Hawks rely on shutdown unit to stifle Sharks (and other NHL news)

[Forkboy]

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Having a shut-down checking line to pester the opposition's best scorers is a must during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville says it's going to take more than just a three-man unit to shut down the Sharks' top line of Dany Heatley, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau.

Luckily for Quenneville, he has three forwards and two defensemen who have already shown they are up to the challenge.

In the second round against the Vancouver Canucks, Quenneville employed pesky forwards Kris Versteeg, Andrew Ladd and Dave Bolland along with defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook to control the high-flying Sedin twins. It worked about as well as Quenneville could have hoped. The Sedins had a big Game 1, but could only muster a combined 2 goals and 4 assists in the final five games of the series.

Those five Blackhawks can expect an even bigger test against the Sharks' big three.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=529289


Flyers turn the page, get ready for Montreal

PHILADELPHIA -- So what's it like the day after putting the finishing touches on one of the biggest playoff comebacks in sports history?

For the Philadelphia Flyers, it was just like any other day at the office. Upon returning to their practice facility in Voorhees, N.J., coach Peter Laviolette held an optional skate on Saturday -- only a handful of players participated.

A surprise addition to the morning group, however, was forward Ian Laperriere, who skated for the first time since suffering a brain contusion after blocking a shot in Game 5 against the New Jersey Devils on April 22. Laperriere has been cleared to skate, but not cleared for contact. He's not aware when the next MRI is scheduled either.

The Flyers became just the third team in NHL history to win a series they trailed 3-0 on Friday with a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins. But unlike the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs and the '75 New York Islanders, the Flyers were forced to rally from a 3-0 hole in the series finale at TD Garden.

But with the Montreal Canadiens coming to the Wachovia Center for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday night, there was little time to celebrate.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=529270


Habs shed Cinderella label heading into East final

BROSSARD, Quebec -- The Montreal Canadiens insist that the Cinderella label never quite fit them. But the fact that their formidable first two opponents in these 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs believed the Habs wore glass slippers (skates?) certainly worked in their favor.

There will be no such misperceptions nor underestimations anymore. The Philadelphia Flyers, who beat Boston on Friday night in Game 7 of their series, enter the Eastern Conference Final appropriately respectful of the Canadiens, who no longer are considered outmanned stepping stones by anybody.

The question is: Can the Canadiens make the transition from prohibitive underdog whose every minor victory is considered a miracle to perceived contenders whose jacked-up fan base now expects to advance?

They began the process this morning at the Bell Sportsplex. Fans were packed five deep around the balcony viewing area to watch the Canadiens return to practice after a much-needed day off Thursday following Wednesday night's emotional Game 7 triumph over the defending champion Penguins in Pittsburgh.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=529224


Olympic teammates become rivals

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The San Jose Sharks had eight players take part in the 2010 Winter Olympics. The Chicago Blackhawks sent six players to Vancouver. Of those 14 players, nine were on the ice for the gold-medal game.

So much for the idea that all those extra games would wear those players out -- because here they are set to face off in the Western Conference Finals, which get under way Sunday afternoon at HP Pavilion (3 p.m. ET, NBC, TSN, RDS).

"I think our coaches did a good job of giving us the rest when we needed it afterwards and allowed us to bounce back and proceed with the season.," said the Sharks' Joe Pavelski, a member of the silver-medal winning Team USA.

"That was part of our thought process, give them a couple days off here and there and hopefully they could replenish their tanks," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said when asked what he did with his Olympians. "We're very happy with where they're at right now. Seems to be a lot of energy in these guys."

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=529293

[Onceuponalife]

1. Fine.

They shut down Thornton's line then the second line of Setoguchi, Pavelski and Clowe will score four goals. I don't care who scores 'em..

And if you're talking pesky, the 'hawks will have as much pesky as they can take from all four Sharks lines.

[Forkboy]

2. Not today.

Close game though. Could have gone either way. Both teams played pretty well (neither played great, but game 1 is always a feeling out process) and looked ready to go. I thought the Sharks might have a touch of rust but they played well from the start. This should be a great series.