Where were you in 2002?

The Chicago Blackhawks were in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for 5 games.

That was the last time they were in the playoffs.

Tonight, they play host to the Nashville Predators. If they pick up a single point tonight, they're in. For the first time since Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews were just entering their teens, the Hawks have something to say about who wins the Stanley Cup, aside from which former Hawks are on the Cup winner.

The Hawks are currently tied with Vanouver for third-best record in the Western Conference. So making the playoffs has pretty much been fait accompli for months.

Still, this is a big milestone for the franchise. At this point, there's no reason to believe this team won't be a perennial playoff team from this point forward. They're young, and they're good. In fact, you can basically make your checklist of goals you need to reach in order to one day hoist the Cup:

1) Acquire talented leaders? Check

2) Make Playoffs? Check

3) Win Playoff Round?

4) Win Division?

5) Make Conference Finals?

6) Make Cup Finals?

7) Win Cup?

Are they Cup contenders now? Their play this year has shown them to be capable, in spurts, of being able to beat anyone. However, they haen't proven to be capable of any type of sustained excellence, at least not sustained enough to get through 4 rounds of playoffs.

But they're taking the right steps.