2014–15 Chicago Blackhawks season

The 2014–15 Chicago Blackhawks season was the 89th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on September 25, 1926. The Blackhawks finished the season with a 48–28–6 record, finishing in third place in the Central Division. They defeated the Nashville Predators in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, four games to two. In the next round, they swept the Minnesota Wild in four games. In the Western Conference Finals, the 'Hawks outlasted the Anaheim Ducks, winning the series four games to three. In the Stanley Cup Final, they faced the Tampa Bay Lightning. On June 15, 2015, the team won the Stanley Cup, defeating the Lightning four games to two and winning the Cup at home for the first time since 1938. This was the Blackhawks' third Cup championship in six seasons. Duncan Keith received the Conn Smythe trophy as MVP of the playoffs.

On December 21, 2014, the Blackhawks debuted a special decal in remembrance of the passing of assistant equipment manager Clinton "Clint" Reif who died during the season, the Blackhawks wore "CR" on their helmets for the remainder of the 2014–15 season.

Off-season On July 14, 2014, the Blackhawks announced that Kevin Dineen, a former teammate of head coach Joel Quenneville, had been hired as an assistant coach.

Pre-season The Chicago Blackhawks' pre-season schedule included a September 28, 2014, exhibition game held at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, against the Edmonton Oilers.

Standings

Playoffs

The Chicago Blackhawks entered the playoffs as the Central Division's third seed. The Blackhawks lost the last four games of the regular season, thus they did not win the Central Division title. After defeating the Nashville Predators four games to two in the first round, they went on to sweep the Minnesota Wild in the second round, then defeated the Anaheim Ducks four games to three in the Western Conference Final. It was only the third time in Blackhawks history that they had won a playoff series after trailing three games to two. On May 19, 2015, the Blackhawks played the longest game in their history (116:12) against the Ducks as part of the Western Conference Finals. The Blackhawks defeated Anaheim in Game 7 and moved on to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final. On June 15, 2015, Chicago won the Stanley Cup in Game 6 by a 2–0 scoreline. This marked the Blackhawks' third Stanley Cup victory in six seasons. This was the first Blackhawks Stanley Cup clinched on home ice in 77 years, having won the decisive games in 2010 and 2013 titles on the road, and the first time a Stanley Cup title has been won in Chicago since 1992 when the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Blackhawks at Chicago Stadium. It was also the first time any Chicago sports team won a Championship at home since the Chicago Bulls in 1997

