scottrade Center
April 19 Minnesota Wild 9:30 p.m. St. Louis Blues Scottrade Center
April 22 St. Louis Blues TBD Minnesota Wild Xcel Energy Center
April 24 Minnesota Wild TBD St. Louis Blues Scottrade Center
April 26 St. Louis Blues TBD Minnesota Wild Xcel Energy Center