Datsuk has noticed

Puck Daddy has an interview with the Red Wings' Pavel Datsuk in which he says this about my Blackhawks:

They are one of the leaders in the League now. They're in the Top 5. They did have a very tough beginning of the season, because it is very difficult to start a season after winning the Cup. There was a lot of attention the media paid to them. Teams were playing different against them because everyone wants to beat the Cup winner. They also had so many changed made during the offseason. On top of that they had a very tough schedule to start off the season. It all takes its toll. But right now they're back to where they should be.

While there's an element of whistling in the dark here that I freely admit- you don't lose the number and quality of players the champs did to Bill Wirtz's pet salary cap without suffering a falloff in the overall quality of your team- I think Datsuk is right.

At least I hope Datsuk is right.

I'm about to watch the Hawks play Florida on TV. A victory would be their tenth in a row. And it's March... the playoffs are just around the corner.

ADDENDUM: Actually, while they're fourth in the conference, the Hawks are tenth in the league. And despite outshooting Florida 39-15 last night, they lost, 3-2. Corey Crawford had a bad first period, allowing three goals (he was badly screened on the third). 

Sometimes in hockey you lose even games you dominate. But when you outshoot the other guys 39-15, you have to figure that you're going to be OK if you keep it up.

They try again tonight against Tampa Bay. They have fifteen games left- and the next four after tonight, against teams either just in front of them or just behind them in the standings, will be crucial.