Game 1: 1 p.m. today at San Jose, KUSA-9
Playoff results: Sharks beat Avalanche 4-2 and Red Wings 4-1; Blackhawks beat Predators 4-2 and Canucks 4-2.
In the spotlight.
Blackhawks center, Jonathan Toews, the former North Dakota Fighting Sioux, has been terrific so far, and he had 12 points in the six games against Vancouver. He likely will have to outplay both Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski — depending on how the matchups play out — for the Blackhawks to advance.
The story line.
Wow, what a concept — the top two seeds in a conference both making it to the conference finals. It’s almost hard to believe, but this is the first time the teams will meet in the postseason, and the Blackhawks won three of the four games in the regular season. Either the Sharks will take another step to erase their record as playoff underachievers or the Blackhawks will take another step in the renaissance of the NHL in Chicago.
The Post’s pick: Sharks in seven
Terry Frei, The Denver Post
