By the end of March last year, the Chicago Blackhawks were just beginning to eye their journey toward Lord Stanley's cup,
"We were looking to be first in the division, first in the conference" head coach Joel Quenneville recalled. "[This year we're] fighting for a different motivation. We're here fighting for our existence of getting into the playoffs."
A position the Blackhawks have been in the entire 2010-2011 season.
They're counting on last year's Stanley Cup run of games getting bigger each day to help them simply get into the race this year.
"There's obviously pressure" Defenseman Duncan Keith said, "we have to win, we have to win games. That's the reality."
A welcome challenge for a team trying to get past Anaheim Saturday without Patrick Sharp and Dave Bolland.
Just one points separates the 7th place Blackhawks from the 8th and final playoff spot held by the Ducks.
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"We've had some big games and we've said our next game is going to be our biggest one, but this truly is."
