Close the Broom Closet Door: Chicago Sweeps San Jose for Trip to Stanley Cup Finals

The Chicago Blackhawks put another dusting on the San Jose Sharks this afternoon to complete a four-game sweep and earn a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. Dave Bolland, Brent Seabrook, Kris Versteeg and Dustin Byfuglien all lit the lamp in the Hawks' 4-2 victory over a veteran-laden Sharks team that boasted the likes of Patrick Marleau, Rob Blake (who may be hanging them up after an illustrious career) and Joe Thornton. Norris Trophy candidate Duncan Keith left more than his best effort on the ice, losing four teeth. As is the norm for rough and tumble NHLers, Keith had a quickie root canal and returned to the ice to help his pals close out the Sharks.

The run and gun young Blackhawks blasted 27 shots towards Evgeni Nabakov, compared to the Sharks' 18. Therein lied the problem for San Jose as they were unable to get their scary good offense going in this series. The sad-eyed Patrick Marleau seemed to be the only San Jose star with a hot stick against the Hawks, scoring five goals in this series. Meanwhile,  Dustin Byfuglien has become the toast of the town in Chicago, scoring the game-winning goal and adding to his playoff total of eight. So congrats and best of luck to the Chicago Blackhawks - you may end up with some new bandwagons fans from around these parts should you end up facing the Flyers in the Finals!

And speaking of the Philadelphia Flyers, they can wrap their series up tomorrow night at Wachovia Center. The Montreal Canadiens who defeated the Caps and Pens have seemingly disappeared, despite a convincing Game Three win. And it doesn't help the Habs' cause that the gritty Ian Laperriere is back in the Flyers' lineup. Should the Flyers meet the Hawks in the final quest for Lord Stanley's Cup, HM is predicting it will be quite an interesting slugfest to say the least!

For your Sunday reading pleasure, here are some other pertinent hockey happenings from around the rinks:

• You've heard HM ramble about what a nice little addition Ottawa's Anton Volchenkov would be to the Capitals' talented bench. Well not to get the rumor mill started or anything, but check out this little tidbit.
• A huge Hockey Mom high-five to the Hershey Bears who are once again headed to the Calder Cup Finals!
• And finally, another heartbreak for Alex Ovechkin and his Russian mates as they lost the Gold Medal game at the IIHF World Championships to the Czechs. I know that the Caps' Russian contigent of Ovi, Semin and Varlamov don't want to hear this right now but remember, whatever doesn't kill you will make you stronger... right?