May 08--Now that the Blackhawks have dispatched the Wild, the pressing question is: Who's next and when?
The Hawks will play the winner of the Ducks-Flames series, which Anaheim leads two games to one. Game 4 is 8:30 tonight at Calgary. Game 5 is Sunday at Anaheim, with time yet to be determined. Game 6, if necessary, would be Tuesday at Calgary. Game 7, if necessary, would be May 14 at Anaheim.
But a Hawks-Flames/Ducks series would not start until all the conference semifinals are finished. The Capitals have a three games to one lead over the Rangers. And the Canadiens beat the Lightning Thursday night to extend that series; Tampa Bay leads three games to one.
The earliest all the series could end is Sunday. The latest is May 14. Figure at least one day off -- and possibly two -- before the NHL would start another series.
So Hawks could start the conference finals as early as Tuesday or as late as May 17.
"We'll see when the other series closes out," goalie Corey Crawford said. "I'm sure we'll get maybe at least a good week, I would say."
