Blackhawks getting help all across the roster

The Blackhawks are proof you don't get to the Stanley Cup Finals with one or two players doing all the work.

While Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Antti Niemi, Patrick Sharp and Dustin Byfuglien have generated most of the headlines through the first three rounds of the playoffs, this is a team getting contributions from up and down the roster.

'We're hitting on all cylinders," Toews said.

The Hawks might be on the golf course today if it weren't for center Dave Bolland's shutdown defensive work on Vancouver's Henrik Sedin in the second round and San Jose's Joe Thornton in the Western Conference finals.

There is the gritty defensive work of left wing Andrew Ladd, who also scored the critical first goal on a wicked wrist shot in Game 2 at San Jose.

There is second-year defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson, overshadowed by Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, but a plus-6 with 5 points playing more than 21 minutes a night in the playoffs.

There is crafty right wing Kris Versteeg, known more for his offensive skill, but suddenly checking up a storm on the checking line with Bolland and Ladd.

There's veteran defenseman Brent Sopel playing more than 18 minutes a night and killing penalty after penalty. The Hawks might not have made it out of the first round against Nashville if not for his shot blocking, particularly during that five-minute penalty kill in overtime in Game 5 that preceded Marian Hossa's winning goal that Sopel also set up.

And there's Brian Campbell, who played the final three games of the Nashville series with a broken collarbone, returning two weeks early because the Hawks were down 2-1 and needed him.

"We're getting big efforts from everyone every night, and it seems like we've got a new hero every night," Sharp said.

The hidden statistics on the score sheet tell the tale of how everyone is chipping in.

In the overtime win in Game 3 against San Jose on Friday, the Hawks blocked 27 shots, getting 4 from Hjalmarsson, 3 from John Madden and 2 each from Sharp, Toews, Bolland and fourth-liner Adam Burish.

Of the Hawks' 33 hits in Sunday's series cincher, Troy Brouwer and Madden had 4 each and Hossa 3.

"That's the thing about playoffs," Campbell said. "I know Buff scored the game-winner, but I know there were guys who did some great blocks and back checks. Guys that normally don't block shots are blocking shots, and that's what it's going to take to win it all.

"It's definitely a group effort."

Even when he didn't have a stick, Madden blocked a shot in the waning seconds Sunday with the Sharks pressing for a miracle.

"It's impressive to see guys laying down in front of pucks and battling at both blue lines to get pucks in and out," Sharp said. "Things that really might not look like much to the casual fan, but when you're on the ice it means everything.

"And everyone is doing it. It's not just a handful of guys. It's top to bottom."

The Hawks will have a few days to rest and prepare for the biggest games of their lives, with the Finals expected to begin later this week at the United Center.

The recipe will need to be the same with everyone ready to pitch in and do their part.

"This is a great opportunity, a great chance," Toews said. "You know, nothing's holding us back. We're going to go right after it, enjoy doing it as a team, doing it for each other.

"There's no reason we can't go out there and get another 4 wins."

"You think of all the hard work it took to get to this point from a lot of different people," Sharp said. "Saying that we're in feels good and we're proud to be conference champions, but we still know there's a lot at stake and there's a bigger trophy to chase down."