Hawks enjoy road challenge
PHILADELPHIA - For the Blackhawks, playing at the Wachovia Center is no different than it was at HP Pavilion in San Jose or GM Place in Vancouver.
They're all hostile environments, but the Hawks thrive in places where the fans don't like them. They actually were looking forward to playing the Flyers on their own ice in South Philly.
"I think we enjoy it," Hawks center Dave Bolland said. "In Vancouver with all the fans going nuts, I think most of us enjoyed it and just played the game. It's always fun hearing them yell and chirp at you, but we just try to block it out, really.
"The emotions of the crowd can get to you, but for us it's just blocking them out and minding our own business out there."
Just like the Predators, Canucks and Sharks before them, the Flyers talked of the need to be more physical with the Hawks.
Even though the Hawks have answered every question in that regard by reaching the Stanley Cup Finals, the perception remains that this is a team that can be pushed around and intimidated.
"I think a lot of teams may think that when they start hitting us, it will intimidate us and we'll start backing down," Bolland said. "I know a lot of guys on this team can throw their bodies around and do the same thing. If they start hitting us we'll come back."
Calling out Pronger: Jeremy Roenick didn't think much of Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger scooping up the puck at the end of Game 2 at the United Center when the Hawks wanted it - then telling reporters he threw it in the garbage.
"That's bush league," Roenick said Wednesday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on WMVP 1000-AM. "That's total, total bush league.
"He is a fierce competitor, no question. He's strong, he's big, he's talented - and I think he does have that 'I don't really give a (rip) about you' mentality.
"So does that make him a bad guy? I don't know him enough to comment on that. I do know he's not a very popular person around the National Hockey League."
Ladd sits again: Andrew Ladd skated with his teammates Wednesday morning but was out of the lineup for the third straight game with an upper-body injury.
Tomas Kopecky played some of his best hockey of the season in the first two games of the Finals filling in for Ladd on the Hawks' checking line with Dave Bolland and Kris Versteeg.
"It's tough seeing Laddie be out," Bolland said. "He's a great player and a great asset for us on that line and for our team. He's been there and done it, been to the Finals with Carolina.
"But it's the same with Tomas coming in. He's gone to the Finals as well and knows what it takes. He's come in and I don't think we've missed a beat."
Looks familiar: Coach Joel Quenneville thinks the Flyers are a team built a lot like two clubs the Hawks already have seen in the playoffs in San Jose and Vancouver.
"We've played some skill teams and some fast teams," Quenneville said. "San Jose and Vancouver are top-scoring teams, and Philly kind of represents that type of skill level.
"Their defensemen are very active in the attack as well. They're kind of comparable in that regard. There's a lot of respect on our side how dangerous they can be."