If you're wondering whether or not the Blackhawks have quit on this season, you just got your answer.
After an embarrassing 7-2 loss in San Jose on Thursday, the Blackhawks turned back the clock and channeled some late-game magic by ralling from two goals down and scoring four unanswered goals in the third period to stun the Los Angeles Kings 5-3 on Saturday.
Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews flexed their championship muscles, each recording three points and Toews scoring his first game-winner of the season. Brandon Saad had his first point in six games. Brent Seabrook logged a team-high 24:38 of ice time and tallied an assist to move into a tie for second among Chicago defensemen with 19 points this season.
It was like 2013 all over again.
Sure, the Blackhawks' nine-year playoff streak is almost certainly coming to an end.
But this is a prideful core group that has won three Stanley Cups and reached five Conference Finals over the last decade. They won't just lay down.
And you have to imagine they had some great satisfaction in stealing two points away from the Kings, who would have tied the Sharks for second in the Pacific Division with a victory.
NHL
If the Blackhawks had lost this game in regulation like it appeared they were headed, their chances at landing the No. 1 overall pick would have increased from 5.8 percent to 6.7, according to tankathon.com. Not so fast.
While it's certainly tempting to consider the possibility of enhancing your odds at drafting highly-touted Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who could become only the third blue liner in 22 years to be selected first overall, the idea of tanking is a terrible approach because it instills a losing mentality.
It's also bad karma.
That's not in the Blackhawks' DNA to begin with, and Saturday's comeback only reaffirmed that.
At no point in the season have they ever looked like a team that has surrended. They lead the league in 5-on-5 shot attempts; not exactly indicative of a club that has thrown its hands up in the air.
The most important thing for the Blackhawks down the stretch is competing hard for a full 60 minutes, continuing to develop their young players and maintaining that never-quit attitude.
That's good karma.