By Max Sass, Sports Editor
The Chicago Blackhawks have an opportunity to clinch the Stanley Cup tonight as they face the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6 of the Finals. The Blackhawks lead 3-2 but are trying to clinch in Philadelphia. This seems like the perfect opportunity for a running diary.
The big question leading into the game: Who will start in net for the Flyers? Injuries have continued to put Michael Leighton in goal ahead of Brian Boucher but Leighton was far from stellar in the Flyers’ game 5 loss. It looks like Flyers coach Peter Laviolette will start Leighton but expect the announcers to be questioning the decision every few minutes, especially if Leighton lets in a soft goal early.
The other major questions heading into the game are can Chris Pronger and the Flyers’ defense rebound or will the ‘Hawks young stars shine as well as how many times will they show the Cup being guarded by actors playing security guards?
I think the Blackhawks are the better team and will eventually win the cup but the series has been too back and forth and Chicago has been too uneven. I see Philadelphia taking game six 4-2 before the Blackhawks take game seven and the series back in Chicago.
Interesting note: While most (read: all) teams play the Star Spangled Banner before sporting events the Flyers had a rendition of God Bless America performed. Lauren Hart sang live accompanied by a recording by Kate Smith. Apparently it has been considered lucky when Smith sings before the game. The Flyers have a record of 87-22-4 when she sings before a game. Thought that was interesting.
First Period
19:15 – Flyers get first breakout after the Blackhawks had a few opportunities to put the puck on net but Blackhawks take it right back. Not sure if the Blackhawks are thinking about clinching or what else could be motivating them but they are moving a little faster than I remember in some other games.
16:48 – The Flyers had a couple of decent opportunities doing a nice job of keeping the puck in the offensive zone but the Blackhawks keep clearing and Philly matches with an icing. It is so hard to keep possession of the puck on a stick I have to wonder if maybe longer possession (and maybe more space on a bigger rink) would help attract more fans. My other issue: Is there any other sport where teams are so willing to give away possession? Hockey teams just shoot the puck into the other zone either to change lines or releive pressure but that would NEVER happen in any other sport.
14:41 – Blackhawks are outshooting the Flyers 5-1 but Philly had some a surprisingly good job keeping possession. Chicago has not managed to break out from the defensive zone and instead keeps dumping ahead in the past few minutes (after an early first minute flurry of shots).
12:10 – The announcers just said that Leighton is 2-0 at home in the Cup and 6-0 at home in the Playoffs. He has been far less impressive on the road (.831 save percentage), which makes me wonder, why not platoon the two goalies? Boucher starts on the road and Leighton starts at home. There are flaws but the goalies can be prepared and they will be rested as well. Also never hurts to switch it up on an opponent.
11:19 – Flyers’ defenseman Chris Pronger takes the first penalty of the game. The Blackhawks got on the board early in game five and never looked back. A power play goal here would make a statement and force the Flyers back on their heels and into desperation mode almost immediately.
9:17 – Flyers kill the penalty and I think that shifts the momentum to Philly. The post saved Leighton on the power play and Philly needs to thank whoever was looking out for them and score quickly. The first goal in this game is going to be enormously important.
8:00 – Blackhawks are outshooting the Flyers 11-2. While many think that it is bad that my knowledge of hockey only really exists thanks to the Mighty Ducks, I happen to think it is a good thing. The way Leighton is being peppered by shots reminds me of the scene in the first movie when they tie Goldberg (coincidentally a huge Flyers fan) to the goal and just constantly shoot pucks at him as he yells for help. I would not be surprised if Leighton is behind the mask yelling, “Charlie, Coach Bombay, let me out!”
3:30 – Pronger takes another penalty. I know the guy is a dominant defender and incredibly important to shut down Toews and Kane but he has now taken two penalties. There has to come a point where his aggressiveness needs to be toned down for the good of the team. He will be very lucky if his team can kill off another penalty the way Chicago’s offense has been getting good opportunities even on even strength.
3:11 – Blackhawks capitalize on the power play and go ahead 1-0. Byfuglien powers in the first goal past Leighton. Speaking of Byfuglien, where does he rank on the list of athletes you would not want to meet in a back alley? The icy stare, the enormous size and the fact that he hits people for a living on the ice. I say he is high but not in the top ten. He is not a mean guy but I do think he is intimidating especially when he comes charging in on a goalie. I wouldn’t want to be checked by him.
0:26 – Philadelphia evens up the game with a power play goal of their own. Hartnell was right in front of Niemi for the entire possession. Niemi made a nice save on the first shot but a rebound kept possession for Philly. Duncan Keith knocked down Hartnell with a slash to the leg but he got up and made Niemi pay. Game six is all tied up 1-1 heading into the first intermission.
Second Period
19:35 – Niemi absolutely stonewalls Gagne of the Flyers on a fast break chance. The Flyers were seriously out played in the first period but went into the break tied 1-1. They need to start getting things moving their way (a fortuitous goal, a big hit or something) or else things could get bad and the Blackhawks might be heading into the second intermission up by two or three goals.
