Veteran Hossa shooting for third straight trip to Stanley Cup Finals

When it comes to learning how to play the organ at the United Center, Marian Hossa needs all the help he can get from Frank Pellico, as evidenced by that clever television ad.

When it comes to making it deep into the Stanley Cup playoffs, however, well that's a different tune altogether.

And that's precisely why the Blackhawks pursued the veteran forward in the off-season: He's been there, done that - making it to the Stanely Cup Finals the last two years, first with the Pittsburgh Penguins and last season with Detroit, although each time his team was the runner-up.

"He's played in a lot of playoff games. He knows what it takes to win," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "He should make us better."

Hossa realizes when he and his teammates take the United Center ice Friday night against Nashville, a lot of eyes will be focused squarely on the man who signed a 12-year, $62 million contract in the off-season.

He's ready for the attention.

"This is the time when we have to step up," Hossa said. "This is the time.

"I know what the expectations are. This is a huge one. The expectations are going to be high and I'm looking forward to it."

Though Hossa has 76 points in 98 career playoff games and has just about seen it all, don't look for him to be the guy dispensing a lot of advice to his younger teammates.

It's just not his style.

"These type of guys let their actions speak for themselves," Quenneville said of Hossa and fellow veteran John Madden, also an off-season acquisition.

"I don't know about (giving) advice to these guys," said Hossa, who missed the first 22 games of the season following shoulder surgery. "They've been through a great run last year and we're looking for another great run this year. The guys are older and a little more experienced - which is great for this team - and we are the favorites. We know what it takes to be successful and that's our aim.

"Sometimes it's about confidence. You just have to be yourself and don't try to do too much."

That will be particularly true against a tough, pesky opponent like the Predators.

"They play well defensively and try to frustrate you," said the 31-year-old Hossa, who finished the regular season with 51 points in 57 games and a plus-24 rating. "Nothing's open because they play so tight, but I think we can use that to our advantage and stay in their zone (the majority of the time)."

Hossa's hoping he can complete a personal hat trick this year by making the Cup Finals a third straight time ... but this time he's hoping for a much different result: one that would have him hoisting the Stanley Cup in the air at the end.

"In one way it's disappointing because last year we lost by 1 goal," he said of the Red Wings' loss in the Finals. "But I consider myself lucky because not many players go to the finals anyway.

"It was a great experience, a tough finish, but I'm looking forward to a better finish this year."

And that's the name of that tune.

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