CHICAGO • A year ago the Chicago Blackhawks were knocked out of the Western Conference finals in five games by the Detroit Red Wings, an experience that ripened a young team.

Now the Blackhawks have a 3-0 lead over San Jose and can complete a sweep Sunday for the franchise's first appearance in the finals since 1992.

"When you get to the conference finals like last year, you get that close — even though we were only about halfway to winning a Stanley Cup last year — you still feel pretty close," Chicago star Jonathan Toews said.

The series with the Sharks, the regular season champions in the West, has been fast-paced, physical and oh so close. Chicago won two on the Sharks' home ice and then pulled out a 3-2 overtime victory Friday night on Dustin Byfuglien's goal.

Said San Jose defenseman Rob Blake, "We have no other choice but to be loose. We're down three games in this series and we understand that position. But if we sit there and dwell and look at the big picture, it looks bleak, obviously, so we accept things."