Monday, April 26, 20101:45 PM
By Chris BodenCSNChicago.com
Marian Hossa was on the ice, but Jonathan Toews and Brent Sopel were not.
Hossa expressed relief over NHL disciplinary boss Colin Campbell ruling he shouldn't be suspended following Saturday's hit on Dan Hamhuis, who was disappointed both will be on the ice tonight for Game 6. Predators coach Barry Trotz accepted the verdict, and was ready to move on.
That's what he's been telling his players to do the last couple of days since the roof almost came off the United Center four minutes into overtime on Hossa's goal that put the Hawks in the series driver's seat. He told us after the morning skate that, emotionally, his team was at "Gound Zero" in the locker room. He believes he's gotten them to the point that it's set aside and that they'll give the Blackhawks their very best tonight.
He may also finally have leading scorer Patric Hornqvist available again. Trotz says Hornqvist will skate in pregame (as he did this morning), and that it'll literally be a "gametime decision." Hornqvist was hopeful in the locker room, but said he would not play with his upper body injury unless he's 100 percent. Glad Brian Campbell didn't feel the same way.
Trotz also says he'll try some new things on that 0-for-21 power play -- that maybe he and his coaching staff have been too stubborn in their ways, and are ready to tweak a thing or two. The addition of Hornqvist would certainly help, as he also led the club with 10 power play goals.
The man who's had a big hand in that penalty-kill success -- Sopel -- was given the morning off to help his body prepare for a few more blocked shots tonight. Joel Quenneville says he'll play, as will Toews, who soldiered on after his leg appeared to take a bad hit along the boards Saturday.
NHL
It was difficult to gauge from the locker room this morning jumping from interview to interview the team's mood. It seemed pretty serious. And it's hard to even tell whether scoring the first goal or two might have an effect on these Predators. Maybe at this point, it would have a greater influence than at any other point in the series, based on Saturday. But keep in mind that overcoming a 3-1 deficit in Game 5 was as impressive as their inability to close it out was unimpressive. They seemed to have gained the Hawks' respect, as well they should. Letting a series rest on Game 7 -- even at home -- is no guarantee, especially against this team if they bounce back tonight, and especially in this postseason.
One thing the local media draws on is a game played on March 11 in San Jose. The Predators took a 4-2 lead into the third period, allowed six Sharks goals, and lost, 8-5. The naysayers thought it was the start of their slippery slope in the competitive West as other teams outside the top eight appeared to be stepping up their games. Trotz's Troupe responded with a six-game win streak, starting with wins in Anahaeim and L.A. So before the Hawks start planning for a rematch with Vancouver ... first things first. If the Predators are down, they may as well knock 'em out and expect the elimination game to be, as they say, the toughest one to get.
I'll be on from Bridgestone Arena on "SportsNite" at 6:30, "Blackhawks Pregame Live" at 7:30, and in-game interviews during Game 6, starting at 8:00 on Comcast SportsNet Plus, when we expect to talk with John Madden along the bench just before the puck-drop.