2010 Stanley Cup Finals Thread

[93henfan]

Tense finish, as the Flyers survive the refs' best efforts to get the Blackhawks back in the game.

Now it's a three game series.

Let's go Flyers!

[GannonFan]

You have to like the Flyers momentum right now - Hawks aren't getting anything easy with the Flyer D stepping up and the Flyers are getting lots of dangerous chances. Still have to win one in Chicago so the Hawks still have a little bit of an edge here but things are starting to lean the Flyers way. As with most series, Game 5 looms very, very large.

Like the tense finish for the Flyers - hopefully that negates any possibility of them going into Game 5 with any complacency.

Odd that Leighton looks to be the goalie who's getting stronger - some odd plays by Neimi tonight.

Interesting - Flyer's unsportsmanlike penalty (the first one that led ultimately to the 5 on 3 - the second penalty was obvious) was for banging a stick on the boards - apparently both teams were warned about it at some point prior to it.

[93henfan]

banging a stick on the boards

Went back and took a look at it on DVR. Hartnell wasn't even on the ice. If he hit the board with his stick, it was from the bench, and there was nothing that looked egregious on HDTV. Nine minutes left, Flyers with a three goal lead. I still think the refs were just bored and wanted to make things exciting.

[isumatt]

banging a stick on the boards

Went back and took a look at it on DVR. Hartnell wasn't even on the ice. If he hit the board with his stick, it was from the bench, and there was nothing that looked egregious on HDTV. Nine minutes left, Flyers with a three goal lead. I still think the refs were just bored and wanted to make things exciting.

you arent going to complain about officiating are you?? Look no further than the phantom slash on Sharp after Pronger slashed him, then cross checked him in the head, or when Pronger slashed Toews across the wrist early...Not complaining, the officiating has been AWFUL, missing alot of easy calls...

Refs warned both benches very early after Madden gave Leighton a snow shower, then started yapping at him, ref skated over to both benches and warned the coaches...Flyers also have a big edge in PP attempts in the 4 games, mainly cuz the Hawks keep retaliating. So I wouldnt complain about any calls or non calls, both teams are taking advantage of it

[BlueHen86]

Went back and took a look at it on DVR. Hartnell wasn't even on the ice. If he hit the board with his stick, it was from the bench, and there was nothing that looked egregious on HDTV. Nine minutes left, Flyers with a three goal lead. I still think the refs were just bored and wanted to make things exciting.

you arent going to complain about officiating are you?? Look no further than the phantom slash on Sharp after Pronger slashed him, then cross checked him in the head, or when Pronger slashed Toews across the wrist early...Not complaining, the officiating has been AWFUL, missing alot of easy calls...

Refs warned both benches very early after Madden gave Leighton a snow shower, then started yapping at him, ref skated over to both benches and warned the coaches...Flyers also have a big edge in PP attempts in the 4 games, mainly cuz the Hawks keep retaliating. So I wouldnt complain about any calls or non calls, both teams are taking advantage of it

Pronger is great at slashing people, he's done it for years and has it down to a science. The best way for the Blackhawks to retaliate is to slash Leino, but not get caught doing it. They tried a little last night, but they aren't as good at it as Pronger is.

[Ivytalk]

Ganny is right: Game 5 is huge! Flyers have to win one in Chicago in order to win the Cup, so they might as well start tomorrow.

[BlueHen86]

FWIW - in the playoffs so far; the Flyers are a combined 5-7 in games 1thru 3 and 9-0 in games 4 thru 7.

Their style definetly seems to wear the opposition out as the series progresses. I think game 5 is a must win for Chicago, but not for the Flyers.

[BlueHen86]

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.

He's in the same company as Dale Hunter and Claude Lemieux, only they never played for the Flyers.

I always hated those guys, but wanted them on my team.

[BlueHen86]

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 Flyers and Blackhawks have something in common:
they have both lost 5 straight Stanley Cup finals appearances.

Each fanbase knows what the other is going through.

[93henfan]

I think game 5 is a must win for Chicago, but not for the Flyers.

Bingo. The Blackhawks cannot allow the Flyers a chance to wrap it up on home ice. Game 5 is do or die for the Hawks.

[isumatt]

I think whoever wins Game 5 wins Game 6...That said, even I give the edge to Philly

[Ivytalk]

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

He's in the same company as Dale Hunter and Claude Lemieux, only they never played for the Flyers.

I always hated those guys, but wanted them on my team.

Claude Lemieux! Now that was one ugly MoFo.

