Flyers prepare for the Bolland factor
Flyers winger Jeff Carter saw in the series against San Jose and Vancouver how annoying Dave Bolland can be to play against and expects the same kind of treatment from the Blackhawks' checking center.
"I know Bolland really well," Carter said Thursday. "He played in London (Ontario), and I'm from London. He's doing a great job for them.
"He kind of gets in your skin. I watched the Sharks' series a big and he got under Joe's (Thornton) skin quite a bit. That's what he's doing and he's doing a good job of it. You know we're going to have to keep our cool and just worry about playing hockey."
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville won't reveal his plans for defensive assignments, but there's a good chance Bolland's checking line will be on the ice as much as possible against Philadelphia's No. 1 line of Mike Richards, Carter and Simon Gagne.
"I played against Richards in junior a lot and he's an all-around player. He does everything good," Bolland said.
"The biggest challenge against this team is they're good. They work hard and have some depth. They've been on a great run and now that Carter is back (from a foot injury) as well ... They've been doing great, we've been doing great; it should be a good series."
Bolland may or may not have Andrew Ladd on his left side for Game 1 with Kris Versteeg.
Ladd said Thursday he might try to skate today if his arm/shoulder injury suffered in Game 4 against San Jose on Sunday feels better.
A Ladd fan: Philadelphia coach Peter Laviolette had Andrew Ladd as a rookie in Carolina in 2006, when the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup.
"Andrew Ladd was a real good player for us in Carolina," Laviolette said. "He was a young player working his way in during the regular season. When it came to playoffs, he seemed to be fitted for playoff-type hockey. He's a rugged player that gets to the front of the net."
Media storm: It was media day at the United Center on Thursday with reporters and camera crews everywhere, which was OK with the Hawks.
"This is it," Hawks captain Jonathan Toews said. "Obviously this is the big show. This is the ultimate thing. The entire hockey world is watching this. These are the type of games you love to play in and it's a fun thing to be part of."
There was no real news to be found and some questions bordered on the silly, such as those directed at Patrick Kane about what the women think of his mullet.
The final word: Hawks agitator Adam Burish has no bones to pick with any of the Flyers yet, but he expects that to change quickly, whether it's with Daniel Carcillo, Arron Asham, Scott Hartnell or Ian Laperriere.
"I'm sure as we get going somebody will tick me off here," Burish said.