If long season is taking a toll, Hawks aren't saying
PHILADELPHIA - It's been a long season for the Blackhawks, especially for those players who competed in the Olympics.
Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane played in their 109th games of the season Friday, not counting exhibition games - all 82 in the regular season, 20 in the playoffs and seven at the Olympics.
For Brent Seabrook, Game 4 on Friday was his 105th of the season while Jonathan Toews played in his 103rd game.
"I guess it's not about what your body is going through," Toews said. "It's about what you've got in your head and how bad you want it, I guess. How many guys are lucky enough to be in this situation where they can play some important games like some of the guys on our team have this year. It's just been a lot of fun.
"It's one of those years that you've got to really appreciate and make the best of, because you don't know when it's going to happen again, to make it this far in the playoffs, it's incredible. It's not about the amount of games that you play.
"You just keep pushing because you know what's on the line and you know how special it could be if you are lucky enough to win a Stanley Cup or something like that," Toews said. "So a lot of stuff you have to play through, but it's worth it in the end."
Lineup shuffle: Not only did Andrew Ladd return from his injury in Game 4, bumping Adam Burish out of the lineup, coach Joel Quenneville sat defenseman Jordan Hendry and replaced him with Nick Boynton.
Boynton, who is bigger and more physical than Hendry, made his playoff debut after not playing since April 9.
Ladd played only three minutes in the first period. He took a penalty for interference 36 seconds into the game that the Hawks killed.
Not down for long: Heading into Game 4, the Hawks were 4-0 in the playoffs in games following a loss.
"We like the response our team generally has," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "The personality that we have, we're not happy about losing. Whether it's adjustments or we have to be harder to play against, it's kind of our mindset."
Wiped out: Adam Burish has never experienced hockey as intense as what is being played in the Stanley Cup Finals.
"I've never been in an atmosphere like this, I've never been in a situation in hockey like this where every little battle is magnified so much," Burish said. "Whether you play five minuets or 20 minutes, when you're done with the game you're just exhausted - mentally you're exhausted because everything is more intense, every little battle, the game is so much faster and everything means so much more. As an athlete that's all you can ask for. This is the best hockey of my career."
Chasing Savvy: Jonathan Toews went into Game 4 needing 2 points to tie Denis Savard's team record of 29 points in one playoff year set in 1985. Toews' assist on Patrick Kane's goal in Game 3 tied Savard's team record for playoff assists with 20.
Carcillo out: Flyers coach Peter Laviolette made a lineup change, dressing James van Riemsdyk in place of Daniel Carcillo.