Mason leads the way, as Flyers beat Blackhawks 4-1

Image courtesy Amy Irvin - 38Photography.net

by: Hal Greenblatt

Phanatic Hockey Writer

Philadelphia, Pa -- Ryan White potted the game-winning goal midway through the second period, as he redirected a shot passed Chicago goalie Corey Crawford, to give the Flyers a 4-1 win Wednesday night.

Wayne Simmonds, Claude Giroux and Michael Raffl also scored for the Flyers. Matt Read and Michael Del Zotto each notched a pair of assists, while Nick Schultz, Carlo Colaiacovo, Nicklas Grossmann, and Jakub Vorack all chipped in with one a piece. Steve Mason was stellar in net for the Flyers, stopping 31/32 shots. With the win, the Flyers snapped a four-game losing streak.

Andrew Shaw was the lone goal scorer for Chicago. Duncan Keith and Brandon Saad recorded assists on Shaw’s power play goal. Corey Crawford was the star of the night for Chicago, as he made several highlight reel saves despite allowing 4 goals on 36 shots. The Blackhawks loss was only their third of the month, as they battle for the playoffs.

On a night that was set to honor a former Flyer legend, it was the current Flyers that put on a show. Kimmo Timonen returned to Philadelphia for the first time since being traded at the deadline, and the adoring fans showered the Finnish defenseman with love throughout the entirety of the game. During the first television time out, the Flyers played a tribute to veteran defenseman who donned the Orange and Black for seven memorable years.

"I was thinking about it," Timonen said after the game referencing the reception he received from the fans. "I've gone through a lot of games throughout my career. Won a lot of medals, all star games, but that's one of the coolest things as a player to experience. I just want to say thanks to the fans. That was awesome."

The defenseman also mentioned that he needed a moment after watching the video tribute that was shown on the jumbotron during the first timeout.

Despite honoring Timonen, the Flyers had a game to play, and play they did. In perhaps the teams strongest outing all season, it was the good guys who struck first, and then continued to attack.

The Flyers first tally came 7:20 into the period, shortly after the Timonen video, as Wayne Simmonds took a feed at the right circle from Matt Read, and beat Crawford with a quick slap shot. Simmonds holds the teams lead with 28 goals.

Despite holding a lead in the second period, the Flyers refused to sit back, with Ryan White camped out in front of the net, he notched his 5^th goal of the season on a beautiful redirection off a Carlo Colaiacovo point blast.

Not to be outdone, the magnificent duo of Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux teamed up to provide perhaps the most impressive goal of the season. Voracek skated into the zone on the right side and throw the puck towards the net. A speeding Giroux came down the middle and redirected the puck top shelf, to beat Crawford, who had little chance to make the save.

"Sure, at times he's tried to do too much," Head coach Craig Berube said referring to Giroux's first home even strength goal. "His frustration level has been pretty good, I think. He's a good leader. He wants to win. He doesn't worry about the goals so much, he obviously has to produce for us, and it's mind boggling at times that he only had one goal five-on-five at home."

The Flyers would head into the locker room holding a 3-0 lead.

"Our productions been way off," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said regarding the lack of offense from his team. "We had some good looks tonight, but we didn't get shots through. You got to get to the front of the net, you got to get greasy goals, they got a couple of those tips that went their way because they got inside."

Despite the Flyers entering the third period with a 15-0-3 record, the Blackhawks refused to go away, as Andrew Shaw quickly scored on the power play, just 14 seconds into the man advantage, and only 2:24 into the third period.

As expected, the Flyers and Blackhawks did exchange fisticuffs, courtesy of former Flyer Dan Carcillo and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. Despite Bellemare participating in just his second career fight, he held his own against the veteran Carcillo.

"Belle's got character," said Berube. "He's a feisty player. He's a competitor out there. He's done very well for us in a lot of different situations."

