вторник, 13 марта 2012 г.

Mironov might not play today

ST. LOUIS--Defenseman Boris Mironov, who returned to theBlackhawks' lineup Thursday for the 2-1 Game 1 victory over the St.Louis Blues, didn't practice Friday. He is bothered by the groinstrain that kept him out of the last six games of the regular season.

Coach Brian Sutter used Mironov only five minutes, 41 seconds inthe first game of the Western Conference quarterfinal series andmight replace him with Joe Reekie, Chris McAlpine or Vlad Chebaturkintoday. Sutter hasn't ruled out Mironov's return, however.

"To say Bo gave us a gutsy effort [in Thursday's] game was anunderstatement," Sutter said. "I expect him to give it a go. I knowhis heart wants him to go."

TICKET TAKERS: The first game at the Savvis Center wasn't asellout, and neither is Sunday's third game at the United Center--the first of the series on the Hawks' home ice.

Thursday's game was about 1,200 tickets short of a sellout. TheHawks haven't sold out the games Sunday or Tuesday. They anticipate abig demand for tickets and will open will-call windows around theUnited Center to expedite ticket distribution.

BUSY BODY: The late-season injuries to Mironov and AlexanderKarpovtsev have changed the life of fellow defenseman Steve Poapst.His playing time doubled in the last month, and coach Brian Suttercalled on him for 26 minutes, 25 seconds in the first game of theseries. That was more than every Hawk except Lyle Odelein's 28minutes, 21 seconds.

Poapst, who played two seasons in the East Coast League and sevenin the American Hockey League before catching on with the Hawks,isn't complaining.

"It's been a big adjustment here, but I've played a lot of minutesbefore," Poapst said. "This is just the first time it's come at thislevel."

CRITICAL GAME: If the Hawks beat the Blues today, they will have avirtual lock on the series--at least if you go by past results. TheNHL went to seven-game playoff series in 1939. During that time only32 of 243 teams--just 13.2 percent--have fallen behind 2-0 and comeback to win.

WOUNDED: Christian LaFlamme, a former Hawk, and Marc Bergevin werehit by pucks during the Blues' practice Friday. Both were shaken upbut are expected to play today.

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