2010 Stanley Cup Finals Thread

[isumatt]

Dont think anyone expected a sweep, but none the less, great game tonight...Hawks have yet to lose back to back in the playoffs so Friday will be a major test for both teams

[bluehenbillk]

Fact of the day: November 9, 1996, last time the Blackhawks won a hockey game in Philly. Let's hope that streak goes another week!!

[Gil Dobie]

is it still trash talk if it's the truth?

i dunno, just askin'

Two one goal wins at home.

1 goal OT win at home

[93henfan]

Dont think anyone expected a sweep, but none the less, great game tonight...Hawks have yet to lose back to back in the playoffs so Friday will be a major test for both teams

I was referring more to the fact that the Flyers were an OT goal away from being down 3-0, and of course Blackhawks fans had to naturally be anticipating all the sweep talk that would have come in the ensuing two days before the puck dropped in game 4. I agree, I didn't see a single sweep prediction. The preponderance of pundits had the Blackhawks winning in six, which is still entirely possible.

Game four is another must-win for the Flyers.

[Gil Dobie]

PS: No one messes with Buff

Except Pronger. Buff looked like he wanted to cry every minute of the first two games.

Pronger is a good player, Buff in young and can learn a few things from the old-pro.

[93henfan]

Two one goal wins at home.

1 goal OT win at home

Just an exciting series between two very evenly matched teams. Auntie Naomi had been the difference until last night, when Leighton outplayed him. Gotta love a series that comes down to which goaltender is going to crack.

[93henfan]

Except Pronger. Buff looked like he wanted to cry every minute of the first two games.

Pronger is a good player, Buff in young and can learn a few things from the old-pro.

Pronger is a classless, irritating SOB. Glad he's on my team.

[Gil Dobie]

1 goal OT win at home

Just an exciting series between two very evenly matched teams. Auntie Naomi had been the difference until last night, when Leighton outplayed him. Gotta love a series that comes down to which goaltender is going to crack.

I agree, just playing along with ECBHen

[93henfan]

Another observation about this series:

There truly seems to be a mutual respect between the two fanbases. There's not near the venom you'd see in a Hawks-Wings or Flyers-Rangers game. I guess the lack of familiarity and playoff history may be inhibiting contempt. I have yet to hear a Leighhhhhhhhton or Auuuuuuuuuuuntie chant in either building. Maybe I'm just not listening close enough?

[Ivytalk]

Another observation about this series:

There truly seems to be a mutual respect between the two fanbases. There's not near the venom you'd see in a Hawks-Wings or Flyers-Rangers game. I guess the lack of familiarity and playoff history may be inhibiting contempt. I have yet to hear a Leighhhhhhhhton or Auuuuuuuuuuuntie chant in either building. Maybe I'm just not listening close enough?

The Hawks fans were chanting "Leigh-ton" just before he got pulled in Game 1. But I agree that the Hawks fanbase is a loud and classy bunch.

[89Hen]

C'mon replay...

...again they make the right call.

They did not. The whistle NEVER blew and the puck ended up in the back of the net after the it went under Niemi. Flyers won that game TWICE in OT.

[89Hen]

Two one goal wins at home.

1 goal OT win at home

I'll take another tomorrow.

[93henfan]

C'mon replay...

...again they make the right call.

They did not. The whistle NEVER blew and the puck ended up in the back of the net after the it went under Niemi. Flyers won that game TWICE in OT.

There's no way anyone heard the whistle with the horn blasting. Niemmi (however you spell it) made a clean scoop, held it, and then had the puck knocked loose. That would have been a really cheap way to win.

[89Hen]

There's no way anyone heard the whistle with the horn blasting. Niemmi (however you spell it) made a clean scoop, held it, and then had the puck knocked loose. That would have been a really cheap way to win.

Horn blew once. Had the first replay not happened, you'd have a point. On the first replay, the horn blew, the red light went on, and play continued for over 90 seconds. If the ref did blow the whistle on the OT goal, he would have kept blowing it as the Richards put the puck in. BTW, not even close to a clean scoop, Niemi WHIFFS on the scoop and it goes next to his pad. The puck was loose as evidence by the EASY put in Richards had.

[93henfan]

There's no way anyone heard the whistle with the horn blasting. Niemmi (however you spell it) made a clean scoop, held it, and then had the puck knocked loose. That would have been a really cheap way to win.

Horn blew once. Had the first replay not happened, you'd have a point. On the first replay, the horn blew, the red light went on, and play continued for over 90 seconds. If the ref did blow the whistle on the OT goal, he would have kept blowing it as the Richards put the puck in. BTW, not even close to a clean scoop, Niemi WHIFFS on the scoop and it goes next to his pad. The puck was loose as evidence by the EASY put in Richards had.

