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Stanley Cup ticket requests pouring in

How great is the demand for tickets to the Stanley Cup Finals?

The Blackhawks players can tell you.

"Every day you get an e-mail from a girl from back in college that you haven't talked to in four years who all of a sudden wants Finals tickets," Adam Burish said.

"You can't even imagine," Jonathan Toews said. "I'm hearing from people I haven't heard from in years. So many people want to be a part of this, and it's a good thing, whether they're friends who have been there for you for a long time or just bandwagon fans.

"It doesn't matter. I think it shows how cool this is and how big a deal it is to be in the Stanley Cup Finals."

The players have tried to escape from the distractions during this five-day break between series, seeking as much rest and relaxation as possible before the storm arrives today in terms of the national media.

Toews, Burish, Patrick Kane and Brian Campbell attended the Cubs-Dodgers game at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night.

"It's such a long week to be thinking about (Finals) every second; that's the easy thing to do," Toews said. "It's tough to take it off your mind, but maybe it's something you need to do a little bit. We're starting to slowly get back in game mode and I'm sure we'll all be ready on Saturday."

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville is pleased with how his team has handled itself since winning the Western Conference title on Sunday.

"The attention might be greater, but the excitement and their enthusiasm hasn't really come out as far as being out of control or not in the right place," Quewnneville said. "I think the guys are handing it the right way."

Remember when? Hawks defenseman Brian Campbell was booed each time he touched the puck in games at San Jose in the West finals.

It likely won't be like that in Philadelphia, although there are sure to be some fans who recall Campbell's hit that destroyed former Flyers center R.J. Umberger during the 2006 playoffs when Campbell was with Buffalo.

It's one of the best hits in recent playoff memory.

"Maybe a few people will remember," Campbell said. "At least in the playoffs they didn't like me too much, but that was awhile ago and he's not there anymore."

Ladd still out: Andrew Ladd missed practice again Wednesday, but Joel Quenneville expects to have his checking left wing available at some point in the Stanley Cup Finals - though possibly not for Game 1 on Saturday.

Ladd suffered what is believed to be an upper-body injury in the first period against San Jose on Sunday.

Tomas Kopecky skated in Ladd's spot with Dave Bolland and Kris Versteeg at practice on Wednesday for the second day in a row.

"As far as Kopecky goes, I thought his game really picked up going into the playoffs and he's played well in these playoffs," Joel Quenneville said. "He's practicing there now so we'll see."

Kopecky hasn't played since Game 4 of the Vancouver series and has 3 goals in the playoffs.

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