It is hard to believe, but the shortened 48-game NHL season is already a third of the way finished. If the last two-thirds are anything like the first third of the season, the Blackhawks might be taking another sip from Lord Stanley’s Cup come summertime.

If the Hawks earn a point in today’s game against the Vancouver Canucks, they will tie the NHL record for most consecutive games without a regulation loss to start the season. The Blackhawks have a record of 12-0-3. The current record is held by the 2006-2007 Anaheim Ducks, who went on to win the Stanley Cup.

This season seems eerily like that of 2010, when the Hawks snapped a 49-year drought with a Stanley Cup championship.

In this season, like the 2010 season, the Blackhawks seem to be always playing with a lead after scoring a couple of early goals, which forces the other team to play catch-up early on in the game. The Hawks would hang on to their goals, hoping they are enough for the victory.

A perfect example of this happened in Sunday’s 3-2 victory over the defending Stanley Cup champion, the Los Angeles Kings, where the Blackhawks scored three goals in the first 22 minutes and then hung on after allowing two power play goals in the third period.

It seems like the Hawks can turn on that proverbial switch whenever they want or need to. For instance, on Feb. 5 they fell behind the San Jose Sharks 3-0 and then scored three goals by the end of the first period, eventually winning, 5-3. However, this could be dangerous as the season continues. The Blackhawks cannot afford to put themselves in early holes like they did against the Sharks.

After a slower year last season, much-criticized winger Patrick Kane appears to be a man on a mission after spending the lockout playing in Switzerland, which can mean nothing but good things for the Hawks.

That Blackhawks are capable of having scoring come from all four lines, which is something very similar to what happened in the cup-winning year of 2010. Their defensemen are always willing to contribute to the team’s offensive efforts without sacrificing their main objective of defense.

Between the pipes, Corey Crawford and Ray Emery have been solid whenever they have been called upon. The duo might possibly be the best starting and backup goalie combination in the league.

If this seemingly well-rounded team continues to play at this high a level, there might be another parade in downtown Chicago.