Everyone must contribute, but Hawks need these five players to step it up

Here are five Blackhawks who need to make a difference in the team's quest to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.

1. Antti Niemi This is a no-brainer. Any team that wants to win a Stanley Cup needs great goaltending, which puts Niemi on the spot to deliver the goods.While the 26-year-old Niemi went 26-7-4 during the regular season, he has no playoff experience and just 42 NHL games of under his belt. Niemi appeared in two American Hockey League playoff games last spring with Rockford and lost them both.2. Marian Hossa This is where the Hawks' 12-year, $62.8 million investment is supposed to pay off - in the playoffs, when it matters.The Hawks need Hossa to score big goals at critical times. Hossa has 31 goals and 76 points in 98 career playoff games and has been to the Stanley Cup Finals the last two springs with Pittsburgh and Detroit.3. Patrick Kane The Hawks' leading scorer during the regular season with 30 goals and 88 points, Kane's skill has to be front and center. Kane also is the key to the struggling power play since everything goes through him along the half boards. Kane had a good first playoff last spring with 9 goals and 14 points in 16 games, but was a minus-9 overall.4. Brent SeabrookThe Hawks' most physical defenseman must play an even more punishing game than he did during the regular season. Seabrook ranked second on the team to Dustin Byfuglien with 208 hits and led the Hawks with 153 blocked shots. Seabrook can play nasty when he wants to, and that's what the Hawks need him to be in the NHL playoffs.5. Dave BollandThat's right, Dave Bolland.The Hawks need some punch out of their second-line center, particularly if he is going to be playing with Patrick Kane. Bolland was limited to just 39 games because of back surgery in November and struggled to regain his form down the stretch, finishing with just 6 goals and 16 points. It remains to be seen if coach Joel Quenneville still will use Bolland as his shutdown center.Predators to watch1. Jordin Tootoo: It should take about half of the first period Friday for Blackhawks fans to remember how much they don't like the pesky fourth-line winger.2. Martin Erat: Leave him alone too much and this sneaky scorer will beat you.3. David Legwand: Always an X-factor when Nashville plays, a high first-round draft pick who hasn't quite lived up to the hype during his career.False16681947While the 26-year-old Antti Niemi went 26-7-4 during the regular season, he has no playoff experience and just 42 NHL games of under his belt.Associated Press fileFalse