Murray: Hawks can’t look ahead

Q. How dangerous is it to assume that just because the Blackhawks are on a roll and playing at home tonight that there will automatically be a Game 7 in Vancouver?

A. Very. The reality is you’re one loss away from elimination. You’ve built momentum, but that doesn’t mean anything in the playoffs. It’s about how many games you win. The Blackhawks have to win four, and they’ve only won two.

So you have to stay in the now and don’t get ahead of yourself. Use what you’ve done the last couple of games but remember how you got there — because of your work ethic.

Q. Are you buying that the Blackhawks are in Vancouver’s head or is that just a media creation?

A. The media blows it up bigger than it is ... but now there is a seed of doubt.

You’ve won two games where maybe you think that would be the situation and Vancouver knows that if you force a Game 7, anything can happen. So they’re looking to close this out. They don’t want to go back for a Game 7.

Q. Are you surprised that Roberto Luongo will be back in net tonight considering the outcome of the last two games?

A. No. He’s their guy and even though he got pulled in the two games, I don’t think the support has been what they expected for him.

In a lot of ways, you live and die with what you have there. If that’s not good enough then you re-evaluate at the end of the playoffs.

Q. What is the one key to look for tonight for the Blackhawks?

A. Again it’s the start — set the tempo. They’ve been able to get the first goal and build off that the last couple of games and get the momentum.

The Blackhawks don’t want Vancouver to get the first goal because we’ve seen how they’ve been able to control games in that situation.

Ÿ Troy Murray is now in his 11th season as a member of the Blackhawks’ broadcast team. The Selke Award winner was a five-time 20-goal scorer and a veteran of 15 years in the NHL, playing in 915 career games.