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CHICAGO - While Los Angeles and Anaheim prepare for Game 7 of their second-round series, the Chicago Blackhawks are resting and looking for ways they can play even better in the Western Conference final. Allen Iverson Grizzlies Jersey . The Blackhawks practiced Thursday without ailing centre Andrew Shaw, but Brandon Bollig skated on the fourth line after he was suspended for the final two games of their second-round series against Minnesota. Shaw left Game 1 against the Wild with an apparent right leg injury, but he could return in Chicagos next series. "We expect to have him back on the ice this weekend and well get a better determination of when hell play," coach Joel Quenneville said. The Blackhawks missed Shaws net-front presence and pesky style in their six-game victory over Minnesota. The diminutive forward, listed at 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, has two goals and two assists in the playoffs after he set career highs with 20 goals and 19 assists in the regular season. "He emphasizes his game being gritty and getting to the net and we need more of that," forward Bryan Bickell said. "And I know last series was, we needed a lot of it to be successful and come the next series, when he does come back, I know hell bring it and thats what you need out of him." Bollig was suspended by the NHL for boarding Minnesota defenceman Keith Ballard in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal. It was a rough series for Bollig, who had played in every game this season for the Blackhawks until he was a healthy scratch for Game 2 against the Wild. For Thursdays practice, he was reunited with Marcus Kruger and Ben Smith in a line combination that was very successful for the Blackhawks during the regular season. "Ive sure missed it," Bollig said. "Obviously we played together a good portion of the season and we had a nice roll there where we kind of found our niche together. So the fact that we were out there together today and hopefully it stays that way for the game and thats what gets us good quality minutes and playing a quality role." Bolligs role in the next series likely depends on Chicagos opponent. The Kings and Ducks close out the second round when they play on Friday night in Anaheim. The Western Conference final begins Sunday regardless of who wins. The Blackhawks will have home-ice advantage if Los Angeles advances, and will open on the road if top-seeded Anaheim moves on. "Theyre both physical. They both got a lot of skill," forward Brandon Saad said. "Theres a lot of similarities in a lot of teams in the NHL these days, play that tight checking game. Were not going to prepare for anyone yet obviously. We dont know who were playing. Were looking forward to see how Friday goes." ___ Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Mike Bibby Grizzlies Jersey . So they rushed to re-sign the first baseman who general manager Ben Cherington described Friday as "a unique player." The World Series champions finalized a $32 million, two-year agreement Thursday with the slugging former catcher who turned into a surprisingly good defender. Zach Randolph Jersey . "After consultation with the Team USA medical staff and officials, it was determined that he should return to Winnipeg as a precaution due to his previous injury history," Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Wednesday in a statement. http://www.grizzliesbasketballpro.info/Marc-Gasol-Grizzlies-Jersey/ . Catch the game on TSN starting at 7pm et/4pm pt. Tampa Bay currently holds the last of the Atlantics three automatic bids to the playoffs, but the Maple Leafs are just one point behind.The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will aim for a seventh straight victory and a 3-0 lead in their second round Western Conference series when they host the Anaheim Ducks in Thursdays Game 3 battle at Staples Center. Watch the Ducks vs. Kings live on TSN tonight at 9:30pm et/6:30pm pt. The Kings, of course, were down 3-0 in the opening round against San Jose before becoming only the fourth team in NHL history to win a best-of-seven series after losing the first three meetings. L.A. hasnt slowed down a bit since completing that first-round comeback with a Game 7 win in San Jose, claiming the first two games of this series on the road. The Kings posted a 3-2 overtime win in Anaheim on Saturday before grabbing a 2-0 series lead with Mondays 3-1 triumph at the Honda Center. The Kings have gone on a few long playoff winning streaks in recent years. The club won eight straight at one point in 2012 en route to winning the franchises first Stanley Cup title and had a six-game winning streak last spring before falling in the conference finals to Chicago. "We just take it one game at a time, shift at a time, period at a time. All those things like that," said head coach Darryl Sutter of his teams current winning streak. Anaheim, meanwhile, hopes it can halt L.A.s hot streak on Thursday and avoid falling behind 3-0. A seventh straight win by the Kings would give them a chance to close the series with a sweep Saturday at the Staples Center. The top-seeded Ducks finished 16 points ahead of Los Angeles in the Pacific Division standings and went 4-0-1 against the Kings during the regular-season series, but so far that success hasnt translated to the playoffs. "We know we can beat this team," said Ducks defenseman Ben Lovejoy. "We feel weve had pretty even games, and theyve come out on top. I truly believe the playoffs are all about momentum. Right now, we need to put a seed of doubt in their mind. If we win (Game 3), its a 2-1 series and we have momentum. We can do that." The Kings jumped on Anaheim early in Game 2, with Marian Gaborik scoring just 34 seconds into the contest. Anaheim tied it near the midway point of the first, but Alec Martinnez scored the game-winner for L. Custom Memphis Grizzlies Jerseys. A. at 12:07 of the first. The score remained 2-1 until Dwight King added an empty-netter in the closing minute of the third period. "Well enjoy this one night, but we have a lot of work to be done still," said Martinez. Jonathan Quick turned away 36 shots to anchor the win for the Kings. The 2012 Conn Smythe winner had stopped 69-of-72 shots sent his way in this series for a save percentage of .958. Gaborik also is having a strong series for L.A., recording three goals and an assist over the first two games to give him nine points (6 goals, 3 assists) in nine games this postseason. The Slovakian sniper was the hero of Game 1, tying it late in regulation before scoring the winner 12:07 into overtime. Anze Kopitar has been on fire for the Kings as well, notching at least one point in all nine of the clubs postseason games this spring. The star centerman had an assist on Monday and leads all skaters in the playoffs with 14 points (4g, 10a). Kopitar has reached the scoresheet in all nine games this postseason. Patrick Maroon scored the only goal of Game 2 for the Ducks, who had won all three of their home games in a 4-2 series win over Dallas in the opening round. Jonas Hiller gave up two goals on 16 shots in the loss. "This series isnt over. We can go to Staples Center, get a few bounces and bring this series back tied," said Anaheim head coach Bruce Boudreau. The Ducks were 3-0 on the road against the Kings during the regular season, but one of those wins came outdoors at Dodger Stadium on Jan. 25. Thursdays battle will mark the first postseason game between the clubs at the Staples Center, as this series marks the first playoff encounter between L.A. and Anaheim. The Kings played Monday without defensemen Willie Mitchell and Robyn Regehr in the lineup and both players could be out again with undisclosed injuries. Mitchell last played in Game 6 against San Jose, while Regehr has been out since leaving in the first period of Game 1 against Anaheim. Matt Greene has filled in for Mitchell in the lineup, while Jeff Schultz replaced Regehr on Monday. ' ' '