Hawks' Olympians expected to have advantage

After making the cross-country trek from Vancouver to New York, the big question heading into Tuesday night's game against the Islanders is, who will have the advantage: The Blackhawks who competed in the Olympics, or the ones who are rested and presumably ready to go?

"We'll find out shortly," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said Monday.

Patrick Sharp thinks it'll be the Olympians.

"I think they'll be a few steps ahead," Sharp said. "Coming from that level of hockey to a league that's been sitting around for two weeks is definitely an advantage."

And one that should payoff come playoff time.

"I think it will be huge for us," Sharp said. "It's a very high level of hockey - as high as you can get - and it's going to help us down the stretch in big games. We're going to have some players with great experience."

Quenneville said he feels his non-Olympic guys are primed to turn it on down the homestretch.

"They're fresh and ready to go," he said. "It's almost like training camp. The body's never in better shape - no bumps, no bruises."

Plus, as Sharp noted, "We're sick of practicing. We're ready to play some games."

Eagle-eyed: Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville took in Sunday's gold-medal game with a big-picture attitude but with an extreme local focus as well, what with Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Patrick Kane all in action.

"I watched our guys a little more closely than the game," he said. "I thought our guys played great in the tournament.

"Kaner might have been the best player on the ice for both teams. I thought his last two games were excellent. Tazer was the top Canadian, and Duncs and Seabs were fine. I'm proud of the guys, and they should be proud as well."

Antti up: It will be Antti Niemi in net for the fifth straight game when the Hawks resume play Tuesday night against the Islanders.

"He's won, and we don't want to change too much of that," said Joel Quenneville, who also noted that there's a "good chance" forward John Madden (knee) will be on the ice as well.

Minor move: The Blackhawks acquired goaltender Hannu Toivonen and defenseman Danny Richmond from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for goaltender Joe Fallon and have assigned both players to the AHL's Rockford IceHogs.