With a possible swing in momentum heading towards Chicago, the Flyers were back on their heels, but it was Michael Raffl who would make sure that Philadelphia would not lose the lead or the game, as he tacked on a power play goal with just over four minutes remaining, to give Philadelphia a 4-1 victory over the playoff bound Blackhawks.

We got a chance to get closer to Nashville, and we let it slip away tonight. Not much else to say about it," a dejected Corey Crawford said following the game.

Game Notes: Giroux’s goal was his first even strength goal at home...Voracek's assist helped him regain a tie for the league lead in scoring…Simmonds is one goal away from tying a career high…The Flyers improved to 16-0-3 when leading after 2 periods…Timonen record 17:25 time on ice…Flyers announced following the game that Simmonds (lower body) and Andrew MacDonald (upper body) would both miss the rest of the season with injuries.

Blackhawks walk away from Niemi contract; sign Turco

by Bob Herpen
The Phanatic Magazine

If you thought the Philadelphia Flyers were the only playoff club facing goaltending questions, think again.

According to several sources, including NHL.com and the Chicago Tribune, the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks have walked away from an arbitrator's award to goaler Antti Niemi and apparently signed veteran netminder Marty Turco.

Late Saturday, an arbitrator granted Niemi, a rookie goaltender who was strong throughout the 'Hawks' Cup run, a one-year deal worth $2.75 million. Under the current rules of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the team had 48 hours to honor the deal or walk away - which the Blackhawks did Monday morning.

This makes Niemi an unrestricted free agent, able to sign with any team that wants him.

The Tribune reports Turco was brought in on a deal somewhere between $1 and 1.5 million for next season, a steal for Chicago, which has unloaded roughly one-third of their Cup-winning roster due to salary cap concerns. Gone from the team which captured the Blackhawks' first title since 1961 are Niemi, defenseman Brent Sopel, forwards Kris Versteeg, Ben Eager and Dustin Byfuglien. Three-time Cup champion John Madden was also not re-signed.

Niemi, 26, wrested the starting job away from Cristobal Huet in 2009-10, going 26-7-4 with a 2.25 goals-against average and seven shutouts in the regular season, and followed up with 16 wins in the playoffs. He was seeking a deal worth $3 million while the Blackhawks sought a $2 million award.

Turco, who will be 35 later this month, was 22-20-11 with a 2.72 GAA and four shutouts for a Dallas club that missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

Byfuglien on the move in multi-player deal

by Bob Herpen
The Phanatic Magazine

Stanley Cup playoff hero Dustin Byfuglien has changed teams as the hulking forward was traded from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Atlanta Thrashers as part of a seven-player deal approved by the NHL on Thursday.

The Thrashers also acquired forwards Ben Eager and Akim Aliu, along with defenseman Brent Sopel for forwards Marty Reasoner, Joey Crabb and Jeremy Morin, as well as a first-round choice (24th overall) and a second-round choice (54th overall) in tomorrow's NHL draft.

Byfuglien, who was a presence in front of the net and had memorable battles with Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger, tied for the team lead in goals for the Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks with 11.

The Thrashers also traded defenseman Mike Vernace, forward Brett Sterling and a seventh-round selection (188th overall) in this year's draft to the San Jose Sharks for future considerations. Atlanta made that move for roster flexibility with regards to the deal with the Blackhawks.

The 25-year-old Byfuglien recorded 16 points in 22 postseason games. He also posted 34 points (17 goals, 17 assists) while appearing in all 82 regular- season tilts with Chicago.

Eager, a former Philadelphia Flyers winger, appeared in 60 games with Chicago last season, picking up seven goals and nine assists along with a team-leading 120 penalty minutes. The 33-year-old Sopel had a goal and seven assists in 73 games for the Blackhawks last season.

Aliu, 21, tallied 11 goals and six assists in 48 AHL games last season with the Rockford IceHogs. He was selected by Chicago in the second round of the 2007 draft.

Reasoner, an 11-year veteran out of Boston College, appeared in 80 games for the Thrashers last season, notching four goals and 13 assists. His arrival presumably means the end of John Madden's tenure with the 'Hawks as Reasoner's contract is lighter than any deal the three-time Cup champion and unrestricted free agent could ask for.

