When the Chicago Blackhawks started to dismantle their roster shortly after winning the Stanley Cup last June, many expected the franchise to struggle throughout 2010-11.

But with the days before this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs dwindling, here are the Blackhawks, squarely in a wild fight for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Chicago started Tuesday tied with Nashville for sixth place in the wild, wild West, just one point ahead of a three-way logjam for eighth, ninth and 10th places. Anaheim, Dallas and Calgary are tied with 85 points, and whoever finishes ninth or lower won’t be playing in mid-April.

The Blackhawks are 6-2-2 in their past 10 games, a strong showing in a very critical time of the season. Chicago trails fifth-place Los Angeles by just two points with 10 games left in the regular season.

Chicago begins the final sprint to what it hopes will be a chance to defend its title Wednesday at home against Florida. The Blackhawks beat Phoenix 2-1 on Sunday, wrapping up a tough stretch of six road games in seven contests.

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After lifting the Stanley Cup last summer, the Chicago Blackhawks have spent the season’s first half trying to lift itself back into contention in the Western Conference.

The Blackhawks are tied for seventh in the Western Conference with Phoenix at 49 points. Given that three teams are tied for fourth with 50 points – Nashville, Colorado and Anaheim – a hot second half could vault the Blackhawks into the top of the conference.

The defending champs will send a league-high four players to represent the West at the NHL All-Star game, Jan. 30 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. Forwards Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews, and defensemen Duncan Keith, will represent the Blackhawks in the game.

Chicago plays host to Colorado on Wednesday. This weekend, the Blackhawks will play a home-and-home with Nashville. Chicago travels to Nashville Saturday night, then plays host to the Predators Sunday night.

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Forty-nine years of frustration ended with sweet elation for the Chicago Blackhawks, the Stanley Cup coming back to the shores of Lake Michigan for the first time since 1961.

That was then. This is now, and the now features the Blackhawks defending that long-awaited championship.

The Blackhawks put it all together at long last in 2009-10, downing Philadelphia in six games. This season, Chicago will look quite different, having shed salaries in an offseason where several key cogs of the drive to the Stanley Cup were dealt.

Head coach Joel Quenneville does have plenty of talent remaining, including captain and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Toews and leading scorer Patrick Kane.

Chicago begins its title defense Oct. 7 at Colorado. The home opener and the raising of the Stanley Cup banner at United Center is Oct. 9 against Detroit.

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After struggling in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals to the tune of five goals allowed, the Chicago Blackhawks goalie surrendered just one while making 32 saves in a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 2 to give his team a commanding 2-0 series lead. The Blackhawks are now just two wins away from ending the NHL’s longest championship drought.

In a defensive battle that was a stark contrast to the 6-5 shootout in the Finals opener, Niemi was the difference. He made 14 saves in the final period alone as Chicago thwarted a Philadelphia rally.

He was given the lead by teammates Martin Hossa and Ben Eager, who scored 28 seconds apart in the second period to give the Blackhawks a 2-0 advantage that they would never relinquish.

Simon Gagne cut the lead in half early in the third period with a power play goal, but the Flyers couldn’t get the equalizer. As a result, they now face the daunting task of doing something few teams ever have: Since the NHL went to best-of-seven in the finals in 1939, teams winning both Games 1 and 2 have won the Stanley Cup 41 of 45 times.

Chicago trailed 2-0 in the second period before storming back to tie it up. Then, on the power play with under six minutes remaining in regulation, Dustin Byfuglien put in a shot in front of the net to give the Blackhawks the game-winner. They later knocked in an empty-netter. Byfuglien’s goal was his third game-winner of the playoffs.

Chicago will now have a chance to end the longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history. The franchise has gone 47 years since it last hoisted the cup. It will play the winner of the Philadelphia-Montreal series.

Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau scored in defeat for the Sharks.

After letting a 3-1 lead evaporate during a sluggish second period, the Chicago Blackhawks regrouped just in time.

Dave Bolland scored to tie the game four minutes into the third period, and Jonathan Toews scored in the shootout as the Blackhawks earned a 5-4 shootout win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday night.

Chicago stands with 85 points, four behind San Jose in the race for the Western Conference title, entering Sunday’s game at Columbus. The Blackhawks hold a comfortable 16-point advantage over Nashville in the Central Division.

After Atlanta scored early in the first, Patrick Sharp, Kim Johnsson and Marian Hossa scored in a six-minute span to stake the Blackhawks to a 3-1 lead. Atlanta then took total control in the second period, scoring three unanswered goals to put Chicago in a 4-3 hole entering the final 20 minutes.

Bolland knotted the score at 4:21 of the third to tie it. After a scoreless overtime, Toews netted the game-winner in the first round of the shootout.

After playing at Columbus on Sunday, Chicago enters the Olympic break and is off until a March 2 game at the New York Islanders.

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