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.
Showing posts with label Stanley Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stanley Cup. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Giroux the hero, as Flyers climb back into series with OT decision
by Bob Herpen
The Phanatic Magazine
Claude Giroux's tally at the 5:59 mark of overtime lifted the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals from Wachovia Center.
The play began with Danny Briere carrying the puck down the left wing. He stopped below the circle, and dished to the point for Matt Carle. The young defenseman's slap-pass found Giroux in the slot for a deft deflection that managed to trickle through Blackhawks netminder Antti Niemi and in.
Giroux finished with a goal and two assists for the Flyers, who got back in the series after a pair of one-goal defeats in Chicago to start the best-of- seven set and look to tie things up in Game 4 on Friday.
Scott Hartnell added a goal and one helper while Ville Leino and Briere also tallied. Michael Leighton stopped 24-of-27 shots for the win by Philadelphia, which had lost seven straight championship-round games dating back to Game 6 of the 1987 Finals against Edmonton.
Patrick Kane, Brent Sopel and Duncan Keith tallied for the Blackhawks, who could have taken a near-insurmountable 3-0 series edge with a victory. Niemi yielded four scores on 32 shots in defeat.
The game-decider came less than a minute after the Flyers thought they had walked away with a key victory. Just after the five-minute mark of the extra session, the home team had a potential game-winner wiped out by replay.
Chris Pronger sent a lead pass to the left wing side for Simon Gagne, who pushed the puck into the Chicago zone to Jeff Carter. He dished back to Gagne, whose floater caromed on net. The disc hit the right post and slid all the way to the left side and parallel to the goal line, where Niemi covered up. Although Carter came in late to poke it into the cage, play was ruled to be dead at that point.
The Flyers were awarded the game's first advantage when Chicago forward Marian Hossa was called for slashing, and Philadelphia cashed in on the back end of the two-minute minor.
Stationed in the high slot, Giroux fed to Braydon Coburn for a blast from the right point which Niemi stopped but could not control. Hartnell, while falling in front, pushed the puck across the crease to the left side for
Briere, who swept the puck into an open net at 14:58.
For Briere, it was his team-best 11th score of the playoffs.
Mike Richards missed a golden chance from the right circle with an open net on a power play early in the second period and the Blackhawks responded when Keith's point drive deflected off the stick of Carter for a 1-1 tie at 2:49.
Philly took a 2-1 edge on a man advantage just prior to the midway point of regulation on a play which was reviewed minutes after it occurred. Chris Pronger unleashed a shot from the point which knuckled in on net after a deflection from Hartnell and trickled through Niemi.
The puck rolled on edge and was swept away quickly, but a relatively brief review determined that the disc was fully over the line at 9:55.
Chicago didn't convert on a power play with a little more than five minutes to play in the second when Leighton was given a delay-of-game call for pushing his net off the moorings, but nevertheless tied the game, 2-2, at 17:52 when John Madden won a right-circle faceoff to Sopel, who pushed a long shot through traffic and in.
Kane gave the Blackhawks their first lead of the contest, 3-2, at the 2:50 mark of the third period, taking a stretch pass from Jonathan Toews up the middle and scoring stick-side on the forehand.
Only 20 seconds later, Leino was right on the doorstep to slam home the rebound of a failed Giroux opportunity.
NOTES: This was Giroux's first-ever overtime goal, and his three points were his first time on the scoresheet in the series...It was also the Flyers' first overtime win in the Cup Finals since Bobby Clarke scored in Game 2 of the 1974 series against Boston...Briere has five points (2G, 3A) in the Finals...Philadelphia improved to 3-1 in OT during these playoffs, while Chicago fell to 2-1...Chicago had been an NHL-best 7-1 on the road in this postseason, and has won seven in a row away from home prior to Wednesday...Philadelphia upped its home mark to 8-1 and has won six in a row in the Quaker City...Kane's goal was his first point in the series, and Toews' assist on the goal was his first point in the series...The Blackhawks haven't won in a Cup Finals extra session since May 4, 1971, Game 1 of that set against Montreal.
The Phanatic Magazine
Claude Giroux's tally at the 5:59 mark of overtime lifted the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals from Wachovia Center.
The play began with Danny Briere carrying the puck down the left wing. He stopped below the circle, and dished to the point for Matt Carle. The young defenseman's slap-pass found Giroux in the slot for a deft deflection that managed to trickle through Blackhawks netminder Antti Niemi and in.
Giroux finished with a goal and two assists for the Flyers, who got back in the series after a pair of one-goal defeats in Chicago to start the best-of- seven set and look to tie things up in Game 4 on Friday.
Scott Hartnell added a goal and one helper while Ville Leino and Briere also tallied. Michael Leighton stopped 24-of-27 shots for the win by Philadelphia, which had lost seven straight championship-round games dating back to Game 6 of the 1987 Finals against Edmonton.