[UNI88]

Interesting commentary

Philadelphia, the mother of all places most foul
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010 ... laces-moms

Philadelphians lived down to their reputation Wednesday night during Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals between the Blackhawks and Flyers. As their hockey team won the game, changing the complexion of the series, their fans changed nothing, proving they are every bit as loutish, abrasive and disgusting as the image they have cultivated.

[UNI88]

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

He's in the same company as Dale Hunter and Claude Lemieux, only they never played for the Flyers.

I always hated those guys, but wanted them on my team.

That's exactly what I told my wife when she complained about him. Wily old buzzard is a heck of a pain in the arse.

Hawks play with purpose and pride to win tonight at the United Center and then back to the WalkAllOverYa Center to finish it off!

[93henfan]

Interesting commentary

Philadelphia, the mother of all places most foul
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010 ... laces-moms

Philadelphians lived down to their reputation Wednesday night during Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals between the Blackhawks and Flyers. As their hockey team won the game, changing the complexion of the series, their fans changed nothing, proving they are every bit as loutish, abrasive and disgusting as the image they have cultivated.

That was perhaps the weakest article I've ever read in my life. How did that even make it to print? The guy had an agenda and found nothing.

Let's see, a Blackhawks fan standing and is told to sit down. Yep, I would have told him to sit his ass down if he's standing during play. That's an idiotic thing to do.

Someone said a bad word. Oh, the humanity!

Wasn't Chicago where a father led his son out onto the field to attack a defenseless coach and another White Sox fan did the same thing a few months later to an umpire? Where are the real brutish louts?

Have Chicago folks turned into giant pussies all of a sudden?

[isumatt]

Have Chicago folks turned into giant pussies all of a sudden?

The Chicagoans that are Cub fans are!!! Lucky for me Im a Sox fan

[93henfan]

Have Chicago folks turned into giant pussies all of a sudden?

The Chicagoans that are Cub fans are!!! Lucky for me Im a Sox fan

[bluehenbillk]

Chicago looks to be scrambling, they've broken up their top line to try to get some life. The Flyers haven't lost a game past Game 3 in any playoff series so far. Could it be too much to ask to win four in a row? Still, I like the Flyers chances tonight, bring it home!!

[00bluehen]

I think whoever wins Game 5 wins Game 6...That said, even I give the edge to Philly

Don't have a dog in the hunt, but I think you should automatically lose your pre-Final bet for throwing in the towel on your team...

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[isumatt]

It's self inflicted reverse psychology. When the Hawks win it will because I convinced myself we had no chance. See, it's easy!!

[93henfan]

It's self inflicted reverse psychology. When the Hawks win it will because I convinced myself we had no chance. See, it's easy!!

That's the philosophy the Flyers have been employing, ever since they were the last team to cinch a playoff spot by winning a shootout on the last day of the regular season. They continue to put themselves in Houdini scenarios and see if they can get out of them. So far, so good.

[BlueHen86]

Interesting commentary

Philadelphia, the mother of all places most foul
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010 ... laces-moms

That was perhaps the weakest article I've ever read in my life. How did that even make it to print? The guy had an agenda and found nothing.

Let's see, a Blackhawks fan standing and is told to sit down. Yep, I would have told him to sit his ass down if he's standing during play. That's an idiotic thing to do.

Someone said a bad word. Oh, the humanity!

Wasn't Chicago where a father led his son out onto the field to attack a defenseless coach and another White Sox fan did the same thing a few months later to an umpire? Where are the real brutish louts?

Have Chicago folks turned into giant pussies all of a sudden?

I don't know about all Chicagoans, but the author sure has. Another example of journalistic laziness, when you have nothing else, bash Philly.

[isumatt]

Just read the article, it must be noted Dan McNeil is NOT a writer, he has a weekly 'column' in the paper but he is a sports talkshow host on 670 The Score. I'm not a writer but that was not written by one, just a frustrated fan. And it was bad!

[UNI88]

Just read the article, it must be noted Dan McNeil is NOT a writer, he has a weekly 'column' in the paper but he is a sports talkshow host on 670 The Score. I'm not a writer but that was not written by one, just a frustrated fan. And it was bad!

Matt is correct. It was a commentary, not an article. And I threw it out there because I find it humorous to watch Philly fans get their panties all in a bunch when people talk about what uncouth savages their fans are.

[isumatt]

Wow Philly did a GREAT job of surviving the 10 minute surge and had the puck down by Niemi on a good shift, then all hell broke loose again. That was by far the best period for the Hawks, probably of the playoffs. But 3 goal 1st period leads are dangerous, I expect Philly to counter early