Will the Flyers Make It a Series Again in Game 3?

Game 1 was a back-and-forth game with so much scoring and not very much defense. The Blackhawks were able to take Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Game 2, emphasis on defense and goaltending suddenly became the key, keeping it low scoring and both defenses on their feet. The Blackhawks took a 2-0 series lead with a 2-1 win two nights ago. Now it's Game 3, and the series is moving to the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. It always helps to wonder what results we will get from both teams that looked pretty good in Game 2. Obviously, anything can happen, but give a little credit to the Philadelphia Flyers. Sure, goaltender Michael Leighton didn't look his best, but there were worse times during the playoffs. The Blackhawks really stepped up, because they knew that the Philadelphia defense was going to tighten up so they did as well, just to make sure it wasn't an advantage. But for Game 3, will the defense carry on for both teams or will this end up like a Game 1 massacre? There is a possibility that it could go either way. Both teams know how to score well when their goaltenders aren't lighting the lamps, while on the flip side, the defenses tighten up again and make it a low-scoring game. For Peter Laviolette, head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, he knows he needs to do both in order to salvage a win in this series, but so are the Blackhawks, who are vying for a title since the 60s. Look for these two teams to perform well in Game 3, but there can be no small errors for both teams. One of those errors could lead to a devastating goal or potentially a really bad cost for the Stanley Cup. Well, who do I have to pick it? I say the Philadelphia Flyers. One: they're at home. Two: Michael Leighton has been outstanding in net. Three: They can't afford to go down 3-0 in the series (or maybe). Four: Since they're at home, they have their own goal horn and own crowd. The offense and defense will be tough, but the Flyers ultimately win Game 3. Watch the game tonight at 5:00 on Versus. We'll see if the Flyers rebound or the Blackhawks steal the show.

Stanley Cup Game 1 Analysis & Game 2 Preview

I sat in front of my television yesterday, hoping for a big performance from my pick, the Chicago Blackhawks. Apparently, the big performance turned into a meager win for them. I picked up on every play, every goal, every penalty. It seemed like a circus-type of game. The lead kept going back and forth between them and the Flyers. In my perspective, I thought it was a circus and rather sloppy play by both the Blackhawks and the Flyers. Thank god Tomas Kopecky scored the winning goal for the Blackhawks to allow them to take a 1-0 series lead, but in all honesty, it should be a game that should be a Flyers' 1-0 lead. I mean it, they played a better game than the Blackhawks, plus they stayed out of the penalty box the entire game. So, what needs to be improved for Game 2? Well, I'll say a few things for the Chicago Blackhawks. They need to stay out of the penalty box. And that means less hookings and cross-checking, which could cost them if not done properly and instead dangerously. They also need to create more traffic in front of the net. They did not do well in Game 1 in that specific area. Finally, they need Antti Niemi to be strong for them. The five goals he gave up were goals that could have easily been saved by him. I'm done with the Blackhawks. For the Flyers, great job in Game 1. But one little improvement: goaltending. They need to choose their goaltender: Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher. It seems like they'll be sticking with Leighton because he has the better numbers than Boucher this season, but Boucher had a lot of rough games where he was chased, like in Game 1. So who ultimately wins Game 2? Well, guess what, I don't even know this myself. Who knows what Blackhawks team will show up? Will Michael Leighton make an outstanding performance? I don't have a prediction here. We'll have to wait and see what teams show up and who ultimately wins. Game 2 is tomorrow night 5:00 PT on NBC.

Stanley Cup: Game 1 Preview

How about it? It has all come down to this. The Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers are going to meet in this year's Finals to see who proudly takes home Lord's Stanley Cup. We've been expecting so much out of these two teams for almost the entire season. Although each of them has suffered some setbacks like injuries, suspensions, and so on, both teams have been able to overcome these adversities and finally meet in the Finals. The Chicago Blackhawks arrived after sweeping the San Jose Sharks, while the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Cinderella-team Montreal Canadiens in five games. Game 1 is tomorrow on NBC, and I'll give you a little insight about what we should be. For the Philadelphia Flyers, boy do they look red hot. After coming back from three games down in Round 2 to beat the Boston Bruins, they overwhelmed the Montreal Canadiens. Michael Leighton has proven to be a good backup while Brian Boucher was recovering from an injury. Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, Claude Giroux, and Arron Asham has also proven the spark for the Philadelphia Flyers. But since Boucher is coming back, how effective will the Flyers be against a power-hungry Blackhawks team hoping to gain that cup? Let's find out by seeing what the Blackhawks have with them. Well, for one thing, a hot goaltender. Antti Niemi has proven the spark for the Blackhawks in its last few series, effectively shutting down the Predators, Canucks, and Sharks. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane has provided goals that backed up Niemi's saves. They are really solid on the road this postseason. Their only loss on the road came back in Round 1, Game 3 against Nashville. Other than that, they've been a solid force against anyone in the postseason. Now that we've looked at both teams, let's ask who ultimately wins Game 1? Well, Chicago isn't that good at home, while Philadelphia has been on a tear. Guess what everyone? I think the Blackhawks take Game 1. They know that need to set a tone early in this playoffs so why not win Game 1? It also helps with some confidence from both defense and offense of the Blackhawks. They need some goals to back up the goaltender Niemi. So, that's my pick. Make sure to watch Game 1 tomorrow on NBC. Will the Blackhawks win Game 1? Or will the Flyers steal one on the road?

