The Blackhawks knew they were going to get a decent amount of rest before they knew whom their Western Conference Final opponent would be.
Well, now they know, but it's still going to be a few days until they play again.
The Blackhawks will face the Anaheim Ducks, who eliminated the Calgary Flames a few minutes into Monday morning, in the Western Conference Final at some point later this week. Dates and times have yet to be determined.
[MORE: Rested Blackhawks prepping for physical Conference Final]
The conference finals will not begin before the second-round series in the Eastern Conference are completed. The New York Rangers beat the Washington Capitals on Sunday night, evening their series 3-3; Game 7 is 7:30 p.m. ET Wednesday.
The Blackhawks will face a team they’re familiar with, although one which they don’t see that often. They took the regular-season series, 2-1, with two 4-1 victories; Anaheim won the first regular-season matchup 1-0.
The Ducks also had a postseason sweep, dispatching the Winnipeg Jets in four games in the first round. And just like the Blackhawks, Anaheim has yet to lose a game at home this postseason.
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Jonathan Toews didn’t know who the Blackhawks’ opponent would be when he talked after Sunday’s practice but knew whoever it was, it would provide a tough test.
“I don’t think it matters,” he said. “Whoever earns its way into the conference final will have done that for a number of reasons. We’ll have our work cut out for us either way.”