Blackhawks want to play better at start of Game 2

CHICAGO – Whatever the reason for Chicago's slow start in Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals, the Blackhawks want to turn their energy level up early in Game 2 on Friday night against the Wild.

"They played a pretty good game," Blackhawks right winger Patrick Kane said after Thursday's practice. "We want to rev up the pace a little bit and start playing a little bit faster, more like we did throughout the year.

"Maybe we were a little bit excited and nervous, but you almost got to play like it's any other game, just play our pace and not worry about them so much."

Bryan Bickell, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime on Tuesday night, seconded that.

"In the first 10 minutes we need to pick up the level of our game, just limit the mistakes at the blue line, and I think it'll work out," Bickell said.

Forward Brandon Saad and linemates Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa played well in Game 1, but Saad noted that Game 2 has to be different from the start.

"We've got to be quicker," Saad said. "We know we're a fast team, but we didn't show it that much in Game 1. It's something we talked about and we've got to come out flying on Friday."

"He played good; he's a good goalie," Karlsson said. "I think he was a little bit tense in the beginning, but after a couple of saves he looked real comfortable and played really good. He did a good job, managed to relax and play his game."

Karlsson came to Chicago after being acquired from the Calgary Flames on Jan. 21, and posted an 11-5-0 record and a 2.86 goals-against average in 18 games with the Blackhawks' American Hockey League affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. He knows what it's like to come off the bench and be put in the net unexpectedly.