Crabb had 24 goals and 29 assists in 79 games last season with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL, while Morin registered 47 goals and 36 assists in 58 games with the Kitchener Rangers last season, his first in the OHL.

A Voice of Reason from somewhere in the Great White North

As if Philadelphia fans don't take enough of a beating through legitimate national media of all kinds, today we find an obscure Alberta online publication which has some sage advice for the supporters of the 2010 Eastern Conference champions:

Courtesy of SunnySouthNews.com...

Philly fans set bad example with response to loss


"It seems hockey fans in Philadelphia would do well to watch Disney’s Bambi and maybe learn a lesson or two about sportsmanship and class along the way.

Anyone who has ever watched the cartoon recalls the little rabbit Thumper being brought to task for saying something unkind. When he is asked to repeat what his mother taught him he replies, “If you can’t say something nice... don’t say nothing at all.”

Too bad that simple concept was missing during last Wednesday evening’s Stanley Cup final when the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Philadelphia Flyers.

Those Flyers fans, who remained in their building while the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe trophies were presented, booed the presentations, NHL boss Garry Bettman and players who were taking their turn hoisting the cup.

How sad that hockey fans across the country had to witness such a lack of class from fans of the losing team. When it comes to sports and championships there is always going to be a winner and a loser, so young athletes and fans have to learn at an early age how to accept both winning and losing with humility and grace. No one likes a sore loser.

The Blackhawks and Flyers both accomplished a lot this season, both deserved to be in the cup final but only one team could come out the winner. How sad that every clip of the cup celebration will forever be accompanied by a chorus of boos. Let’s hope if the Flyers ever make it to the final again, and perhaps win the cup, that the losing fans have a little more class and allow the winning team to enjoy their victory.

Let’s also hope that local sports fans and athletes learn a lesson from this as an example of what not to do.

Sports and competition in general can have a positive impact on young people but adults, who are suppose to know better, are often the worst when it comes to sportsmanship. Whether it’s fans in the stands or players on the ice, field or court the game is not just about who wins and who loses, it’s about building up lifelong lessons that go beyond sports.

A player or fan who can’t handle losing probably can’t handle disappoint or set backs in their every day life. Young players and fans should take this lesson to heart and decide now that win or lose, they will have the class and maturity to handle either result without resorting to booing or other ridiculous behaviour."

Around The Rink - Stanley Cup Finals Wrap-Up

by Bob Herpen
The Phanatic Magazine

You know what I'd like to do to Michael Leighton?

I'd like to see him somewhere in the city and its environs, walk right up to him, hold out both my hands in front of his face...and give him a big ol' bro hug.

It would be a touching scene right out of "Good Will Hunting" where I'd put to rest all his fears and apprehension by repeating "It's not your fault" over and over.

But I can't...because it technically is his fault.

Say what you want about how talented the Blackhawks were or how tired the Flyers got near the end of Game 6 because of the collective weight of their entire playoff run -- ultimately it's what Leighton did (or didn't do) which brought this memorable postseason to anti-climax.

There was no defensive breakdown, or manpower shortage. No fluke bounce to blame it on as so often happens in sudden-death OT.

Body on the post, kid. Square to the shooter. How could he, a goaltender who works best when playing a technically-perfect style, have forgotten the basics with the season on the line? It turned Patrick Kane into more of a hero than he should have been.

The final goal-slash-dagger-to-the-heart reminded me of another young goalie who got burned by the spotlight when he was first thrust into the glare.

Scott Clemmensen, who now serves as the back-up for the Florida Panthers, was a freshman netminder for the 1998 Boston College Eagles. BC, another cinderella team with an improbable run to the finals -- in Boston, no less -- lost a crushing overtime game to Michigan in the NCAA championship.

In that game, a little-known forward named Josh Langfeld was able to sneak out from behind the net and slide a shot in a three-inch space between the post and Clemmensen's body. Goal-cam replays showed that the 20-year-old came off the left pipe just far enough that the puck skittered between the metal and the bottom of his leg pad.

