There's an adage, probably as old as sport itself, in which it's believed the best strategy is to not let a team's star(s) beat you.

This particular logic dictates that if you can neutralize a team's best players, the other guys represent a talent drop-off significant enough to render your opponent ineffective.

How has this strategy worked out so far in the Stanley Cup Final?

The Flyers have managed to keep the Blackhawks' top line of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien off the scoresheet so far in the series.

However, the "other guys" have tallied 8 goals in 2 games. Of course, when your "other guys" include more 20 goal scorers (4) than the Flyers have in total (3), the talent drop-off isn't all that significant after all.

The Hawks' second line of Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa and Troy Brouwer (all in the group of 20 goal scorers), have accounted for 4 goals. The third line (Dave Bolland, Tomas Kopecky and Kris VERSTEEG! - the fourth 20 goal scorer), have another 3. Even fourth liner Ben Eager has gotten into the act.

The other problem this represents is on the other side of the puck. The Flyers are keeping their top defensive unit, with Chris Pronger, out on the ice to battle the top line, leaving their second and third pairs, which do represent a significant talent drop-off, to try stopping the Hawks' second and third lines.

So while everyone is burning their angst over the fact that presumptive Conn Smythe Trophy winner (should the Hawks win) Jonathan Toews has been shut out, his line has, in fact, been doing a very effective job of keeping Pronger's unit occupied.

While the spotlight is on Pronger and Byfuglien duking it out in front of Michael Leighton, there has been absolutely no answer for Hossa. And this is what has gotten the Hawks where they are. The number of teams that have the type of depth that allows a player of Hossa's (and for that matter, Patrick Sharp's) calibre to skate on the second line is so small you can count them on Koyie Hill's hand.

The law of averages dictates the Toews/Kane/Byfuglien line will score. But the depth of this team dictates that they don't have to in order for this team to win.