The Blackhawks aren't thinking any further than Game 4 of the Western Conference final against San Jose on Sunday afternoon at the United Center. Not to the Stanley Cup final, or to what might happen this summer when serious salary-cap problems threaten to break up this dynamic team.
"Buff and I don't even know what you're talking about," Patrick Sharp, seated next to teammate Dustin Byfuglien, said with a laugh when asked about the possibility at Saturday's press briefing. "That's the first we've heard about the salary cap."
Yeah, sure.
"It's been talked about," Sharp said. "But we can worry about that weeks from now. You look at guys that have been in the league for a long time, who have played for this opportunity, and we realize that it's right there for us. So we don't want to start thinking about where players will be next year. We've got to take advantage of what we have."
The Blackhawks have more than $57 million US in salaries committed to just 14 players for 2010-11. And the salary cap won't go up much from its present $56.8 million.
"I think that sort of thing, where you're thinking about who's going to be back next year, a lot of teams deal with that," defenceman Duncan Keith said. "Every team has to face that.
"I think as players, for us, the best thing to do is not to get caught up in that sort of thing and worry about it. Obviously we like our teammates and we love playing together. There will be changes next year, as there will be with every team. But I think the focus right now is just understanding we have what we have right now, the opportunity that's there, giving it everything we have with the team we have right now, then worrying about what happens next year."
Not over yet
The Blackhawks were saying all the right things on Saturday about having the Sharks in a 3-0 hole and on the brink of elimination from the West final.
"Well, I think [getting to the Stanley Cup final] definitely goes through everyone's minds," Sharp said. "We've got a team that likes to think we've been in this position before, being in the conference finals, and we realize how hard it is to get to that next step. I know it's one game away, but the old cliché - the fourth one is the hardest to win.
"We look at the series against San Jose, each game could go either way. We know we are fortunate to be up 3-0. We know we have to play our best game to close them out."
The Sharks dismissed talk of Games 2 and 3 being must-wins for them, but there's no doubt about Game 4. It's either win or go home to face more questions about their inability to get it done in the playoffs.
"It's disappointing to be down 3-0, no doubt, but we're not hanging our heads. It's all about this group now," Sharks centre Joe Pavelski said.
"We felt like we played with this team all along," San Jose coach Todd McLellan said. "The fact is we're still down 3-0. We'd like to come out, throw everything we have, play loose against Chicago, then put a little pressure on them after that. We've got to take Step 1 first."
The Niemi factor
Chicago goalie Antti Niemi continues to answer those critics who doubted the first-year Finn could get the job done in the playoffs.
"I'm not worried about Antti," Hawks centre John Madden said. "He's just Antti. He just goes out there and plays hockey and has fun and competes.
"I've never seen a goalie compete like that before."
That's coming from a guy who won two Stanley Cups in New Jersey with future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur in goal.
Keith also praised Niemi.
"When your goaltender is making those big saves, making the kind of plays that he is at critical times in the game, it really changes the whole dynamic of the game," Keith said.
"But I think the thing you have to remember about Antti sometimes, even though it's his first year in the league, he's not 20 or 21 years old like most of the young rookies you see coming up. He's about 26 years old, pretty mature."
On the bandwagon
'Hawks greats Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull seem to be enjoying the team's run just as much as anyone.
Mikita was there outside the dressing room on Friday night to congratulate Jonathan Toews on breaking his club record for points in consecutive playoff games. Toews has registered at least a point in each of the last 12 contests.
Hall of Famers Mikita, Hull, Tony Esposito and Denis Savard have been at every game.
"It's been special to have them around for regular-season games, for them to be here when it matters most," Toews said. "It's pretty cool, great to have that support. I think it means just as much to them as if they were still lacing 'em up in the locker room and playing."
And it's not just the players who are enjoying it. Coach Joel Quenneville grew up a 'Hawks fan in Windsor, Ont.