Schedule and results

Pre-season Pre-season game log: 2–3–1 (Home: 1–2–0; Road: 1–1–1) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Recap 1 September 23 Detroit Red Wings 2–1 OT Darling United Center 20,512 1–0–0 W1 2 September 25 @ Detroit Red Wings 2–3 Leighton Joe Louis Arena 16,246 1–1–0 L1 3 September 26 New York Rangers 1–4 Crawford United Center 20,613 1–2–0 L2 4 September 28 @ Edmonton Oilers 5–0 Darling SaskTel Centre N/A 2–2–0 W1 5 October 1 Montreal Canadiens 1–3 Raanta United Center 20,413 2–3–0 L1 6 October 3 @ New York Rangers 2–3 SO Crawford Madison Square Garden 18,006 2–3–1 SOL1Notes: Game was played at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Regular season Game log October: 6–3–1 (Home: 4–1–1; Road: 2–2–0) Pts. 13 # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 9 @ Dallas Stars 3–2 SO Crawford American Airlines Center 18,768 1–0–0 2 W1 2 October 11 Buffalo Sabres 6–2 Crawford United Center 22,012 2–0–0 4 W2 3 October 15 Calgary Flames 1–2 OT Crawford United Center 21,112 2–0–1 5 O1 4 October 18 Nashville Predators 2–1 OT Crawford United Center 21,640 3–0–1 7 W1 5 October 21 Philadelphia Flyers 4–0 Raanta United Center 21,162 4–0–1 9 W2 6 October 23 @ Nashville Predators 2–3 Raanta Bridgestone Arena 17,157 4–1–1 9 L1 7 October 25 @ St. Louis Blues 2–3 Raanta Scottrade Center 19,434 4–2–1 9 L2 8 October 26 Ottawa Senators 2–1 Darling United Center 21,310 5–2–1 11 W1 9 October 28 Anaheim Ducks 0–1 Darling United Center 21,233 5–3–1 11 L1 10 October 30 @ Ottawa Senators 5–4 SO Darling Canadian Tire Centre 17,529 6–3–1 13 W1 November: 9–5–0 (Home: 3–2–0; Road: 6–3–0) Pts. 18 # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 11 November 1 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 2–3 Crawford Air Canada Centre 19,138 6–4–1 13 L1 12 November 2 Winnipeg Jets 0–1 Crawford United Center 21,204 6–5–1 13 L2 13 November 4 @ Montreal Canadiens 5–0 Crawford Bell Centre 21,287 7–5–1 15 W1 14 November 7 Washington Capitals 2–3 Crawford United Center 21,892 7–6–1 15 L1 15 November 9 San Jose Sharks 5–2 Crawford United Center 21,489 8–6–1 17 W1 16 November 11 Tampa Bay Lightning 3–2 SO Crawford United Center 21,345 9–6–1 19 W2 17 November 14 @ Detroit Red Wings 1–4 Crawford Joe Louis Arena 20,027 9–7–1 19 L1 18 November 16 Dallas Stars 6–2 Crawford United Center 21,671 10–7–1 21 W1 19 November 20 @ Calgary Flames 4–3 Crawford Scotiabank Saddledome 19,289 11–7–1 23 W2 20 November 22 @ Edmonton Oilers 7–1 Crawford Rexall Place 16,839 12–7–1 25 W3 21 November 23 @ Vancouver Canucks 1–4 Crawford Rogers Arena 18,663 12–8–1 25 L1 22 November 26 @ Colorado Avalanche 3–2 Crawford Pepsi Center 18,007 13–8–1 27 W1 23 November 28 @ Anaheim Ducks 4–1 Crawford Honda Center 17,355 14–8–1 29 W2 24 November 29 @ Los Angeles Kings 4–1 Crawford Staples Center 18,471 15–8–1 31 W3 December: 10–2–1 (Home: 6–1–0; Road: 4–1–1) Pts. 21 # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 25 December 3 St. Louis Blues 4–1 Raanta United Center 21,514 16–8–1 33 W4 26 December 5 Montreal Canadiens 4–3 Raanta United Center 22,087 17–8–1 35 W5 27 December 6 @ Nashville Predators 3–1 Darling Bridgestone Arena 17,212 18–8–1 37 W6 28 December 9 @ New Jersey Devils 3–2 SO Darling Prudential Center 16,210 19–8–1 39 W7 29 December 11 @ Boston Bruins 3–2 Darling TD Garden 17,565 20–8–1 41 W8 30 December 13 @ New York Islanders 2–3 Darling Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 16,170 20–9–1 41 L1 31 December 14 Calgary Flames 2–1 Raanta United Center 21,572 21–9–1 43 W1 32 December 16 Minnesota Wild 5–3 Raanta United Center 21,472 22–9–1 45 W2 33 December 20 @ Columbus Blue Jackets 2–3 SO Crawford Nationwide Arena 18,164 22–9–2 46 O1 34 December 21 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–0 Raanta United Center 22,131 23–9–2 48 W1 35 December 23 Winnipeg Jets 1–5 Crawford United Center 22,095 23–10–2 48 L1 36 December 27 @ Colorado Avalanche 5–2 Crawford Pepsi Center 18,085 24–10–2 50 W1 37 December 29 Nashville Predators 5–4 SO Crawford United Center 22,208 25–10–2 52 W2 January: 6–7–0 (Home: 3–3–0; Road: 3–4–0) Pts. 12 # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 38 January 1(Winter Classic) @ Washington Capitals 2–3 Crawford Nationals Park 42,832 25–11–2 52 L1 39 January 4 Dallas Stars 5–4 OT Crawford United Center 21,884 26–11–2 54 W1 40 January 6 Colorado Avalanche 0–2 Crawford United Center 21,492 26–12–2 54 L1 41 January 8 @ Minnesota Wild 4–2 Crawford Xcel Energy Center 19,060 27–12–2 56 W1 42 January 9 @ Edmonton Oilers 2–5 Raanta Rexall Place 16,839 27–13–2 56 L1 43 January 11 Minnesota Wild 4–1 Crawford United Center 21,809 28–13–2 58 W1 44 January 16 Winnipeg Jets 2–4 Crawford United Center 22,051 28–14–2 58 L1 45 January 18 Dallas Stars 3–6 Crawford United Center 22,135 28–15–2 58 L2 46 January 20 Arizona Coyotes 6–1 Raanta United Center 21,427 29–15–2 60 W1 47 January 21 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 SO Crawford Consol Energy Center 18,655 30–15–2 62 W2 48 January 28 @ Los Angeles Kings 3–4 Crawford Staples Center 18,525 30–16–2 62 L1 49 January 30 @ Anaheim Ducks 4–1 Crawford Honda Center 17,497 31–16–2 64 W1 50 January 31 @ San Jose Sharks 0–2 Raanta SAP Center at San Jose 17,562 31–17–2 64 L1 February: 6–4–3 (Home: 3–2–3; Road: 3–2–0) Pts. 15 # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 3 @ Minnesota Wild 0–3 Crawford Xcel Energy Center 19,104 31–18–2 64 L2 52 February 6 @ Winnipeg Jets 2–1 OT Crawford MTS Centre 15,016 32–18–2 66 W1 53 February 8 @ St. Louis Blues 4–2 Crawford Scottrade Center 19,657 33–18–2 68 W2 54 February 9 Arizona Coyotes 2–3 SO Raanta United Center 21,337 33–18–3 69 O1 55 February 11 Vancouver Canucks 4–5 OT Crawford United Center 21,346 33–18–4 70 O2 56 February 13 New Jersey Devils 3–1 Crawford United Center 22,186 34–18–4 72 W1 57 February 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 SO Crawford United Center 22,169 35–18–4 74 W2 58 February 18 Detroit Red Wings 2–3 SO Crawford United Center 22,112 35–18–5 75 O1 59 February 20 Colorado Avalanche 1–4 Crawford United Center 22,103 35–19–5 75 L1 60 February 22 Boston Bruins 2–6 Crawford United Center 22,104 35–20–5 75 L2 61 February 24 Florida Panthers 3–2 SO Darling United Center 21,526 36–20–5 77 W1 62 February 26 @ Florida Panthers 3–0 Crawford BB&T Center 17,387 37–20–5 79 W2 63 February 27 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 0–4 Darling Amalie Arena 19,204 37–21–5 79 L1 March: 9–3–1 (Home: 4–1–1; Road: 5–2–0) Pts. 19 # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 2 Carolina Hurricanes 5–2 Crawford United Center 21,641 38–21–5 81 W1 65 March 6 Edmonton Oilers 2–1 SO Crawford United Center 22,017 39–21–5 83 W2 66 March 8 New York Rangers 0–1 OT Crawford United Center 22,160 39–21–6 84 O1 67 March 12 @ Arizona Coyotes 2–1 Crawford Gila River Arena 17,534 40–21–6 86 W1 68 March 14 @ San Jose Sharks 6–2 Crawford SAP Center at San Jose 17,562 41–21–6 88 W2 69 March 17 New York Islanders 4–1 Crawford United Center 22,080 42–21–6 90 W3 70 March 18 @ New York Rangers 1–0 Darling Madison Square Garden 18,006 43–21–6 92 W4 71 March 21 @ Dallas Stars 0–4 Crawford American Airlines Center 18,532 43–22–6 92 L1 72 March 23 @ Carolina Hurricanes 3–1 Crawford PNC Arena 13,786 44–22–6 94 W1 73 March 25 @ Philadelphia Flyers 1–4 Crawford Wells Fargo Center 19,831 44–23–6 94 L1 74 March 27 Columbus Blue Jackets 2–5 Crawford United Center 22,187 44–24–6 94 L2 75 March 29 @ Winnipeg Jets 4–3 Crawford MTS Centre 15,016 45–24–6 96 W1 76 March 30 Los Angeles Kings 4–1 Darling United Center 21,848 46–24–6 98 W2 April: 2–4–0 (Home: 1–2–0; Road: 1–2–0) Pts. 4 # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 77 April 2 Vancouver Canucks 3–1 Crawford United Center 21,901 47–24–6 100 W3 78 April 3 @ Buffalo Sabres 4–3 Darling First Niagara Center 19,070 48–24–6 102 W4 79 April 5 St. Louis Blues 1–2 Crawford United Center 22,017 48–25–6 102 L1 80 April 7 Minnesota Wild 1–2 Crawford United Center 21,851 48–26–6 102 L2 81 April 9 @ St. Louis Blues 1–2 Crawford Scottrade Center 19,751 48–27–6 102 L3 82 April 11 @ Colorado Avalanche 2–3 Darling Pepsi Center 18,049 48–28–6 102 L4Legend:

