(MCT) — CHICAGO — Nothing marks the return of the Blackhawks like a bit of euphoria and a bout of amnesia. It also triggers a third thing, but I forget what that is.

The end of the NHL lockout in a city hungry for hockey immediately creates excitement that the Hawks can extend a shortened 48-game season into mid-June and the Stanley Cup finals. That the compressed training camp will benefit the Hawks more than most Western Conference contenders because they already have chemistry that teams that actually added new players will need time to develop. That familiarity from playing together will offset a rigorous early road trip. That when they drop the puck Saturday in Los Angeles, the Hawks will be closer than any team in Chicago to winning a championship.