"Defenseman Brian Campbell can't help dreaming about holding and hoisting the Stanley Cup. Who can blame him? This is the first time he has come this close to achieving that dream.

''You can't help it. I dream it about every day,'' said Campbell, who got his first taste of the NHL in the 1999-2000 season. ''But then you need to brush it off and get rid of it. We've been working on that as individuals and challenging ourselves to focusing on one task.''

That one task of course is realizing that dream by defeating the Philadelphia Flyers. Campbell made it all the way to Eastern Conference finals twice with the Buffalo Sabres (2005-06 and 2006-07) and was a big part of the Hawks' run last year to the Western Conference finals.

''It isn't taken for granted that's for sure this year,'' Campbell said. ''In years past, we've just got too excited at times. Teams may have celebrated too much for things they did not accomplish.

''This year it's great to see the attitude (change). I know for myself it has changed a lot. I need to get over that hurdle. It's been pretty frustrating. This is the closet I've ever been now.''"