Detailed records

Western Conference Opponent Home Away Total Pts. Goals scored Goals allowed Central Division Chicago Blackhawks – – – – – – Colorado Avalanche 0–2–0 2–1–0 2–3–0 4 11 13 Dallas Stars 2–1–0 1–1–0 3–2–0 6 16 18 Minnesota Wild 2–1–0 1–1–0 3–2–0 6 14 11 Nashville Predators 2–0–0 1–1–0 3–1–0 6 11 9 St. Louis Blues 1–1–0 1–2–0 2–3–0 4 12 10 Winnipeg Jets 0–3–0 2–0–0 2–3–0 4 9 14 7–8–0 8–6–0 15–14–0 30 73 75 Pacific Division Anaheim Ducks 0–1–0 2–0–0 2–1–0 4 8 3 Arizona Coyotes 1–0–1 1–0–0 2–0–1 5 10 4 Calgary Flames 1–0–1 1–0–0 2–0–1 5 7 6 Edmonton Oilers 1–0–0 1–1–0 2–1–0 4 10 7 Los Angeles Kings 1–0–0 1–1–0 2–1–0 4 11 6 San Jose Sharks 1–0–0 1–1–0 2–1–0 4 11 6 Vancouver Canucks 1–0–1 0–1–0 1–1–1 3 8 10 6–1–3 7–4–0 13–5–3 29 65 42