18:04 – I take back what I just said. A big (albeit illegal) hit by Hartnell gives the Blackhawks another power play. I thought Chicago would be too inconsistent to win this game on the road but really they have been a much better team and Leighton cannot keep playing as well as he is all game. Look for the Blackhawks to pull away soon.
15:55 – Ladd had a good opportunity but Leighton turns him away to keep the score tied after Philadelphia killed the power play. Leighton is really impressive tonight. I still think he will give up a soft goal or two (and soon) but maybe he really is untouchable at home.
12:59 – The intensity and speed of the game is really impressive. Hockey is not a game that I particularly enjoy watching on TV but I would love to see a game of this magnitude in person. I can imagine that right now the building is loud and exciting and ready to explode every time a goal scores or a big save is made.
Back to watching hockey on TV. It would make sense that people would love watching hockey on TV because there are not a ton of stoppages and there is a very fast pace of play. I think that may be the problem though. Americans are used to watching football or baseball where there is a long pause in between each play. The viewer can use that pause to take in what just happened and assess and analyze it. In hockey everything moves so fast that you need a DVR to make sure you did not miss a big hit or great save. There are not enough replays for our liking and maybe (as crazy as it sounds) we need more stoppages to make the game more appealing to television viewers.
11:52 – Absolutely gorgeous passing play by the Flyers. Leino goes right to the middle drawing a defender away from Briere before Leino gives up the puck to Briere. Briere goes top shelf on Niemi to give Philly the lead. As much as I thought Chicago was poised to put the game and series away early in the second it appears the Flyers are going to take advantage of Leighton’s excellence and every break they can get. Flyers lead 2-1.
10:02 – Patrick Sharp scores for the Blackhawks to even the game at 2-2. I have no analysis. I thought a goal like that was bound to happen but I did not think there was any chance the Flyers would lead nine minutes into the second period. Maybe the issue is that my knowledge comes from the Mighty Ducks? Not sure but I do know that a knuckle-puck would change the dynamic of this game.
5:57 – First time they show the actual Stanley Cup. It was being cared for and wiped down by a man wearing white gloves. How many more times will they show it today? Over/under 11.5?
2:17 – Hjalmarsson blasts a slap shot past Leighton to give the Blackhawks a 3-2 lead. Scratch that, Ladd deflected the shot and get credited for the goal. I have to be right this time. Chicago is about to pull away. If they score in the last two minutes can I get credit for being right?
Third Period
15:14 – Okay, so I was wrong about the Blackhawks pulling away at the end of the second period (or the beginning of the third). The Blackhawks have done a nice job controlling the puck here at the start of the third but I would not be surprised at all if the Flyers manage to slip a goal in past Niemi here. If they can get a goal on maybe a power play the crowd goes crazy and the Blackhawks 10-1 record when leading after two periods in the playoffs is irrelevant.
10:40 – Niemi comes up with the biggest save of the game so far. Through about three players he finds the shot and gloves it and keeps the Blackhawks up 3-2. I think we will look back to this save and that possession if it remains a one-goal game.
4:55 – With less than five minutes to go Philadelphia officially has to be in desperation mode. I would expect slightly longer shifts from the starts (Richards) and more intensity and a lot more of throwing the puck in front of the net and hoping for a deflection. Let’s see if the style of play changes at all and if it does whether or not it works.
3:59 – The Flyers tie it up 3-3. A pass to the front of the net bounces off a Blackhawk’s skate and Hartnell nails a rebound for his second goal of the game. Niemi had been really impressive for most of the game but you can start to see why Blackhawks fans were never really that comfortable with him. Not that he necessarily could have done anything to save that shot but he certainly does not inspire confidence. Also, Hartnell’s goal brings the crowd to its feet and they are absolutely raucous. Advantage: Flyers.
1:30 – Unreal save by Niemi sliding across his net to stop a shot by Carter that would have essentially won the game. While he does not inspire confidence, Niemi just made an absolutely magnificent save that kept his team in this game and might have forced overtime.
0:00 – We are going to overtime. A few differences in the game: Niemi gave up rebounds that allowed a lot of second chance shots for the Flyers and the Blackhawks, who were the better today, did not close out the game. They had a number of chances to pull away and grab a two-goal lead and secure the series but they did not do it. They still have a chance to win in OT but the resiliency and stellar goaltending of Leighton combined with the support of the home crowd gives the Flyers an advantage heading into extra time.
Overtime
19:40 – It almost ended as fast as it started. After Richards threw the puck in front of the net a few bounces off Blackhawks left it right in front of Niemi who saved a point blank Flyers shot. Impressive play by Niemi. Do you think I inspired him by saying fans have no confidence in him? Maybe. It would be a problem though if he were reading this during the game.
15:50 – Goal? Win? The Blackhawks are celebrating but I didn’t see the goal go in and neither did anyone else including the guy who lights the red lamp. Replays show that it is a goal. Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup! Congratulations to the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks! They celebration is a bit delayed but an incredible overtime victory to clinch the series.
Sidenote: Jonathan Toews has awesome sideburns.
