Hawks have new-look lines for Game 5

The hottest topic of the Stanley Cup Finals going into Game 5 on Sunday night was the line combinations for the Blackhawks.

Even Hawks center Patrick Sharp didn't know at the morning skate who he'd be skating with.

Coach Joel Quenneville didn't seem to think the switching he did late in the Game 4 loss at Philadelphia was that big a deal.

"Everybody had a little bit of a different look than in Game 3," Quenneville said.

Quenneville shook things up even more Sunday. He had Jonathan Toews skating between Marian Hossa and Tomas Kopecky; Sharp with Andrew Ladd and Patrick Kane; and Dustin Byfuglien with Dave Bolland and Kris Versteeg. The fourth line was John Madden between Troy Brouwer and Ben Eager.

The Bolland line had 2 of the Hawks' 3 goals in the first period - by Bolland and Versteeg - with Byfuglien assisting on both. Kane added the Hawks' fourth goal of the game early in the second period.

Part of the different look for Game 4 was Nick Boynton on defense for Jordan Hendry, and Boynton was back for Game 5.

"We didn't change the lineup or the lines based on winning and how we're playing," Quenneville said. "We have a lot of options as far as moving guys in and out and around in our lineup."

Quenneville has tried different line combinations all season because of the depth and versatility of his forwards.

"Joel has a good feel for the game," Sharp said. "He knows who is playing well and who might not be."

Big change: Flyers coach Peter Laviolette likes it better this way, having Chris Pronger on his team in the Finals instead of the opposition.

Laviolette had to deal with Pronger in the 2006 Finals while coaching Carolina and the all-star defenseman was with Edmonton.

Laviolette's Hurricanes won that series in seven games.

"There's probably not many other defensemen you would want on your team in a playoff series or in a big game that meant something than Chris Pronger," Laviolette said. "He plays half the game so it draws conversations from the other side. It did in Carolina on what to try to do. I guess a lot would say he's the best at what he does."

Crunch time: The Flyers went into Sunday's critical game 9-0 in the playoffs from Game 4 on in their four series.

"Our group is pretty relaxed," Peter Laviolette said. "We're not a tight group. We're a confident group and that's really important."

Captain's time: The bigger the game, the bigger Hawks captain Jonathan Toews plays, which made him someone to watch in Game 5.

"He seems to rise to the occasion and the challenge," Joel Quenneville said. "He's always been a key guy for us, a big leader. He responds to the bigger stage."

Ladd plays on: Andrew Ladd, who returned from an upper body in Game 4, wasn't in the morning skate Sunday but was on the ice for Game 5.

Joel Quenneville gave Duncan Keith the morning off as well.

"Him and Duncs (Keith) were just resting," Joel Quenneville said.

Ladd hadn't played since Game 4 of the Western Conference finals against San Jose.

"I felt more comfortable with the pace as the game went on," Ladd said.

Add 'em up: The 29 goals scored by both teams in the first four games was the highest total in the Finals since 1981, when the Islanders and North Stars combined for 36.