from Dan Rosen of NHL.com,
The Chicago Blackhawks' experiences with the Stanley Cup -- Patrick Kane stuck on a ladder in Buffalo, Jonathan Toews having a Manitoba lake named after him, Duncan Keith and the trophy in front of the picturesque backdrop of Penticton, B.C. -- seem like distant memories.
It's been two straight seasons of losing in the first round, of failing to live up to expectations, of overtime heartache since Kane knew before the rest of the world that the puck went in and the Blackhawks were Stanley Cup champions. Yet here they are again ready to enter a season with high expectations and Cup aspirations -- only now the pressure to win may be at a heightened level because of the recent disappointments.
"We know expectations to win are high and getting back to being a champion is the ultimate goal," coach Joel Quenneville told NHL.com. "We're all looking forward to winning and we all know the ramifications if we don't. We welcome that challenge and let's go."
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