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The Blackhawks bandwagon is welcoming any and all fans that want to join the playoff party. Just think, one week ago today, the Hawks were down three games to one to Detroit. Now the Chicago hockey team is on the eve of opening the Western Conference Final after grabbing one of the most exciting Game 7 in the team’s history. Brent Seabrook nailing his shot past Red Wing goalie Jimmy Howard in the 2-1 overtime is just a memory It's time to take on the Los Angeles Kings.

Double your pleasure

Be prepared for back-to-back playoff games Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. at the United Center. The Hawks hope to maintain home-ice advantage with this odd schedule. During the compact 48 game regular season, they had 10 back-to-back game scenarios. The Blackhawks had good success, only dropping 2 of the 20 games and no consecutive losses. The Kings played seven 2-game sets; they lost 5 games. In fact, their final back-to-back in late April resulted in two losses.

Mick and the boys

The NHL decided to squeeze these games together because of the Rolling Stones playing tonight and again on Monday at the United Center.

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Game 7.

Those words excite everyone that loves sports.

Tonight it is the deciding game for the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings to advance in the NHL playoffs. The best part for Chicagoans is that it is here at the United Center. For added measure of excitement, this will be the last time these two teams will meet as Western Conference rivals. Next year the Red Wings will be moving to the Eastern Conference. So they will only meet in the post-season if it's in the Finals.

There has been such a buzz since the Hawks came back from their deficit at Joe Louis Arena to tie up the Red Wings on Monday. What a turn of events for the NHL Presidents’ Trophy winners. They finished the regular season with the most wins and were on the brink of being ousted by the Red Wings. But a saying that may be appropriate for this moment is: That is why you play the games.

It hasn’t been the big stars on the Blackhawks putting them back in the series as much as various other players.

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Make sure your television remote control has plenty of battery power for the local sports action tonight. The Blackhawks try again to stave off elimination in Detroit and the Cubs travel across town to US Cellular to play the White Sox.

Game 6 will be another bruising battle for the Hawks and Red Wings. Down 3 games to 2, which team will show up for Coach Joel Quenneville?

Will it be the one that dominated in the first and last games or the one that was battered and embarrassed by their arch rivals in the middle contests?

On Saturday, the Blackhawks had the edge on every aspect of the game. They must try to carry the momentum at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. It will not be easy. During games 3 and 4 the Wings were fueled by their rabid fans and physically dominated the Hawks, especially Jonathan Towes. Chicago's "Captain Serious" has found scoring goals a huge struggle this post season. When he finally scored his first of the playoffs last Saturday (on the power play, no less) it was a huge weight off his shoulders and it seemed the team felt it, too.

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It has been 15 years since Phil Jackson rode out on his motorcycle and ended his coaching career in Chicago. He continued his success after his six Bulls NBA Championships with the Lakers and earned five more rings. Now at the age of 67, he has authored a new book aptly titled, "Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success."

Jackson held court about his new book at the Trib Nation's Printers Row session conducted by the Chicago Tribune's beat reporter K.C. Johnson. An audience of dignitaries, including new Bears head coach Marc Trestman, and a large group of fans filled the Palmer House Hilton Ballroom.

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Welcome mats are out for some Chicago baseball players returning to action and a former player and coach returning for a visit.

Cubs pitcher Matt Garza

It has been a long road back for Cubs pitcher Matt Garza after another injury. It may have been only five innings, but it was a great comeback Tuesday night, despite the Cubs losing 5-4 to the Pirates. Garza only gave up one hit in five innings pitched and no runs. Manager Dale Sveum had his right-hander on a pitch/inning count. The Cubs pitcher also contributed with a two-run scoring double. Too bad the bullpen couldn’t hold onto the 3-0 lead given to them.  

Last season Garza had an elbow injury that sidelined him from July through the remainder of the season. Going into spring training, Garza last just days when he suffered a left lat (side) strain. To make room for Garza, pitcher Carlos Villanueva was moved to the bullpen for long relief and Michael Bowden was designated for re-assignment.

What is the real prospect for Garza wearing a Cubs uniform? If he can stay healthy (that is a big if) and perform, he may be on the trading block.

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Ladies and gentlemen, we have a playoff series with the Red Wings that is not as easy as the Blackhawks may have thought.

It will be interesting to see which team will show up for Coach Joel Quenneville: the one from the first game that dominated Detroit, or the one that got dominated in game two.

With the series knotted at a game apiece, there is absolutely no panic with the team that just lost home ice advantage.

The Blackhawks have been a good road team this season, especially at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. So maybe the Hawks players don't think Detroit sucks as much as fans chant at the United Center.

The Blackhawks are 10-0-1 in the last 11 regular season games in Motown. The Joe Louis arena has a quicker ice surface with quirky end and side boards. Quenneville said it makes for a "livelier game". Players like defenseman Duncan Keith said the Detroit arena is "fun" and the Hawks need to have a "do or die attitude" when they go on the road.

Out of the dog house?

That is the feeling you get from listening to Coach Q about Viktor Stalberg.

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There is plenty of time for the Bulls to heal all their various ailments after losing the series to Miami. In the case of Derrick Rose, he has some other wounds that need to be repaired between now and when he returns to play next year.

The anger directed at Rose for not returning this season after major ACL knee surgery was frankly, unbelievable.  There were definite mistakes made concerning the prospect of the Bulls guard’s return to game time action. His shoe company even did a video "The Return" to highlight the rehabbing Rose was doing after he was given the green light. 

At media day in early October, Rose sounded hopeful that he would be able to join the team during the season. At no time, publicly, did Derrick Rose or the Bulls ever give a hard date. It was all speculation that drove the story, lit a smoldering fire and turned into a firestorm once months passed. 

The silence of Rose and his camp of handlers muddied the waters. When there were "on the record" quotes, it was Rose’s brother/manager Reggie that caused the biggest stir.

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