Rolfe key as Fire meets Crew in Eastern final

MLS Eastern Conference final: Chicago Fire at Columbus Crew

When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Crew Stadium

TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes

Records: Fire 13-10-7 overall; Crew 17-7-6 overall

Head to head: 0-0-2. Both teams played to 2-2 ties at home.

Home vs. road: Fire is 6-5-4 on the road; Columbus is 11-2-2 at home.

Scouting the Fire: When the national TV cameras go on, so does Chris Rolfe, or so it seems lately. While opponents are watching Brian McBride and Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Rolfe has been stealing the show with some key goals and assists lately.

Scouting the Crew: As Guillermo Barros Schelotto goes, so goes the Crew. The Supporters' Shield-winning Crew (best regular-season record) relies on the league assist leader and MVP candidate offensively. Chad Marshall was the league's top defender.

Next: MLS Cup, Nov. 23 at Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif., vs. the winner of Saturday's New York-Real Salt Lake game.