Some of us might have awoken in the night screaming "Pad to the post, Scotty!" until he and the rest of the formidable Eagles crew won it all three years later.

But I digress...

It's an awful, awful thing to have the responsibility of a Stanley Cup-clinching goal, in overtime, hung to you when you've done everything else in your power to help the team get that far. But Leighton is in the big time, and he's going to have to learn to deal with the aftermath, professional and psychological, until he's able to erase it.

Clemmensen put '98 behind him by setting a school record for consecutive shutouts and scoreless minutes the next season. While tending the crease, he was instrumental as BC reached the national semifinals in his remaining three years along with two more national title games.

He then went on to garner one of the best paychecks in pro sports -- backup to Martin Brodeur in New Jersey -- before bouncing around the NHL and AHL.

At age 29, Leighton has a golden chance to put that harsh lesson to good use, whether it's in Philadelphia or somewhere else. He's certainly reached a level of age maturity where it's more than likely that he can transform that misfortune into greater success, and it will definitely come with the elite 30.

Formula for Success

The NHL's viewing numbers for the 2010 edition of the Stanley Cup really come down to one thing, using a clean version of Howard Stern's vaunted formula for success.

Goals = Ratings

The Flyers and Blackhawks combined for a whopping 47 scores in six games -- the most since the Islanders and North Stars potted 42 in a five-game set back in 1981. Since the original expansion of 1967, only the Canadiens-Blackhawks debacle of 1973 (56 goals in six games) has matched the latest title round for offensive potential realized.

We'll see how the league reacts to these cold, hard facts, because every time a club with some kind of offensive mojo wins a championship, there are a dozen lesser teams who use some form of the trap (ahem, Montreal) to try and beat it back into submission.

You have to go back to the Penguins' Cup wins of 1991-92 to find a league which continued to embrace offense as a primary force for success when a high-powered team captured the silver.

Of course, the NHL of 1993 was helped by expansion and a high percentage of future Hall of Fame talent, but you'd hope that a young, fresh team like the Blackhawks can finally make a dent where the 1996/2001 Colorado Avalanche, 1997-98/2008 Detroit Red Wings, 2006 Carolina Hurricanes, and 2009 Pittsburgh
Penguins couldn't quite puncture.

Records Galore

The Stanley Cup Finals also revealed the depth of talent on both sides, quantified in the number of team and NHL records set during the six-game sojourn.

Philadelphia's Danny Briere set a new Flyers record with 30 points in the playoffs, topping Brian Propp's original mark of 28 set in 1987. Briere also came up with 12 points in the series, one off the all-time NHL mark for points in a Finals first set by none other than Edmonton's Wayne Gretzky who had 13 in the 4 1/2 game sweep of Boston in 1988.

In addition, Ville Leino tied the NHL's point record for rookies with 21. The last to do it was Dino Ciccarelli in 1981 with the North Stars. Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger also matched a single-season point record for
defensemen with 18, knotting Doug (Booooo!) Crossman from 1987.

On Chicago's side of the ledger, Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Toews ended the Cup run with 29 points -- tying Denis Savard's previous team mark set back in 1985. In an era of total offense, Savard accomplished his record through just three rounds.

Kane was no slouch either, ending the playoffs with 28 points, the second-highest single point total in one postseason in Blackhawks history.

To Be Honest, It's Getting a Little Old...

The Flyers have now played the role of noble loser in three of their last four Stanley Cup Finals appearances.

Last week, they entered the title round with the lowest points (88) of any challenger since Vancouver had 85 (in 84 games) in the memorable 1994 Finals. They endured a ton of misfortune throughout the season that is pointless to recap here, and made it within a goal of a Game 7.

Mike Keenan's boys in 1985 and 1987 were also only able to bathe themselves in the reflective glow of the Oilers' second and third titles.

