A fine young Ladd: Hawks forward keeps the production moving

If Andrew Ladd needed any more proof that he's overlooked, then he needs to find videotape of the mob scene inside the Blackhawks' dressing room on Thursday.

So many camera crews pounced on the neighbor to Ladd's immediate right - the mullet-wielding Patrick Kane - that the feisty third-line forward didn't have room to shed his sweaty practice gear.

When Ladd finally found a moment to lean over and unlace his skates, a local television sports anchor reached over Ladd's bent back in order to stretch his microphone closer to Kane's mouth.

Suffice it to say, Ladd is much kinder about having his personal space invaded when he's not on the ice.

Together with linemates Dave Bolland and Kris Versteeg, Ladd has smacked every top-flight opponent that dares to carry the puck during the playoffs.

The 24-year-old British Columbia native also has found time to produce 2 goals, including the tone-setting wrister that gave the Hawks the Game 2 lead they never lost.

In keeping with the overlooked theme, Ladd isn't sure his stellar postseason play has been any different than his regular-season showing.

"I think I've been consistent the whole year, to be honest with you," said Ladd, who posted 17 goals and 21 assists from October to April. "That's a big part of my game, playing a strong two-way game."

Ladd's willingness to backcheck paid big dividends against the Sharks' most dangerous line in San Jose, but Hawks coach Joel Quenneville couldn't always keep Ladd's line on the ice with Joe Thornton's line.

Now that the Western Conference finals have moved to United Center and Quenneville controls the matchups, look for Ladd to spend even more time in close quarters with Thornton and Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau.

"The last change is huge," Ladd said. "If they want to get away from us, they're going to have to be the ones changing off the rush and off the faceoff.

"We're going to use that to our advantage every time we're out there."