Dud...

This was supposed to be the year, I mean comparisons to 2010, record setting starts, outstanding play from everyone involved. This was supposed to be the year.

Chicago has had some very disappointing seasons in the past, Cubs in 2003 (and just about every other year). The Sox in the strike shortened year. The Bulls last season, and the year before that. The Bears just about every time they play the Packers. Heck, Chicago should re-nickname itself (if that's a thing), from "The Windy City" or "City of broad shoulders" to "City that deals with disappointing sports teams on an annual basis"...

This year we mourn the death of the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks.

A lot will be said about the 24 games with a point streak, the play of Toews and Kane, the goaltender play, and how good the Hawks have played with Oduya and Sharp in the lineup.

A lot will be said on how Coach Q prepared this team night in and night out, how he deserves tons of credit for preparing this team to face the adversity of playing so many games in such a small amount of time.

But, like one of my pals said, this will all be an awkward answer to a trivia question 10 years from now.

This all could have been avoided... All we needed is for the Blackhawks to come out and play their style of hockey. Sure the MO is to play a rough physical style against the Hawks, punch them in their mouths as they don't have the muscle to fight back, but if they stayed true to their game they could have had the series tied right now. Instead... the Hawks are facing elimination.

Most of this lays on the shoulders of the captain, Jonathan Toews.

Courtesy ESPN via YouTube

The frustration he felt after Game 2 never went away, as Henrik Zetterberg has blanketed him, played rough with him, and has pushed him up and down the ice. The Wings have also done this to the other Chicago skaters, minimizing their abilities and skill.

This frustration is a huge reason the Hawks are sitting here down 3 games to 1, instead of looking at a tied series going back to Chicago. Toews took 3 separate penalties in a span of 5:30 minutes in the 2nd period Thursday night, which the Red Wings converted on one of the resulting Power Plays. The usually cool and calm Toews may have cost this team the series and more importantly a Cup run.

So now Blackhawks, do you feel that on your back, its the wall. The wall has a couple of bronzed plaques and numbers and stats, will you answer? Will you play your style? Will you keep your cool?

Or will this team become another disappointment?