In the former year, they advanced without their leading scorer and second-best defenseman, taking a virtuoso Game 1 at home before being progressively worn down by the champions.

During the latter, the orange and black left an international imprint on the hockey community by riding a hot rookie goaltender, bucketloads of guts and the inability of the Oilers to take it seriously into the final minutes of
a Game 7 before losing.

After a generation of competitiveness that has only led to heartbreak and memories of what could have been, is it too much to ask for one team that is built to win it all? I think we all agree that the fanbase deserves a roster that isn't just prepared to beat the Penguins and Capitals (as it was constructed to get by the Devils, Panthers, Rangers and Islanders in earlier times), but to take down the best that the superior West has to offer.

The front office owes us that much, because we are a Philadelphia that is not content with years of positive numbers anymore.

It's Over: Blackhawks need OT to beat Flyers, take Cup

by Bob Herpen
The Phanatic Magazine

Patrick Kane's  goal 4:10 into overtime lifted  the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-3 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers to take a deciding Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Kane  shot from a  sharp angle along the left wing, and managed to sneak a low shot   through  Flyers  goaltender  Michael  Leighton,  touching  off  a  wild celebration by the visitors, who claimed their first championship since 1961.

Philadelphia  put  up a  valiant  fight,  tying the  game  with  3:59 left  in regulation  when  Scott Hartnell notched his  second goal of the contest as he managed  to get his  stick on a loose puck in the low slot. The Flyers had the best of the early chances in overtime, but Chicago ultimately proved to be the fresher club and capitalized on the final break.

Kane  added two assists, while Dustin Byfuglien, Patrick Sharp and Andrew Ladd also  tallied for  the Blackhawks,  who had  come up  empty since  topping the Detroit  Red Wings  49 years ago. It  was the longest current title drought in the NHL.

Jonathan  Toews,  the Conn Smythe  Trophy winner  as playoff MVP, collected an assist  and tied Denis Savard's franchise playoff record with 29 points in the postseason.

For Marian Hossa, who did not record a point in the game, the victory was vindication. The 31-year-old Czech avoided becoming the first player in NHL history to lose in a Finals with three different teams in three consecutive years. He'd come up empty with Pittsburgh in 2008 and witn Detroit last season.

Antti  Niemi looked  shaky at  times  in the  third period  and overtime,  but nonetheless  earned his  16th win of the postseason with 21 stops for Chicago, which became the first team to win on the road in the best-of-seven set.

Danny  Briere  picked up a goal  and two assists and  in the process set a new Flyers' single-season playoff points record with 30. Ville Leino added two key assists  for Philadelphia, which  has fallen short in each of its last six Cup Finals appearances since last winning in 1975.

Leighton  acquitted  himself well in  defeat. After being pulled following the first  period in Sunday's  Game 5 loss, he made 37 saves in this season-ending defeat -- several of them crucial as his club clawed from behind just to reach the extra session.

Blackhawks know the road to redemption doesn't stop here

by Bob Herpen
The Phanatic Magazine

If you want to pinpoint a day where it all came crashing down for the Chicago Blackhawks, August 16, 1996 is a pretty good place to start.

If you want to pinpoint a day where it all started to come together for the Chicago Blackhawks, June 22, 2007 is as good as any.

In between, one of the eminent Original Six franchises suffered through more than a decade buried beneath the dirt that lies beneath the hockey wilderness, if you can believe that.

The significance of the two dates in question are pivot points for the club. The first is the day Jeremy Roenick was dealt to the Phoenix Coyotes for Alex Zhamnov, Craig Mills and a first-round draft pick. The other is the day the ‘Hawks took Buffalo native and forward Patrick Kane with the first-overall pick in that year’s draft.

In between, the ledger reads like a nightmare. Eight years out of 10 they missed the playoffs and didn’t advance past round one when they did. Only once (2001-02) did the team finish above .500. There were two last-place finishes in the bunch, and could have been more if they weren’t propped up by expansion Columbus and Nashville.