"I was one of the oddballs in the city," Quenneville said. "Everybody was either a Canadiens fan or a Red Wing fan or Leaf fan. I was probably the only Blackhawks fan."
"Buff and I don't even know what you're talking about," Patrick Sharp, seated next to teammate Dustin Byfuglien, said with a laugh when asked about the possibility at Saturday's press briefing. "That's the first we've heard about the salary cap."
Yeah, sure.
"It's been talked about," Sharp said. "But we can worry about that weeks from now. You look at guys that have been in the league for a long time, who have played for this opportunity, and we realize that it's right there for us. So we don't want to start thinking about where players will be next year. We've got to take advantage of what we have."
The Blackhawks have more than $57 million US in salaries committed to just 14 players for 2010-11. And the salary cap won't go up much from its present $56.8 million.
"I think that sort of thing, where you're thinking about who's going to be back next year, a lot of teams deal with that," defenceman Duncan Keith said. "Every team has to face that.
"I think as players, for us, the best thing to do is not to get caught up in that sort of thing and worry about it. Obviously we like our teammates and we love playing together. There will be changes next year, as there will be with every team. But I think the focus right now is just understanding we have what we have right now, the opportunity that's there, giving it everything we have with the team we have right now, then worrying about what happens next year."
Not over yet
The Blackhawks were saying all the right things on Saturday about having the Sharks in a 3-0 hole and on the brink of elimination from the West final.
"Well, I think [getting to the Stanley Cup final] definitely goes through everyone's minds," Sharp said. "We've got a team that likes to think we've been in this position before, being in the conference finals, and we realize how hard it is to get to that next step. I know it's one game away, but the old cliché - the fourth one is the hardest to win.
"We look at the series against San Jose, each game could go either way. We know we are fortunate to be up 3-0. We know we have to play our best game to close them out."
The Sharks dismissed talk of Games 2 and 3 being must-wins for them, but there's no doubt about Game 4. It's either win or go home to face more questions about their inability to get it done in the playoffs.
"It's disappointing to be down 3-0, no doubt, but we're not hanging our heads. It's all about this group now," Sharks centre Joe Pavelski said.
"We felt like we played with this team all along," San Jose coach Todd McLellan said. "The fact is we're still down 3-0. We'd like to come out, throw everything we have, play loose against Chicago, then put a little pressure on them after that. We've got to take Step 1 first."
The Niemi factor
Chicago goalie Antti Niemi continues to answer those critics who doubted the first-year Finn could get the job done in the playoffs.
"I'm not worried about Antti," Hawks centre John Madden said. "He's just Antti. He just goes out there and plays hockey and has fun and competes.
"I've never seen a goalie compete like that before."
That's coming from a guy who won two Stanley Cups in New Jersey with future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur in goal.
Keith also praised Niemi.
"When your goaltender is making those big saves, making the kind of plays that he is at critical times in the game, it really changes the whole dynamic of the game," Keith said.
"But I think the thing you have to remember about Antti sometimes, even though it's his first year in the league, he's not 20 or 21 years old like most of the young rookies you see coming up. He's about 26 years old, pretty mature."
On the bandwagon
'Hawks greats Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull seem to be enjoying the team's run just as much as anyone.
Mikita was there outside the dressing room on Friday night to congratulate Jonathan Toews on breaking his club record for points in consecutive playoff games. Toews has registered at least a point in each of the last 12 contests.
Hall of Famers Mikita, Hull, Tony Esposito and Denis Savard have been at every game.
"It's been special to have them around for regular-season games, for them to be here when it matters most," Toews said. "It's pretty cool, great to have that support. I think it means just as much to them as if they were still lacing 'em up in the locker room and playing."
And it's not just the players who are enjoying it. Coach Joel Quenneville grew up a 'Hawks fan in Windsor, Ont.
"I was one of the oddballs in the city," Quenneville said. "Everybody was either a Canadiens fan or a Red Wing fan or Leaf fan. I was probably the only Blackhawks fan."