You need to watch it again. I've seen it about twenty times this morning between ESPN and CSN-Philly. It was in Niemi's glove and not one commentator has disputed that the whistle was blown. Note: I felt the same way you did at first.

[89Hen]

You need to watch it again. I've seen it about twenty times this morning on ESPN. It was in Niemi's glove.

I'm sorry, but you're wrong. Goes under his glove and right to his pads. It happens quickly but you can see it clear as day. Richards sees the puck is loose and stashes it in. When Richards pokes it in you can see Niemi's glove face up and the puck slides UNDER the glove as it goes in... it was never in his glove.

[93henfan]

You need to watch it again. I've seen it about twenty times this morning on ESPN. It was in Niemi's glove.

I'm sorry, but you're wrong. Goes under his glove and right to his pads. It happens quickly but you can see it clear as day. Richards sees the puck is loose and stashes it in. When Richards pokes it in you can see Niemi's glove face up and the puck slides UNDER the glove as it goes in... it was never in his glove.

You know, I went back and watched one more time in super slow mo and sure enough it was under his glove. The angle and shadow was such that it looked like it popped out of the webbing to me.

So we'll call it 50/50. I was wrong about the glove and you were wrong about the whistle being blown (although I know enough about you to know you won't admit being wrong - just a small character flaw ).

[isumatt]

I missed most the game but what I saw of it, NIEMI was sharp, can't fault him on goal 3 or 4 (the only 2 I saw). Hawks lost the game early in OT when Steeer had the puck in the slot no one around and he airmailed it. GWG scored on a horrendous line change an area Chicago has struggled all year

As for the Leighton chant he is an ex Hawk and he was bad when he was here so the fans just trying to rattle him don't really think they hate him

Pronger is AJ Pierzynski. Can't stand him unless he is in your uniform. He will try to get away with what he can and he eta under your skin. The secondary lines are scoring for Chicago but if Toews can't get going it could be trouble. It was nice to see Kaner have a 2 point night yesterday.

[GannonFan]

Can't complain about it not being a good series so far - first 3 games were extremely tight and could've gone either way. Would expect to see the rest of the series follow the same pattern - pretty evenly matched teams right now.

[89Hen]

You know, I went back and watched one more time in super slow mo and sure enough it was under his glove. The angle and shadow was such that it looked like it popped out of the webbing to me.

So we'll call it 50/50. I was wrong about the glove and you were wrong about the whistle being blown (although I know enough about you to know you won't admit being wrong - just a small character flaw ).

The whistle may have blown during the horn... only the ref knows that. However, when a ref blows a whistle and the play continues (ESPECIALLY when it results in the puck in the net) they ALWAYS emphatically continue to blow the whistle and let everyone on (and off) the ice know they blew the whistle and the puck in the net is NOT good. Ref made NO motion of the puck in the back of the net not counting and made NO other whistle.

My guess... he effed up. He should have blown it dead, but did not. I'm just glad it's a moot point and the Flyers had won. Had the Hawks won that game, I would NEVER let that one go.

[89Hen]

Can't complain about it not being a good series so far - first 3 games were extremely tight and could've gone either way. Would expect to see the rest of the series follow the same pattern - pretty evenly matched teams right now.

Did I hear correctly that Game 2 was the highest rated Cup Final game ever?

[93henfan]

Can't complain about it not being a good series so far - first 3 games were extremely tight and could've gone either way. Would expect to see the rest of the series follow the same pattern - pretty evenly matched teams right now.

Did I hear correctly that Game 2 was the highest rated Cup Final game ever?

Makes sense. Two of the top five TV markets involved; prime-time; major network; no new programming over the three-day holiday; no competition from NBA playoffs; exciting game from faceoff to horn.

[isumatt]

Send the pics or links of the hats/food you want boys. There is NO WAY the Hawks can beat Philly.

[Ivytalk]

Send the pics or links of the hats/food you want boys. There is NO WAY the Hawks can beat Philly.

Ain't over yet, Matt. Strong first period for the Flyers here in game 4, but you guys are still up 2-1!

[93henfan]

Send the pics or links of the hats/food you want boys. There is NO WAY the Hawks can beat Philly.

The Giroux goal (at the end of the 1st) had to be a kick to the Blackhawks' nuts, but this series is far from over. I expect to see their best period of the series in just a few short minutes here. If ever there were a wakeup call, that goal was it.

The Flyers still have to steal a game in Chicago to win the Cup and that's a tall order.