The only comparable stretch in team annals occurred between 1944 and 1958, the true dark ages, when Chicago missed the playoffs 12 times and wound up in the six-team NHL basement on nine occasions.

Eight men took the head-coaching reins and none lasted longer than the three years Brent Sutter had to suffer through. Reto Von Arx donned the Indian head, as did Jean-Yves Leroux, Boris Mironov, Vladimir Chebaturkin, Kyle Calder, Igor Korolev and the immortal Steve Passmore.

And still, as the legend goes, all home games at the United Center continued to be blacked out per orders of cantankerous then-owner William “Dollar Bill” Wirtz because he believed broadcasting them would hurt home attendance.

However, Wirtz is now dead and the team is run by his son W. Rockwell “Rocky” Wirtz, the management has embraced heroes of the past like Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita, and most importantly, the Blackhawks have run off three straight winning seasons for the first time since reeling off seven in a row from 1989-96.

Just this past season, Chicago obliterated its own record book, winning a franchise-record 52 games (three more than the previous mark set in 1971 and 1991) and amassing 112 points (five more than the old record of 107 first done in 1971and ‘72). One season after reaching the Western Conference Finals, the Blackhawks are competing for the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1992.

That year, under Iron Mike Keenan, the ‘Hawks won 11 straight games through three series only to be dumped in a four-game sweep by defending-champion Pittsburgh.

What Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Brian Campbell, Dustin Byfuglien and Antti Niemi are up against now is no small feat: they are in charge of not only returning the Blackhawks to respectability by being part of a consistent winner, they are also now burdened with ending an NHL-longest 49-year championship drought.

It is something that the following lights in franchise lore could not accomplish: Dennis Hull, Pat Stapleton, Wayne “Chico” Maki, Tony Esposito, Jim Pappin, Doug Wilson, Steve Larmer, Denis Savard, Ed Belfour, and Roenick.

If the desired result is attained, unbelievably, the names two paragraphs above will join such Hall-of-Famers as Hull, Mikita, Glenn Hall and Pierre Pilote, with the solid Ken Wharram and Eric Nesterenko providing support – who only lifted the ultimate prize once.

Even if the Cup is not paraded in Grant Park roughly two weeks from now, the recent brief surge of success should serve as a wake-up call to America’s Second City that hockey is back on the rise.

What’s always paired with the joy of renaissance, though, is the burden of expectation – from the front office and the fans – that the wins and banners and titles will keep on coming.

Even more so than the impending best-of-seven series, what looms on the horizon for the players donning the red and black will be the spectre of gearing up for several more seasons like the ones that have preceded it.

In each of the last five campaigns that followed a Blackhawks appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals, the club has not returned to the final round. Only in 1962, the year after the last victory, did the ‘Hawks survive long enough in the postseason to make a return trip to the title round.

Since 1961, Chicago’s legacy of “winning” has been mired in the “good, but not good enough” pile. Twice, in 1971 and 1973, they fell to powerhouse Montreal Canadiens teams in the Finals. Semifinal defeats followed in 1974 and 1975.

Between 1982 and 1995, they reached the Campbell/Western Conference Finals seven times. In ’82, a below-.500 team lost to the slightly less below-.500 Vancouver Canucks. In ’83, ’85 and ’90 it was the dynastic high-octane Edmonton Oilers that spoiled their hopes. Calgary did the deed in 1989 and rival Detroit halted the run in the shortened ’95 course.

It can be a crushing set of circumstances for a team riding the wave of youth. Kane and team captain Toews are both 21. Defenseman Nik Hjalmarsson is 22 and center Dave Bolland is 23. Forwards Troy Brouwer and previous Cup winner Andrew Ladd are 24, as is playoff hero Dustin Byfuglien.

They have nothing but time ahead of them. It is in their best interest to keep the good karma flowing by doing their best on every single shift to represent the rebirth of the logo and to attract the attention of this proud and hungry city.

Years from now, if you want to pinpoint a day where it all began again for the Chicago Blackhawks, May 23, 2010 will be a pretty good one to look back on. A date in early June would be even better.