Patrick Kane, Brent Sopel and Duncan Keith tallied for the Blackhawks, who could have taken a near-insurmountable 3-0 series edge with a victory. Niemi yielded four scores on 32 shots in defeat.
The game-decider came less than a minute after the Flyers thought they had walked away with a key victory. Just after the five-minute mark of the extra session, the home team had a potential game-winner wiped out by replay.
Chris Pronger sent a lead pass to the left wing side for Simon Gagne, who pushed the puck into the Chicago zone to Jeff Carter. He dished back to Gagne, whose floater caromed on net. The disc hit the right post and slid all the way to the left side and parallel to the goal line, where Niemi covered up. Although Carter came in late to poke it into the cage, play was ruled to be dead at that point.
The Flyers were awarded the game's first advantage when Chicago forward Marian Hossa was called for slashing, and Philadelphia cashed in on the back end of the two-minute minor.
Stationed in the high slot, Giroux fed to Braydon Coburn for a blast from the right point which Niemi stopped but could not control. Hartnell, while falling in front, pushed the puck across the crease to the left side for
Briere, who swept the puck into an open net at 14:58.
For Briere, it was his team-best 11th score of the playoffs.
Mike Richards missed a golden chance from the right circle with an open net on a power play early in the second period and the Blackhawks responded when Keith's point drive deflected off the stick of Carter for a 1-1 tie at 2:49.
Philly took a 2-1 edge on a man advantage just prior to the midway point of regulation on a play which was reviewed minutes after it occurred. Chris Pronger unleashed a shot from the point which knuckled in on net after a deflection from Hartnell and trickled through Niemi.
The puck rolled on edge and was swept away quickly, but a relatively brief review determined that the disc was fully over the line at 9:55.
Chicago didn't convert on a power play with a little more than five minutes to play in the second when Leighton was given a delay-of-game call for pushing his net off the moorings, but nevertheless tied the game, 2-2, at 17:52 when John Madden won a right-circle faceoff to Sopel, who pushed a long shot through traffic and in.
Kane gave the Blackhawks their first lead of the contest, 3-2, at the 2:50 mark of the third period, taking a stretch pass from Jonathan Toews up the middle and scoring stick-side on the forehand.
Only 20 seconds later, Leino was right on the doorstep to slam home the rebound of a failed Giroux opportunity.
NOTES: This was Giroux's first-ever overtime goal, and his three points were his first time on the scoresheet in the series...It was also the Flyers' first overtime win in the Cup Finals since Bobby Clarke scored in Game 2 of the 1974 series against Boston...Briere has five points (2G, 3A) in the Finals...Philadelphia improved to 3-1 in OT during these playoffs, while Chicago fell to 2-1...Chicago had been an NHL-best 7-1 on the road in this postseason, and has won seven in a row away from home prior to Wednesday...Philadelphia upped its home mark to 8-1 and has won six in a row in the Quaker City...Kane's goal was his first point in the series, and Toews' assist on the goal was his first point in the series...The Blackhawks haven't won in a Cup Finals extra session since May 4, 1971, Game 1 of that set against Montreal.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Gazing into our crystal puck
By Steven Lienert
The Phanatic Magazine
With the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs just a few scant hours away, Phanatic staffers have compiled an interesting view of the future. Will the Sabres cap their President’s Trophy season by adding another piece of hardware, the Stanley Cup, to their trophy case? Will San Jose be this year’s dark horse? Are the Red Wings and Devils really that good again? Here’s what the, ahem, experts say before they drop the puck:
Bob Herpen sees the sixth-seeded Rangers upsetting Atlanta in the first round, thus allowing Buffalo to avoid a bloodfest of a series with Ottawa in round two. That opens the door for a Buffalo-New Jersey Eastern Conference final, with Buffalo emerging as the Conference champion. In the West, Herpen likes another six-seed, the Dallas Stars, to knock off the Vancouver Canucks. In the second round, he likes Detroit to end the Stars’ playoff run, while fourth-seeded Nashville topples second-seeded Anaheim before beating the Red Wings for the Western Conference crown. In the end, like McManus, he sees the Buffalo Sabres skating with Lord Stanley’s Cup.
Mike Rushton also sees the Rangers emerging from their first-round series with Atlanta. But he has what I think every hockey fan this side of the Mississippi wants to see: an Ottawa vs. Buffalo series. Rushton has Ottawa knocking off everybody’s Stanley Cup favorite before losing to the San Jose Sharks in the Stanley Cup finals. How does he figure the Sharks get there? Rushton sees the Sharks upsetting Nashville in the first round before defeating Anaheim in round two. As if that weren’t enough, Ruston gives San Jose more love after he has the Sharks beating Detroit for the Conference title before hoisting the Cup in a win over the Senators. Wow.
