These Hawks embrace their history

Across town, the Bears might be having their squabbles between current players and former greats, but that certainly isn't the case with the current Blackhawks, who adore having the likes of Stan Mikita, Bobby Hull, Tony Esposito and Denis Savard hanging out at he United Center.

"It's been special to have them around for regular-season games, for them to be here when it matters most, it's pretty cool, great to have that support," Hawks captain Jonathan Toews said. "I think it means just as much to them as if they were still lacing 'em up in the locker room and playing.

"I think they're behind us every step of the way. We're trying to do our best to not let them down."

And it's not just the players who are enjoying it. Hawks coach Joel Quenneville grew up a Hawks fan in Windsor, Ontario.

"Yup. I was one of the oddballs in the city," Quenneville said. "Everybody was either a Canadiens fan or a Red Wing fan or Leaf fan. I was probably the only Blackhawks fan. I guess I had to be representative of the street hockey - Chicago got some representation."

Viva la difference: A year ago at this time, the Blackhawks were a team admittedly in some awe while taking on - and eventually falling to - the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference Finals.

Today, the Hawks find themselves one win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals.

"There's a lot of differences, a lot of similarities," Hawks forward Patrick Sharp said. "I think last year's experience has helped us a great deal as far as this year. I think you look at how excited we were to be in the playoffs last year for one. It seems like we didn't have the expectations that we did this year.

"I think this year there's not as many highs and lows. We're staying pretty even-keeled in the room."

Block party: Lost amid the hoopla of Dave Bolland's go-ahead goal Friday night was the fact that the play began with Hawks captain Jonathan Toews blocking Dan Boyle's shot from the blue line.

"I wanted to mix one in there one of the these days, not just leave it up to guys like (defensemen Niklas Hjlamarsson and Brent Sopel) to block the shots all the time," Toews said. "I don't think they were expecting me to stand in front of that one there."

Home sweet home: Because there is no morning skate prior to today's game, the Blackhawks won't be staying together in a hotel as they did prior to Friday's game, and no one is happier about that than Patrick Sharp.

"We're going to stay at home; that's good news for me," Sharp said. "I'm sure you have heard (Adam) Burish is my roommate. Any time you can get a few hours away from him, it's a good thing for me.

"Hopefully we get the same result."

He said it: The ever low-key Dustin Byfuglien on whether he is enjoying the national spotlight because of his solid play in the postseason: "So far so good. It's nice."