Morning Box Score: Blackhawks on Verge of Missing Playoffs

By Chuck Sudo in News on Apr 4, 2011 2:30PM

The cliche goes, "you have to want it bad enough." After last night's 2-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the United Center, Blackhawks fans must be asking that of their team. They made Lightning backup goalie Mike Smith look like Grant Fuhr or Dominik Hasek. Smith posted his first shutout of the season with a 31-save performance. The Blackhawks dictated the tempo for much of the game, but couldn't solve Smith.

As for the Western Conference playoff standings, the Blackhawks are still in eighth place, but only a point ahead of Calgary with four games left to play. The Blackhawks are two games up on Calgary, which means they have this week to secure that playoff spot or go home.