Tim McManus is a man of few words when it comes to hockey, so he broke it down elementary style for everybody. He likes the Sabres to win the East and the Predators to win the West. Then going out on a Rushton-like limb, he likes the Sabres to finally get that Stanley Cup that has haunted them like Brett Hull’s big toe. He likes Buffalo over Nashville in six games.
Eric Redner wrote extensively on his picks and he clearly likes the Rangers and Penguins to pull first-round upsets (see ya Atlanta and Ottawa). In the West, he has Minnesota and San Jose advancing to the second round, meaning Nashville and Anaheim will be setting up early tee times. His predictions for the rest of the tournament will be laid out in full as it progresses.
Me? I like the top-four seeds to advance in the East, meaning Ottawa and Buffalo would square off in round two, while New Jersey and Atlanta play in the junior-varsity side of the bracket. I like New Jersey and Ottawa to play for the Eastern Conference crown, with the stinkin’ Devils emerging to play for yet another Stanley Cup. In the West, I like seventh-seeded Minnesota to upset Anaheim and Dallas to knock off Vancouver. In the end, Detroit will hold off Nashville in seven hard-fought games to win the West. And I forsee many octopi being tossed onto the ice at Joe Louis Arena when the Red Wings skate away with the Stanley Cup.
To recap, our Cup champions:
McManus: Buffalo
Herpen: Buffalo
Rushton: San Jose
Lienert: Detroit
Steve Lienert can be told he's clueless about hockey at slienert@phanaticmag.com
The Phanatic Magazine
With the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs just a few scant hours away, Phanatic staffers have compiled an interesting view of the future. Will the Sabres cap their President’s Trophy season by adding another piece of hardware, the Stanley Cup, to their trophy case? Will San Jose be this year’s dark horse? Are the Red Wings and Devils really that good again? Here’s what the, ahem, experts say before they drop the puck:
Bob Herpen sees the sixth-seeded Rangers upsetting Atlanta in the first round, thus allowing Buffalo to avoid a bloodfest of a series with Ottawa in round two. That opens the door for a Buffalo-New Jersey Eastern Conference final, with Buffalo emerging as the Conference champion. In the West, Herpen likes another six-seed, the Dallas Stars, to knock off the Vancouver Canucks. In the second round, he likes Detroit to end the Stars’ playoff run, while fourth-seeded Nashville topples second-seeded Anaheim before beating the Red Wings for the Western Conference crown. In the end, like McManus, he sees the Buffalo Sabres skating with Lord Stanley’s Cup.
Mike Rushton also sees the Rangers emerging from their first-round series with Atlanta. But he has what I think every hockey fan this side of the Mississippi wants to see: an Ottawa vs. Buffalo series. Rushton has Ottawa knocking off everybody’s Stanley Cup favorite before losing to the San Jose Sharks in the Stanley Cup finals. How does he figure the Sharks get there? Rushton sees the Sharks upsetting Nashville in the first round before defeating Anaheim in round two. As if that weren’t enough, Ruston gives San Jose more love after he has the Sharks beating Detroit for the Conference title before hoisting the Cup in a win over the Senators. Wow.
Tim McManus is a man of few words when it comes to hockey, so he broke it down elementary style for everybody. He likes the Sabres to win the East and the Predators to win the West. Then going out on a Rushton-like limb, he likes the Sabres to finally get that Stanley Cup that has haunted them like Brett Hull’s big toe. He likes Buffalo over Nashville in six games.
Eric Redner wrote extensively on his picks and he clearly likes the Rangers and Penguins to pull first-round upsets (see ya Atlanta and Ottawa). In the West, he has Minnesota and San Jose advancing to the second round, meaning Nashville and Anaheim will be setting up early tee times. His predictions for the rest of the tournament will be laid out in full as it progresses.
Me? I like the top-four seeds to advance in the East, meaning Ottawa and Buffalo would square off in round two, while New Jersey and Atlanta play in the junior-varsity side of the bracket. I like New Jersey and Ottawa to play for the Eastern Conference crown, with the stinkin’ Devils emerging to play for yet another Stanley Cup. In the West, I like seventh-seeded Minnesota to upset Anaheim and Dallas to knock off Vancouver. In the end, Detroit will hold off Nashville in seven hard-fought games to win the West. And I forsee many octopi being tossed onto the ice at Joe Louis Arena when the Red Wings skate away with the Stanley Cup.
To recap, our Cup champions:
McManus: Buffalo
Herpen: Buffalo
Rushton: San Jose
Lienert: Detroit
Steve Lienert can be told he's clueless about hockey at slienert@phanaticmag.com
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