After seven days in San Jose, Hawks know the way home

SAN JOSE, Calif. - For the Blackhawks it's knowing their way away from San Jose now.

After spending seven days in California following their series win over Vancouver in the second round, the Hawks fly home today and don't play again until Game 3 on Friday at the United Center.

The seven-day stay in San Jose was the longest the Hawks spent in any one road city since opening the season in Helsinki, Finland, last October.

"We got way more time here than Helsinki," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said Tuesday. "Things were happening quick when we were there. We've been here for some time."

It was Quenneville who made the decision to come here from Vancouver rather than fly four hours home then four-plus hours back to the West Coast and San Jose because the Hawks weren't sure if the Western Conference finals would start Friday or Sunday.

Quenneville made sure he gave his team plenty of time away from the rink over those seven days.

"I think the guys are spending time together; they're hanging out with each other," Quenneville said. "It's kind of comparable to what they've been doing in Chicago. A lot of single guys spend time together. They go with each other for dinner, things like that."