Chicago Blackhawks - It's a No-Brainer

If you plan to make the long trip to Chicago for a Blackhawks game, you might have to wait until Sunday because Game 3 is already sold out. And I mean sold out in two things. One: The seats and two: The series. Yes, this series has seemed to be sold to the Chicago Blackhawks in many ways. One, they beat the San Jose Sharks twice at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Antti Niemi looks like the goaltender of the future, and Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are making magic for this team. I wouldn't mind hoping a plane to Chicago just to see a fantastic match-up. What are we looking forward to tonight for Game 3 of the series between the Blackhawks and Sharks? Well, I want to get one thing off my back. Sharks no longer hold the cards in the playoffs. Sure, they beat the Colorado Avalanche and the Detroit Red Wings in the first two series, but the conference finals is all the power they have left. Whether it's against any team, particularly the Chicago Blackhawks, their goaltending is more than terrible, it's horrendous. So I wonder how Evgeni Nabokov will rebound after poor performances in Games 1 & 2. I'm assuming it's not going to be taken lightly on both sides. Sharks coach Todd McLellan might be assuring his guys that they're still in it, while Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is saying that this is their chance to do something miraculous and that's returning to the Stanley Cup Finals. Dustin Byfuglien of the Blackhawks is on a tear and is lighting up the playoff world, thanks to his brilliant performance against the Canucks translated to the series with the Sharks. Antti Niemi is solid in goal. Patrick Kane is being Patrick Kane and scoring a lot of goals. Jonathan Toews is leading this team back into the Finals. Now, for Game 3, not a lot should happen for the Sharks. The Blackhawks decided to translate their road success by staying in a hotel overnight in Chicago, so that their road legs can help them here. This doesn't sound good for Sharks fans and players. If they stay in a hotel overnight, pretty much you're going to be up against the road Blackhawks and not the home Blackhawks. The Blackhawks should pretty much dominate. I don't think the Sharks can handle these Blackhawks. Should be a low-scoring game, but the Blackhawks win. We'll see what happens. Will the Blackhawks stave off the Sharks in Game 3 and hopefully put them in a 3-0 hole? Or will San Jose find a way to win this game? Find out tonight on Versus at 5:00pm and we'll see which series lead (3-0 or 2-1) comes out on top.

How The Flyers Came Back

Before the miracle happened, only two other teams in NHL history completed a surging comeback after being down 3-0 in a Stanley Cup Playoff series. Well, after that miraculous comeback against the Boston Bruins, we can finally put the Philadelphia Flyers as part of those teams. They knew they were not out of it even when the Bruins won the first three games of the series. They powered back and as a result, won them the series and home-ice advantage against the 8th seeded Montreal Canadiens, who come off a series with the Pittsburgh Penguins, in which they knocked out the former Stanley Cup champions. But the real question here is "Is this a lesson for other teams in the playoffs, like the Sharks-Blackhawks series that's set to go on Sunday?" Of course it should be a lesson, not to just those teams, but to everyone in the league for seasons to come. Just because you're leading the series 3-0 doesn't mean they you should just give up and pack it and hopefully win Game 4 because you hope they're tired and think they're out of it. No. That's what the Bruins thought and look what happened to them. They got themselves kicked out of the playoffs. But everyone is at risk of this same fate too. Now I realize that they are only two other teams in the history of the NHL to do this, but this is something that is possible to happen to everyone. I'm glad the Philadelphia Flyers came back and took out the Bruins, because it is one of the rare occasions when you beat a team after being down 3-0. Well, congratulations to the Flyers for being able to overcome a deficit like that and win the series. There is still plenty of hockey left and you have to face the Montreal Canadiens, who are that tough after beating the two top teams in the East, the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins. They will indeed prove a challenge and a 3-0 deficit early for the Flyers might spell disaster, since Montreal's not Boston and they took what the Bruins didn't do and incorporated into themselves. Again, congratulations to the Flyers and the playoffs go on.