A day after inexplicably coming out flat in a 3-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals, the Blackhawks hit the United Center ice for practice Wednesday.
Several Hawks, including Duncan Keith, Matt Walker, Andrew Ladd, Martin Havlat, Cam Barker, Sammy Pahlsson and Dustin Byfuglien, were given rests and didn't practice. Coach Joel Quenneville said all would play in Game 4 on Thursday night at the UC.
Game 4 is critical if the Hawks hope to maintain the wild ride they've been on since the season began in October. Falling behind 3-1 with the series headed back to Vancouver would likely spell doom."
"It's a huge game for us," Quenneville said Wednesday. "We have to take advantage of being at home. We have to get in the game right from the get-go and use the enthusiam of the building. It's a very important game and we have to approach it like it is."
The Hawks have fallen behind in all three games of the series and are fortunate they were able to rally to victory in Game 2.
"We can't keep shooting ourselves in the foot," rookie center Kris Versteeg said. "We have to come out and play hard from the start. We've been desperate a little too late."
Vancouver practiced following the Hawks and veteran defenseman Sami Salo, recovering from an injury suffered in Game 1 of the series, did some light skating. He is questionable for Thursday night's game. Winger Pavol Demitra (upper body) didn't skate and reportedly won't return to the ice for another week.
Several Hawks, including Duncan Keith, Matt Walker, Andrew Ladd, Martin Havlat, Cam Barker, Sammy Pahlsson and Dustin Byfuglien, were given rests and didn't practice. Coach Joel Quenneville said all would play in Game 4 on Thursday night at the UC.
Game 4 is critical if the Hawks hope to maintain the wild ride they've been on since the season began in October. Falling behind 3-1 with the series headed back to Vancouver would likely spell doom."
"It's a huge game for us," Quenneville said Wednesday. "We have to take advantage of being at home. We have to get in the game right from the get-go and use the enthusiam of the building. It's a very important game and we have to approach it like it is."
The Hawks have fallen behind in all three games of the series and are fortunate they were able to rally to victory in Game 2.
"We can't keep shooting ourselves in the foot," rookie center Kris Versteeg said. "We have to come out and play hard from the start. We've been desperate a little too late."
Vancouver practiced following the Hawks and veteran defenseman Sami Salo, recovering from an injury suffered in Game 1 of the series, did some light skating. He is questionable for Thursday night's game. Winger Pavol Demitra (upper body) didn't skate and reportedly won't return to the ice for another week.