Flyers dispatch Habs, gain Stanley Cup Finals

by Bob Herpen
The Phanatic Magazine

Jeff Carter notched a pair of goals and Mike Richards picked up a goal and two assists, as the Philadelphia Flyers dispatched the Montreal Canadiens by a 4-2 count in the deciding Game 5 of this Eastern Conference final.

Arron Asham also tallied for the seventh-seeded Flyers, who head to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1997 and did it in a more impressive manner and in a tougher fashion than the last time.

Philadelphia reached the Cup Finals that season by rolling past Pittsburgh, Buffalo and the New York Rangers in 15 total games only to be swept by Detroit -- which ended a then NHL-longest 42-year title drought.

This time around, it was a five-game victory over New Jersey in the conference quarterfinals followed by an improbable seven-game semifinal win against Boston which saw Philly become the first team in 35 years to rally from an 0-3 series deficit.

A victory over eighth-seeded Montreal was secured in large part by holding the Habs to a total of seven goals in five games, including three shutouts by Michael Leighton.

Leighton stopped 25-of-27 shots for the victory, running his record this postseason to 6-1.

Now, Chicago stands in the way. The Blackhawks, who eliminated the Sharks with a Game 4 victory on Sunday in the Western final, haven't taken home the championship since 1961, the longest drought in the league. The Flyers have not won since the second of back-to-back triumphs in 1975.

The quest for the Cup begins at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday.

Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez lit the lamp for the Canadiens, who managed to topple top-ranked Washington and defending Cup champion Pittsburgh in seven- game triumphs before bowing in their first conference finals since winning it all in 1993.

Jaroslav Halak allowed three goals on 25 shots for Montreal, which had won all five of its previous elimination games before Monday's season-ending defeat.

With the setback, it marks the first time since the club joined the NHL that it failed to win a Stanley Cup at least once in a decade.

Philly moved ahead to stay at 3:07 of the second, when a failed Canadiens clear made its way to Matt Carle's stick on the left side. His pass was to Asham alone in front, and the gritty winger used a backhand-to-forehand move and beat Halak high to the short side.

Only 1:24 later, the Flyers cycled the puck along the left wing, with Kimmo Timonen finding Richards behind the net. His quick feed at the top of the crease was one-timed home by Carter for a 3-1 game.

The Flyers had a 5-on-3 power play for 48 seconds later in the period but failed to add to their lead. Nonetheless, the home team carried that two-goal advantage into the final 20 minutes.

Gomez cut Montreal's deficit to 3-2 at the 6:53 mark of the third period, when he followed up an errant PK Subban clear in the slot and lifted a shot under the crossbar.

Montreal was awarded a four-minute power play with 10:48 remaining when Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger's stick drew blood on Subban, but the visitors failed to score then had the final 1:23 wiped out due to taking a penalty.

Leighton averted disaster with 3 1/2 minutes remaining, as he was quick to stop a puck that caromed off the back boards and right into his crease for Tomas Plekanec.

Due to constant forechecking pressure, Halak was not able to head to the bench for an extra skater until well inside the final minute. Carter then locked up the game and the series on an empty-netter with 23 seconds to play.

Gionta opened the scoring just 59 seconds in when he slipped a shot between Leighton's legs from the right circle, but the Flyers evened the score on a Montreal power play at the 4:25 mark thanks to a virtuoso performance by the team captain.

Claude Giroux's clear from his own end touched down in the neutral zone, and Richards chased the puck into the Habs' end and collided with Halak. The disc was worked loose after the impact, then Richards got up, squared himself to the net, and scored into the open cage on the backhand.

NOTES: The Flyers improved to 19-2 all-time when leading a series 3-1...Philadelphia reached the NHL's final round for the eighth time in its history (1974-76, 1980, 1985, 1987, 1997, 2010)...Philly moved to 7-1 at home during this postseason...Gomez had not scored since Game 1 against Washington...Plekanec hadn't tallied since Game 6 against Washington...Richards leads the Flyers with 21 points (6G, 15A)...Habs forward Mike Cammalleri, who didn't record a point in the tilt, led his club with 13 goals and 19 points in 19 games...The Flyers and Blackhawks haven't met in the postseason since 1971, when Chicago won four games to none.

