The Chicago Blackhawks have somehow managed to work their way back into the middle of the Western Conference playoff race. After an overtime victory Wednesday night against the Detroit Red Wings, the 'Hawks held the second Wild Card spot for nearly an hour, until Colorado surpassed them with a victory over Winnipeg.

Currently, the Blackhawks are one point back of the Minnesota Wild for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. With 10 wins in their last 12 games, they are one of the hottest teams in the entire NHL. Still, there are six or seven playoff contenders right now with a little over a month left in the season.

Current Wild Card Standings in the Western Conference.

Friday Night in the Madhouse

One of the teams also in the race for the final Wild Card spot is the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche come to Chicago on Friday to take on the red-hot Blackhawks, and both teams have 61 points heading into the game. The Blackhawks have played one more game than the Avalanche, making this game even more critical for the home team. The Blackhawks have had success against Colorado so far this season, with two victories in two matchups, both in Colorado. Patrick Kane had two goals and two assists in those games, including the overtime-winner the last time these teams met. Inversely, the top line of Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen for the Avalanche has combined for just two goals and one assist in the two meetings. [caption id="attachment_121738" align="alignnone" width="401"] The Blackhawks-Avalanche Season Series.[/caption] Friday night will be a different type of battle than the two previous meetings, though. The nerves will be high, and the atmosphere will mimic early April. The outcome will be magnified, as the winner could move into a Wild Card spot with a Minnesota loss. It's exactly the type of hockey Blackhawks fans would not have expected their team to be playing just a few months ago.

Sunday's Showdown vs. Dallas

Not only does Friday night have gigantic playoff implications for the Chicago Blackhawks, but Sunday afternoon's matchup vs. the Dallas Stars is also a HUGE game. Dallas is currently in the first Wild Card spot with 65 points. While the spot seems secure, the Stars are fighting off four teams that are all within four points of them. Every win is crucial for them right now as well. [caption id="attachment_121739" align="alignnone" width="400"] The Blackhawks-Stars Season Series.[/caption] These two teams have only met once this season, with the Blackhawks picking up an impressive 5-2 road win back on December 20th. Patrick Kane scored his 16th and 17th goals of the season, and Alex DeBrincat added his 15th of the campaign. While this game was two months ago, it really put into perspective how insane Kane and DeBrincat have been lately. Since that game on December 20th, Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat have combined for 39 goals in just 24 games. The current Chicago Blackhawks are a lot different than the Blackhawks from two months ago.

Do or Die for the Blackhawks?

There is no doubt that the Chicago Blackhawks are playing their biggest games of the season this weekend with two playoff contenders coming to town. The games are even more significant considering both the Avalanche and the Stars are division rivals as well. This weekend will play a large impact on the Western Conference playoff race for all three teams.

The Chicago Blackhawks are playing their best hockey of the season right now. With just two losses in the month of February, they have managed to sneak up on the rest of the Western Conference. There are just 21 games left in the regular season, and the Blackhawks cannot afford to slow up right now though. They have to keep winning at this pace to have any hope of playing playoff hockey. While it may not be "do or die" this weekend for Blackhawks, a pair of losses would certainly hurt their chances of making the postseason. Hopefully, the 'Hawks come up with two BIG victories to keep clawing their way up the Western Conference standings.