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SPORTSThursday 22 March 2018
No playoffs for Blackhawks for first time since 2008
By JAY COHEN contention.
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) — What The Avalanche are in prime
was left of the United Cen-
ter crowd was mostly quiet position to return to the
while the final seconds of
an era ticked off Tuesday playoffs after going 22-56-
night. There was no big
rally for the Chicago Black- 4 last season. Top goalten-
hawks. No final charge.
It's over. der Semyon Varlamov is
The NHL playoffs will go on
without Chicago for the healthy again after play-
first time in a decade after
the Blackhawks were elimi- ing in just 24 games a year
nated from contention with
a 5-1 loss to the Colorado ago. Mikko Rantanen has
Avalanche. Injuries, ag-
ing stars and inexperience developed into an offen-
combined to sink Chicago
after a wildly successful run sive presence at age 21,
that included three Stanley
Cup titles. and rookie Alexander Ker-
"It's been a tough, tough
stretch here," coach Joel foot scored twice against
Quenneville said.
Quenneville was coaching Chicago to get to 17 goals
Colorado the last time Chi-
cago missed the playoffs. on the season.
The former NHL defense-
man and the Avalanche "There's a great example in
decided to part ways af-
ter the team was swept by the team we played today,
Detroit in the second round
of the 2008 postseason, and in how far out you can
and he replaced Denis Sa-
vard after the Blackhawks be, and how quickly you
fired the Hall of Famer four
games into the following can recapture that win-
season.
What followed was the ning attitude and that feel-
most successful decade
in franchise history. Led by ing and get right back in
a core group of stars that
included Jonathan Toews, the race," Quenneville said
Patrick Kane and Duncan
Keith, Chicago won three after the Blackhawks' sixth
Stanley Cups and reached
the conference finals two loss in seven games.
more times while appear-
ing in the playoffs for nine "The playoff picture's prob-
straight seasons.
But it looks as if age and an ably completely different
annual dance with the sal-
ary cap might have finally Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook (7) is congratulated for his goal against the than a lot of people an-
caught up to the Black-
hawks (30-35-9), who are Colorado Avalanche during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in ticipated. That's how close
last in the Central Division Chicago. teams are when they begin
with eight games left on a year, and things can go
their schedule. Associated Press
"We've had some terrific
players and some really "This has been the one year off run if not for its other is- experienced some growing right from goaltending to
good teams, real good
depth," Quenneville said. we've been unpredictable sues. Toews, Keith and key pains, and Brandon Saad special teams to top play-
"We didn't always have
good starts to the season, in our game, and our pos- defenseman Brent Sea- has struggled in his return to ers. There's a number of
but had a lot of options to
work with as a staff. The session game has been brook are showing signs Chicago after an offseason ways where you can make
building was rocking and
we're good at home, and the one area that we've of age after years of long trade with Columbus. a difference and new
we're successful on the
road, real consistent. nailed. This year, we didn't playoff runs and interna- But the Blackhawks just got young players are certainly
get to that level we need- tional play. The Blackhawks' a closer look at a possible a part of that equation."
young defensemen have roadmap for a return to q
ed to get to."
An injury to two-time All-
Star goaltender Corey
Crawford also contributed
Senators say son of captainto Chicago's rapid decline.
The 33-year-old Crawford
hasn't played since Dec. 23
Erik Karlsson has dieddue to an upper-body inju-
ry, and it has been a steep
drop-off to backups Anton OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — of Ottawa and entire hock- season on the ice as Ot-
Forsberg, Jean-Francois The Ottawa Senators say ey community." The team tawa has plummeted in
Berube and Jeff Glass. the son of captain Erik Karls- requested privacy for the the standings. The two-time
The Blackhawks also have son has died. family. Among Karlsson's Norris Trophy winner was
been without top forward Erik and Melinda Karlsson social media posts was one the subject of trade specu-
Marian Hossa all season were married last year and from the couple's gender lation for weeks ahead of
due to severe side effects announced in Novem- reveal party, when he took the NHL trading deadline.
from medication to treat a ber they were expecting a slap shot at a hockey "Everybody is heartbro-
progressive skin disorder. It's their first child in the spring. puck that exploded in blue ken, it's awful," coach Guy
unclear if he will ever play Karlsson had been posting powder. Karlsson jumped Boucher said. "We definite-
again. on social media about his and yelled joyously when ly feel for Erik and his wife
"You're always going to son's upcoming birth, most he found out it was a boy. and his family."
have key injuries," Quenn- recently sharing a photo of "There is so much love com- The hockey world was
eville said. "Always going he and Melinda on Feb. 19 ing out of this dressing room quick to share its sympa-
to have significant inju- with the caption "just me for them," defenseman thies with the NHL Players'
ries, have some things go and my little family." Mark Boroweicki said. "Erik Association, players and
against you. But we've al- Karlsson sat out Ottawa's is a huge part of this team teams reaching out to
ways been able to over- 7-2 loss to Florida on Tues- and Erik and Melinda are a voice support.
come them and find ways day night. The team re- huge part of this commu- "The players and staff of the
rectify some tough situ- leased a statement say- nity and this city. We really NHLPA extend their condo-
ations and get back on ing the Karlssons had "the are a family in here and it lences to Erik and Melinda
track. This year we've been collective thoughts and hurts all of us deeply." Karlsson following the loss
unable to do it." prayers of the Ottawa Sen- The 27-year-old defense- of their son," tweeted the
Chicago still might have ators organization, the city man has had a difficult NHLPA.q
been able to make a play-
