Western Conference Finals Start Today — Hawks @ Sharks
Sunday, May 16th, 2010 | Chicago Blackhawks, NHL, San Jose Sharks, Sports
Bring it on – the Chicago Blackhawks kick off the Western Conference Finals in San Jose today with a 12 noon west coast puck drop against the Sharks.
Antti Niemi will face the Sharks for the 1st time this season (Cristobal Huet started the 4 regular season games against the Sharks in which the Hawks won 3 of the games).
Hawks star Patrick Kane is excited for the series to begin after his team had a 5-day layoff and after the Sharks had an 8-day layoff: “Both teams might come out a little sloppy, but I’m sure we’ll find our game pretty soon in the series. I think it’s going to make for a great series. I think there’s a lot of great players.
The Hawks finished just 1 point behind the Sharks for the best record in the West this season. The Sharks have never made it to a Stanley Cup series, losing to the Calgary Flames in their only franchise finals appearance back in 2004. The Hawks have not won a Stanley Cup series since 1961.
Head Coach Joel Quenneville says it’s not good enough that his squad has reached the Conference Finals for the 2nd year in a row — “We shouldn’t feel satisfied. We shouldn’t feel like we’ve accomplished anything. I know getting back to where we got to last year, it’s where we wanted to be. But getting to the next round is what we’re all about. One obstacle that the Hawks must overcome – a rookie goaltender. Antti Niemi is a rookie and an NHL team has not rode a rookie goalie all the way to a Stanley Cup Championship since Patrick Roy led the Montreal Canadiens to the promised land as a rookie back in 1986. Come on Antti – let’s make a name for yourself and bring home a championship for the city of Chicago. Go Hawks!!!
