Editors note: Chat with Sharks Insider Kevin Kurz and Blackhawks Insider Tracey Myers TODAY at 2:30 p.m. as they get you ready for tonight's showdown at HP Pavilion!
SAN JOSEFeeling a little stressed out at work? Could you use a couple days to relax, unwind, and ultimately refocus?
You could always do what thousands of peopleand the Chicago Blackhawksdo. Hop a flight to Vegas.
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To be fair, the Blackhawks scheduled their team bonding trip to Sin City even before two convincing losses to Calgary and Edmonton last week. On Saturday, they dropped a 9-2 decision to the Oilers before their third annual trip to Las Vegas.
After spending Saturday and Sunday night there, the team arrived in San Jose on Monday night and practiced at HP Pavilion yesterday.
A win over the Sharks would make Saturdays brutal loss a thing of the past.
Patrick Kane told CSNChicago.coms Tracey Myers:
San Jose Sharks
We know Wednesday is a huge game for us. We want to play hockey. We had our fun, and these last few games make you want to play even more. Well come out with a pretty good effort Wednesday, way better than the last two.
Myers points out that even though the Sharks have won three straight and surged to the top of the Pacific Division, their home record (5-3-1) is not all that intimidating. Furthermore, the Blackhawks are still in first place in their division and have two more points (27) than the Sharks, although San Jose has three games in hand.
Every team has its nights to forget, of course, and Saturday in Edmonton certainly qualifies as one for the talented Chicago squad. Corey Crawford, expected to get the start against Antti Niemi in goal, said the Blackhawks are ready to move on.
Things werent going our way. And you almost start thinking that the rest of the game. It snowballs and you just get that feeling that nothings going to go your way. Other games it happens and you forget about it and keep playing. That game (in Edmonton), it just kept coming back. But were done with it and were focused and excited for the next game.