2010 NHL Playoffs: Parity is not a *****!

Lord, Mr. Ford. I wonder how this is going to play out.

Well that was....unexpected. I'm disappointed the Flyers lost but it wasn't a dominating performance by Chicago that won them the game, nor a dominating performance by Philly that let them score 5 goals. Both Leighton and Niemi looked shaky and nervous, and non of the big guns Giroux, Richards, Gagne, Carter, or Toews, Kane, Hossa, came up big for either team. In fact I barely heard some of those names called at all (although out of that list I think Richards and Kane played the best game).

I think Game 2 will be completely different. I think both teams will tighten up and both Leighton and Niemi will get back to the form that helped bring their team to the finals. Should be a great series.

Yeah game 1 was very very surprising and I as well expect a tightened up performance in game 2. As a Flyers fan I would really like to steal one in Chicago and take it back to Philly tied.

Agreed. I really think the Flyers need to split in Chicago, especially with the Hawks being such a great road team.

So much for all the talk of either Leighton or Neimi being a factor. Obviously both teams have questionable goaltending.

...and maybe not. A great improvement tonight.

On the radio today, I heard that NBC is getting much improved ratings, even from last year, a 35 share in Chicago and 25 share in Philly.

Niemi stole that game for the Hawks, the Flyers completely outplayed them in the 3rd. Unfortunately, unless Philly takes both at home, I don't know if the series is salvageable.

Chicago is better on the road. The Canucks won two games in their series, both in Chicago.

Well, that didn't pan out...!

The Flyers looked great in Philly. They are in Chicago's head. This series is really close and either team could have swept this series or have a 3-1 lead in this series, as they should have won game 1 or game 2. They blew 3 leads in game 1 on the road and came out with no energy in the 3rd period of a winnable game. In game 2, they had a bad 30 second stretch where they gave up 2 weak goals. The pressure is now on Chicago and I don't think they are going to respond well to it. I really believe (and hope) that the Flyers are going to take game 5 and win the cup in Philly on Wednesday night.

Well, we'll see.

And we did.

I should like Pronger more than I do; he's from my old stomping group: Northwestern Ontario (aka 'Untario' for reasons good)

I'm surprised at how undisciplined Philly looked last night. Not with penalties, but in their own end. They'll probably win in Philly and have to go back to Chicago. It might go seven, but if Philly plays that bad in their own end again it will be over for them.

Shocking performance by the Flyers, I didn't even recognize them on the ice. That said, I think the extra day off works to the Flyers advantage and Lavi will get them prepped for game six. I think the Flyers win game six and then it heads back to Chicago for one hell of a game seven.

Even though I'm rooting for Philly now, I enjoy seeing headlines that say things like "The worst game of Chris Pronger's career" He's my most hated player in any sport. The man has zero class.

The goaltending is still very iffy, both sides.

So it's tonight or Friday.

Half hour. Go Philly!

It leaked today that Rob Blake is retiring this summer. There's been no official confirmation because apparently Blake is waiting for the Cup finals to end.

OT with the cup in the house. Don't get much better than this ...

Hats off to the Hawks. Happy for Toews, Keith, Niemi, Sharp, and Seabrook. Not for Kane, and Hossa.

Now the Leafs have the longest Cup drought.

Terrible way to end the game and the series. After the last 10 minutes of the 3rd and the first bit of OT, I thought for sure that we'd be heading back to Chicago for a Game 7. Niemi was spectacular late and unfortunately, despite making a ton of saves, Leighton let in two weak ones (especially the winner) that changed the game. Overall an odd end to an odd series but thanks for a great run Flyers!

Slightly unrelated, but it still kills me that Kane is wearing a Hawks jersey instead of the Flyers jersey that he should be.

lol, indeed. Weird ending to an otherwise great game. Congrats to the Hawks.

Also the Leafs are TIED for the longest Cup drought.

Oh and one more thing....

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