NHL BITS

Detroit right wing Dave Barr, who scored two goals in Game 1against the Hawks, has been anxious to get to Chicago for Games 3 and4 - because of the Art Institute. "I was really hoping for Chicago,"he told the Detroit Free Press. "Have you ever been to the art museumthere? Incredible." Barr has acquired an appreciation forimpressionist art. Center Denis Savard was chilled over the Hawks blowing a 4-2 lead inthe third period of Game 3 before winning in overtime on DuaneSutter's goal. The Hawks blew several two-goal leads in the lastmonth of the season. "Sometimes I think a two-goal lead going intothe third period is the worst thing that can happen to you inhockey," Savard said. Defenseman Paul Coffey, who won three Stanley Cups with the EdmontonOilers, is being looked upon to impart his experience to youngerteammates on the Pittsburgh Penguins, making their first playoffappearance in seven years. "People wondered what I'd say to thembefore the game," Coffey said. "What can you say? Experience isn'tsomething you talk about. You have to just go out and get it."

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Kelly Hrudey missed the playoff openerwith the flu, and Edmonton beat stand-in Glen Healey. But Hrudeyreturned in the second game and the Kings won 5-2, outshooting theOilers 44-22. Hrudey lost to the Oilers Feb. 24 in his debut for theKings, then beat them three straight times in the regular season.Hrudey was 10-4-2 with a 2.90 goals-against average with the Kingsafter being acquired from the N.Y. Islanders. The Washington Capitals never have advanced past the second round ofthe Patrick Division playoffs, despite seven straight winningseasons. After their first division title in the regular season,they are struggling with Philadelphia in the first round."Everybody's excited about the chances of this team, but theexcitement's tentative because of the Capitals' past play in theplayoffs," center Mike Ridley said. "Hopefully we can erase allthat." The Boston Bruins didn't have much to work with when they began theplayoffs against Buffalo. They didn't win a game from the Sabres allseason (0-5-3), and they also were winless against Montreal (0-7-1).But splitting the first two games at home was what the Bruinsexpected. They won more games on the road (20) than in Boston Garden(17). When he left the Hull Olympiques of the Quebec junior league lastsummer to become coach of the Montreal Canadiens, Pat Burns receiveda telegram from the owner of the Olympiques - Wayne Gretzky. "Thetelegram said, `See you in the Stanley Cup finals,' " Burns said."Sometimes Wayne is scary with his predictions." In his first playoff as head coach, Minnesota's Pierre Page faces atough comeback against St. Louis after losing the first two games inovertime. "It doesn't happen often, but it has happened," Page said."It's not like we're playing the Montreal Canadiens. We're justplaying a good, solid team that works hard." Montreal goaltender Patrick Roy did not lose a game at the Forumthis season (25-0-4). Then he began the playoffs with two homevictories over Hartford.