This years Stanley Cup Playoffs have gone like no one predicted. First, the Canadiens shocked the hockey world by upsetting the Washington Capitals , then went on to upset the defending Stanley Cup Champs in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Then there Cinderella story was crushed by the Flyers is a very disappointing five game series. The Philadelphia Flyers have had one of the greatest post season runs in not just recent hockey history but recent sports history. They surprisingly defeated the rival New Jersey Devils in a dominating five game series and then advanced to a series that will never be forgotten. The Boston Bruins had just come off a very impressive six game series against Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Sabres. The Bruins took a commanding 3-0 series lead and put a stranglehold on the Flyers and their post-season hopes. The series, in my opinion, had a swift change of momentum when Flyers star Simon Gagne returned from a broken foot injury and won game 4 for the Flyers in an epic OT game. During the next two games, the Bruins came out flat and stayed flat getting beat in games 5 and 6 pretty easily. Then game 7 came around. The Bruins, with there backs against the wall came out in game 7 firing on all cylinders taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the game. And then another momentum change happened in the Flyers favor during the last seconds of the first period when Flyers forward James Van Riemsdyk scored a goal that gave the Broad Street gang some life. From that point on the Bruins couldn't keep up with the Flyers went on to score the next 3 goals including the game winner from the series hero Simon Gagne. The Flyers completed one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. The Flyers took their 4 game win streak into a series against the Montreal Canadiens where they went on to dominate the series in five games. Now the Philadelphia Flyers will try to win their first Stanley Cup since 1974.
The Western Conference playoff series were nothing to exciting except for the epic 7 game series between the Gold Standard Detroit Red Wings and the playoff newcomers Phoenix Coyotes. The Sharks took care of the Avs in 6 , The hawks took care of the Preds in 6 and the Canucks took care of the Kings in 6. The Western Conference Semis lead to the Sharks taking care of the Wings in 5 and the Hawks taking care of the Canucks in 6. The Western Conference Finals gave the young Hawks team a chance to shine against the favored Sharks. Dustin Byfuglien and the Chicago Blackhawks put on a clinic against the San Jose Sharks sweeping them in 4 games and shocking the hockey world. The Sharks had no answer for the 6-4 250 pound Hawks forward in Dustin Byfuglien. Buff had a goal in all four games including two game winners in games three and four. Now, the Blackhawks will take on the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup finals and will have a chance to capture their first Stanley Cup since 1961 ending the longest drought in the franchises history.
Keys to the Series: Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks are going to need their playoff newcomer goaltender Antii Niemi to play as well as he has in the previous series or they will have a tough time beating the Flyers and their high powered offense. The Blackhawks core group of younger players will need to show up big for them to have a shot in this series. Patrick Kane and John Toews lead a great young group of players and have been really solid in these Stanley Cup playoffs and if the Hawks end up winning this series, either one of these future Hall of Famers will be leading candidates for the Conn Smythe Trophy. The Hawks young and talented Defensive core ( Seabrook, Cambell, Keith) will have their hands full against the talented Flyers offense.
Keys to the Series: Philadelphia Flyers
Michael Leighton, the Flyers goaltender, has seized the moment and has become one of the greatest stories of this years playoffs. After Brian Boucher went down against the Boston Bruins in Game 5, this rookie goaltender came in and has won 6 of his 7 games in net, recording three shutouts in that span. If he plays like he did against the Montreal Canadiens, I can see the underdog Flyers pulling this series out. The Flyer big three in Simon Gagne, Mike Richards, and Jeff Carter are going to need to have career series in order for the Flyers to take this series from the favored Hawks.
Both teams in this series have the veteran help that is needed for young teams to win championships. The Flyers have one of the better defense men in recent memory in Chris Pronger providing the veteran leadership, and the Hawks have veteran John Madden who has never missed the playoffs in his 14 year long career. Being a Wings fan, it is hard for me to pick the rival Blackhawks but I have to in this one. They have too much firepower for the Flyers to contend with.
Hate to say it but, I got the Hawks in 6.
Photo Credit: nydailynews.com
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