After eliminating the Minnesota Wild 4-1 in their Western Conference quarterfinal series with a 5-1 victory in Game 5, the Blackhawks expect the degree of difficulty to rise, perhaps significantly, in the second round. And they're expect...

Stop the presses -- the Hawks have no preference whether they face the Detroit Red Wings or the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference semifinals next week. ''It doesn't matter who it's going to be. [Either way] it's going to be a t...

Josh Harding will start in goal for the Minnesota Wild in Game 5 tonight at the United Center. Whether he's really ready to go or not after suffering an injury in Game 4, well, that's anybody's guess. Wild coach Mike Yeo is going on fa...

The only team with fewer power-play opportunities in this year's playoffs than the Blackhawks is playing golf, watching on TV and preparing for the world championships today. The Vancouver Canucks had 10 power-play opportunities against...

The Blackhawks had a chance to put their foot on the Minnesota Wild's throat in Game 3 at the Xcel Energy Center and failed, instead getting outplayed in a 3-2 overtime loss and seeing their series lead cut to 2-1. Now up 3-1 after Tues...

The Minnesota Wild was a team searching for answers Tuesday night. It's bad enough that the Wild is down 3-1 against the best team in the NHL after a 3-0 loss to the Blackhawks at Xcel Energy Center. Now they face not only the daunting...

Daniel Carcillo can't wait for his chance. ''That's the reason we play, is to play in big games like this,'' the Blackhawks winger said. ''This is my type of hockey. Everybody wants to play. You don't want to be sitting and watching. I...

You've seen Joel Quenneville angry. You've seen him on the bench ranting at the refs after a call doesn't go the Blackhawks' way, or roaring at his players after a particularly lackluster effort. You've seen the arms flailing, the eyes f...

Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith returned to Chicago early Tuesday morning to witness the birth of his son, but will be back in Minnesota in time for Game 4 of the Western Conference quarterfinal series against the Wild at Xcel Energy ...

Momentum is on the Wild's side after their Game 3 victory, but the players were being careful not to get carried away. "We all came to the rink today the same way that we did after Game 1 and Game 2," goalie Josh Harding said. "This is...