Holding Serve: Hawks 2, Flyers 1
Well, that was more like it. Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals featured everything that game 1 didn't - defense, tight checking, good goaltending, even a Hawks power play. The only thing that didn't change was the result, the Blackhawks beat the Flyers in another one goal game.
You wouldn't know it from watching the broadcast, but the Flyers decided to dress Dan Carcillo for this game. He made an immediate impact, laying out teammate Jeff Carter with a big hit and getting into shouting matches with Adam Burish and several skirmishes with Tomas Kopecky. Wait a minute, that doesn't sound like much of an impact at all. Maybe this Carcillo fellow isn't the impact player we were led to believe he was.
THE GOOD
Marian Hossa - Hossa finally snapped his goal scoring drought, putting back a rebound of a Patrick Sharp shot. Oh, and he played his usual excellent two way game.
Antti Niemi - Niemi was a bit shaky in the first two periods, oversliding to the short side as the Flyers shot for the far post. But he made every save exepct for one, kept his head during several scrums, and bailed the Hawks out in the third period when the Flyers poured on the pressure to try and tie the game.
Ben Eager - Eager made the most of his 4 minutes of ice time. He made several big hits and scored the game winning goal. He's no Dan Carcillo, but who is?
THE BAD
Patrick Sharp - Not a bad game from Sharp, although he wasn't as good on the faceoffs tonight. He's featured in this spot mainly because almost everyone played a solid game, and he clanked a wide open shot on an empty net attempt that would have soothed the nerves of Hawks fans everywhere instead of making us sweat out the final 40 seconds.
THE UGLY
How about Scott Hartnell, who serves as the groundskeeper at Hogwarts during the offseason?
Posted by CT at 5/31/2010 10:11 PM 
Categories: Chicago Blackhawks, 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Philadelphia Flyers
Tags: Playoffs Blackhawks Flyers
Categories: Chicago Blackhawks, 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Philadelphia Flyers
Tags: Playoffs Blackhawks Flyers
First pair of Stanley Cup Final wins since '71.
I remember those.
And this team may be the best one since then.
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So win ugly if ya gotta...but just win, baby.
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NEMO was the shit tonight. Carcillo was a joke throwing checks and hitting everything but Hawks. The best hit was the one hit on Carter at center ice, he lined him up pretty fucking good
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Carcillo was a joke. If the Flyers want to continue give playing time to someone who sucks it's fine with me.
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The only way we win in Philly is if Niemi steals at least one game and as far as stealing games thats what good teams do from time to time
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Vito, Mike Richards has the mal'occhio on him because of what he did to David Booth.
And Pronger brought more of that bad energy upon his team because of his arrogance.
If there is justice--and of course, the proper effort by the Blackhawks--the men from Chicago will prevail.
The next game is the most important of their lives.
Wish them luck and courage in their fight.
PS you may have noticed Duncan Keith, the noble warrior, wearing a cap that pays tribute to Antonio Esposito.
Avanti! Forza Blackhawks!
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FUCK Pronger with his hot shot butterfly collar shirt that is so out dated . Richards is a smart player but he's as dirty as Pronger. Bolland got under his skin a bit last night. Hopefully they're on short fuses and lose control. i got a bad feeling tomorrow is going to get uglier. Now we know Duncan Keith loves Italian beef
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The Hawks can win in Philly without resorting to theft. This Flyers team is too worn out to bring it for 60 each game, and their goaltending is too big of an issue.
I think this series has a certain s-word written all over it.
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I think the Flyers can bring it enough to win Wednesday night. But they can't sustain the attack for 60 minutes against this team.
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I also think the 'Hawks won't have to "steal" a game in Philly. The game last night proved that Chicago can play better in any style of game that Philly throws at them
I'm still hesitant to give Niemi much credit because he was sitting on bad angles all night, but he came up big when he had to and his rebound control was pretty good. I'd just worry that the Flyers will learn the net is actually four feet tall instead of one.
If anything, the Flyers probably need to steal a game in Philly. You know your team's in trouble when they make Brian Campbell look like he knows how to play defense.
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Wednesday is the Flyers' best chance of winning one. If they don't take Game 3, my Game 5 tickets are nothing more than conversation pieces.
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My natural Chicago sports pessimism is preventing me from getting to confident about this series, but damn.
Hawks won a shootout and won a tight checking game. And they won two games with basically zero from their top line. The Hawks are deeper and just plain better.
That being said, Philadelphia will throw everything they have left at them and I think the series will come back to Chicago for at least Game 5.
I think CT drinking my beer had a positive effect on the outcome.
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Denny, this is no time for you to be squeezing your stick.
Ditch the pessimism already. It's bad for your digestion.
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Today is my wedding anniversary, so maybe you are right...oh never mind, different stick analogy.
I'm not old enough to remember the 71 team, but I vividly recall the 84 and 03 Cubs.
This team will bring home the Cup! There, I said it.
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Dammit Riz, do you realize how much of your beer I'm going to have to drink to counter that jinx?
Sigh.
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As long as Glen is in Philly, I might have enough to squeak by.
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I love Dave Morris' "just win baby" approach. Who says it's bad to be optimistic as a fan? The Fifth Feather is all Randy Quaid in Major League 2 right now with their prospects of Game 3. The games were close, but the fact of the matter is the Hawks won both. 3 out of the 4 Sharks games were real close as well, but start noticing a trend.
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Wild Thing, you make my butt stink!!
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While the Fifth Feather guys might seem a little optimistic, it's not a bad idea to remember this Flyers team came back from being down 3-0 to Boston.
Sure, the Hawks are more talented than the Bruins, so I wouldn't say the Flyers will take 4 out of 5, as is now required. But I don't think it's unreasonable to think they pull out a win at home - remember, there was a 28 second spurt that was part and parcel of the Hawks' scoring last night. It wasn't exactly an asswhipping.
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I will buy you a steak dinner if Philly comes back from 3-0 again.
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Save your money. This series probably won't go past Sunday.
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I have to. CT drinks only drinks my imported beer.
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