Prediction: Chicago Blackhawks won’t advance past first round of playoffs with current roster

With the Chicago Blackhawks’ loss of 5-2 Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche, a dark cloud hangs over the 2010 Stanley Cup Champions.

At this rate, the Blackhawks aren’t destined to go far in the playoffs, if, at all.

Despite roster overhauls and a revolving door of goalies, it had seemed as if Corey Crawford proved to be the answer to a need in a franchise goalie.

And, then, the Blackhawks got Ray Emery, a once-proven reliable backup if needed, with the potential of stepping up when things go south.

Things went south all right.

With a six-game skid, the Blackhawks goalie tandem haven’t earned wins since Jan. 18 (Crawford) and Jan. 20 (Emery).

Rumors circulated yesterday that the Blackhawks could be shoppers for Evgeni Nabokov of the New York Islanders.

GM Stan Bowman is not, reporters say.

So, where is the problem?

First, the Blackhawks are too invested in Crawford. And, additionally, within the top 8 Western Conference teams, the Blackhawks are ranked eighth in goals allowed, by a wide margin of 23 goals. They’ve allowed 163 in all.

At sixth in the West, they’re now buried in the Central Division behind Detroit, St. Louis and Nashville.

With a goalie change nowhere in sight, the landscape of this year’s team has to changed from within the blue line.

Will it be enough? And, if the Blackhawks can pull the trigger on a move to get them back to the top ranks of the West, which goalie ultimately steps up and earns the No. 1 job.

Because earning starts is far from what’s going on right now in Chicago.

Tags: Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Corey Crawford, Ray Emery