Quenneville takes hit for costly line change

PHILADELPHIA - Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville took the blame for a bad line change in overtime Wednesday in the moments before Claude Giroux's winning goal.

Quenneville wouldn't name names, but it appeared Kris Versteeg and Tomas Kopecky came off together, making it tough for Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien to get into the play fast enough.

"I think maybe we could have just had one guy change on the play instead of two, which gave them the extra man on the rush," Quenneville said.

"I don't want to get too technical or point fingers, but I think when you're trying to match lines, sometimes you're going to be vulnerable to a tough change. Sometimes there are too many men; sometimes you get a late change coming off the bench. That's all part of it. In a situation like that, I'll take the hit for it."

Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook were back to defend against the 3-on-2.

"It shouldn't happen," Keith said. "I'm not really sure what really happened or why there was a change there, but sometimes whether it's matchups or guys are tired, we just need to be a little bit smarter when we're changing, whether it's defensemen or forwards.

"At the same time they made a nice play when their defenseman (Matt Carle) joined the rush and really created it all."

Upon further review: On the same night there were two video reviews for goals in a Stanley Cup Finals game, Major League Baseball was suffering a black eye in Detroit for not having instant replay.

The blown call by umpire Jim Joyce on Wednesday night that cost Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game was brought up on several occasions at the Wachovia Center on Thursday morning.

"Obviously, I think baseball is wishing they had it, or the guy in Detroit obviously wishes they had it last night because it just keeps the game fair," Flyers goalie Michael Leighton said of instant replay.

"Sometimes it slows the game down when you have to wait for it to go to Toronto and get looked at, but at least you know what really happened and you get to know the truth."

Both reviews in Game 3 on Wednesday involved goals by the Flyers.

The first review in the second period showed Scott Hartnell's deflection did trickle over the line. Then in overtime a review of a shot by Simon Gagne revealed the puck hit the post and never crossed the goal line before Antti Niemi fell on it.

Play continued for more than a minute before there could be a video review of Hartnell's goal.

"I think it's a necessary thing," Hawks captain Jonathan Toews said. "When you have the technology to get the right play and obviously to get the fair outcome, it's what everyone wants."

Ladd a maybe: Injured left wing Andrew Ladd skated again Thursday and apparently is close to returning from his upper body injury.

Joel Quenneville said a decision on Ladd would be made today.

"We said at the top of the series that Laddy is day-to-day and we expect him to play over the course of the series," Quenneville said. "When he's ready to play, he'll play."

If Ladd does return for Game 4, it's possible Adam Burish would come out of the lineup and not Tomas Kopecky.

Not this time: Chris Pronger was asked why he didn't grab the puck after Claude Giroux scored in overtime Wednesday.

"Oh, you mean steal it?" Pronger said. "I heard the term steal a couple times the other day. Do you have the rulebook? I didn't know the winning team was allowed to keep the puck. Is that a rule? Can you look in the rulebook for me?

"It wasn't in front of me like the other one was. I don't know if you know this, but I picked up Game 1, too."