Blackhawks advance to Cup Finals, await Flyers?

by Bob Herpen
The Phanatic Magazine


Dustin Byfuglien and Kris Versteeg scored late in the third period as the Chicago Blackhawks reached the championship round for the first time since 1992 after rallying from a two-goal deficit to post a 4-2 decision over the San Jose Sharks in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.

Brent Seabrook and Dave Bolland also tallied for the Blackhawks, who completed the four-game sweep in dramatic fashion and await their opponent in the Stanley Cup Finals. Philadelphia can lock up a berth in the title round with a win on Monday, as it holds a 3-1 series lead over Montreal.

Antti Niemi shook off some early rust and stopped 16-of-18 shots for Chicago, which holds the NHL's longest current Cup drought, having come up short every season since a 1961 win over Detroit.

Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau lit the lamp for the Sharks, who suffered another in a long line of disappointing playoff setbacks.

San Jose, which has reached the 100-point plateau in each of the last four seasons, overhauled its roster in the wake of a shocking first-round loss to Anaheim a year ago. Despite once again being a favorite to contend for the Cup and reaching its first conference finals since 2004, the Sharks failed to win even one game in the series.

Evgeni Nabokov allowed three goals on 26 shots in defeat.

After failing on two prior power-play chances in the first half of the third period, Chicago took its first lead of the game with 5:55 remaining in regulation while on the advantage.

Jonathan Toews controlled the puck along the right wing, then dished in behind the Sharks net for Patrick Kane. His centering feed from the left boards along the goal line was one-timed home by Byfuglien from the top of the crease for a 3-2 contest.

San Jose buzzed around Niemi and several Blackhawk chances fell by the wayside in the ensuing minutes.
The visitors pulled Nabokov for an extra attacker with 1:20 remaining, but Versteeg backhanded an insurance tally into the empty net from center ice with 42 seconds to play.

San Jose opened the scoring at the 11:08 mark of the first period, when Joe Thornton's try from the outer edge of the left circle was blocked, but Couture followed up and beat Niemi before he could react.

The Sharks led 2-0 on a Blackhawks power play at 7:35 of the second period, as Marleau one-timed a feed from Marc-Edouard Vlasic at the right circle. The play was made possible when an errant clear hit Hawks defenseman Duncan Keith in the face, causing the blueliner to fall behind as San Jose broke out on an odd-man rush.

Chicago halved its deficit at 13:15 on an odd series of events. Several 'Hawks crowded the crease and a loose puck that slid under Nabokov appeared to have been swept out by a San Jose stick before crossing the goal line.

The ruling on the ice was no goal, but a lengthy review overturned the decision, revealing that the puck had fully crossed the goal line for a brief second. Seabrook was credited with the tally although Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle appeared to knock the puck into his own net.

Bolland then tied the game with 1:22 left in the second, when he snuck around the Sharks' net, turned along the goal line and slipped a shot over a diving Nabokov.

NOTES: Byfuglien recorded three of the four game-winning goals in the series, including Friday's overtime winner. He leads the Blackhawks with eight goals in these playoffs...Chicago has appeared in four other Stanley Cup Finals between 1961-92 (1962, 1965, 1971, 1973)...The Blackhawks hadn't swept a postseason series since taking the 1996 Western quarterfinals over Calgary in four games...The Sharks had not been swept since a 1995 Western semifinal against Detroit...Toews upped his NHL-leading postseason point total to 26 (7G, 19 A)...Sharks center Joe Thornton, who finished the game minus-two with one shot on goal, ended the playoffs with three goals and 12 points and a minus-11 rating...San Jose winger Joe Pavelski collected one assist and led the Sharks with 17 points (9G, 8A) in 15 games.