Relaxed Blackhawks not feeling the heat

By Mark Lazerus mlazerus@suntimes.com June 18, 2013 9:11PM Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara left, of Slovakia, and Chicago Blackhawks left wing Bryan Bickell (29) are separate by officials during the third period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals in Boston, Monday, June 17, 2013. The Bruins … Continue reading

Castro, Rizzo are slumping, but Sveum remains calm

BY GORDON WITTENMYER gwittenmyer@suntimes.com June 18, 2013 10:36PM <!–Old script for video document.write(“ ”); –> Article Extras Updated: June 19, 2013 2:30AM ST. LOUIS — Year 2 of the Epstein Plan was never going to be about winning pennants or showcasing MVPs. But it was supposed to be about measurable progress … Continue reading

Samardzija comes up big in a big spot

BY GORDON WITTENMYER gwittenmyer@suntimes.com June 18, 2013 10:36PM Jeff Samardzija Updated: June 19, 2013 2:31AM ST. LOUIS — They may not have a playoff series in their immediate future, but the Cubs seem to have a Game 1 starter. Doing his the-bigger-the-game-the-better-he-gets thing again, Jeff Samardzija manhandled the top-producing lineup … Continue reading

Relaxed Blackhawks not feeling the heat – but they should

By Mark Lazerus mlazerus@suntimes.com June 18, 2013 9:11PM Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara left, of Slovakia, and Chicago Blackhawks left wing Bryan Bickell (29) are separate by officials during the third period in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals in Boston, Monday, June 17, 2013. The Bruins … Continue reading

Center Bolland realizes he can’t afford a 3-peat in Game 4

BY ADAM L. JAHNS ajahns@suntimes.com June 18, 2013 9:22PM Updated: June 19, 2013 2:31AM BOSTON — Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville wants to make sure center Dave Bolland learns from his Game 3 travails — the errant play that led to the Boston Bruins’ first goal, the three penalties he took, … Continue reading