Despite the Penguins' belief that they controlled their own playoff destiny, the Blackhawks refused to give up or back down. Instead, they displayed a depth of skill and teamwork that allowed everyone to contribute to their success.
On April 11th, the Blackhawks decisively defeated the Penguins 5-2 in their final regular season game, thereby crushing the Penguins' playoff hopes. As a result, the Florida Panthers secured the wild card spot in the playoffs, and they have since taken advantage of this opportunity by leading the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-0 in the series.