Pavelski respects vocal former teammate Burish

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Sharks center Joe Pavelski, who played, roomed and won an NCAA championship with Adam Burish at the University of Wisconsin, says the Blackhawks winger hasn't changed much from his college days, when he was just as chirpy.

"He competes really hard, he's a good player that way," Pavelski said on Friday. "That's what you see from him in the playoffs. He steps up and likes the big games and the big moments.

"He definitely brings a lot to a dressing room and was a good teammate."

That's as far as Pavelski was willing to go, preferring to leave the other stuff filed away. Pavelski has been the Sharks' go-to guy in the first two rounds with a team-leading 9 goals, which has taken a lot of the pressure off San Jose's top line of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley.

"I really don't feel like I have to carry the load so much," Thornton said. "I think maybe in years past I felt like I had to carry the team a little too much. We really didn't have the secondary scoring. This year I think we definitely have the secondary scoring."

Olympic flavor: There are 14 players from the Hawks and Sharks who participated in the Olympics, blowing the theory of fatigue catching up to the Olympians after the grind of Vancouver.

"Perhaps (it's) hunger," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "The 14 Olympians that are on these two teams, their youthfulness and their want to get to the finals and play for their city."

Waiting game: The Sharks had an hour practice on Friday while the Hawks took the day off to get into San Francisco. One of the places they visited as a team was Alcatraz prison.

"It's just to get away," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "I think everybody wouldn't mind seeing it and learning a little bit of history, but it's more about just getting away."

By the time the puck drops Sunday for Game 1, the Sharks will have been idle for eight days compared to four for the Hawks.

"I've gotten a little time to spend with my family," Todd McLellan said. "I've got to see two real good Pony games, but it's not spending time like you think you're spending time.

"My wife probably has a hundred things I have to get done - she's told me about 50 of them, and I don't remember any of them. It's the same for the players. We're anxious to get playing."

The Hawks are OK with the extra days off.

"You have to take advantage of days off and get refreshed and ready to go," Quenneville said.