The Stanley Cup Playoffs, Games One And Two
The Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers, faced off together, with Doc Emrick and Eddie Olczyk commentating and doing play by play.
When you are in Chicago's home, there is a sign that says, Welcome to Madhouse, and Madhouse on Madison, and believe me, with all the fans in the place, yes, it is a madhouse.
As the first period began, it was anticipation, nerves for all players involved.I would of had butterflies or fire flies, and it started out with a bang.If I could go into total detail on all the body slamming and hits, wow, that would be something.At 16:34 in the first, the Flyers get on their first power play, but only managed to get two shots on goal and the Hawks killed it off.At 13:22 the Flyers rallied back and scored on a tip in from Hartnell and Leino, it didnt look like Hartnell had touched the puck though, then after further review the goal was given to Leino.
At 12:14 left in the first, Chicago gets on the board with a goal from Brouwer, assisted by Hossa and Sopel, tying the game up at one a piece.At 10:01 Patrick Kane gets a slashing penalty and at 8:10 with 8 seconds left in the Flyers power play, Bolland has a breakaway and scores shorthanded, and the Hawks take the lead 2-1.
With 26.3 seconds left in the first Briere shoots and gets his own rebound and scores and the Flyers take the lead 3-2.
Early in the second period at 18:47, the Hawks tie it up from Sharp, Brouwer and Richards and its tied at 3-3.Philadelphia goes back on the power play at 15:11 in the second.Four power plays already for the Flyers, and the Hawks kill off another penalty.At 12:40 Betts shoots from an angle and it hits the post and still goes in the net, Flyers take the lead 4-3.At 10:29 Versteeg scores and its tied again 4-4.Three goals in five shots for the Blackhawks.Yet Philly is out shooting them 25 to 18, and with 4:40 left in the second period, Brouwer scores again, the Blackhawks take the lead 5-4, and at that moment, the Flyers goalie Leighton is pulled from the game and Brian Boucher is put in.Nothing like a cold goalie, I bet he was freaking out, and I couldnt remember that last time I had seen him in the net.This just seemed to be crazier and crazier by the minute.
And with 1:11 left to play in the second period, Briere scores again, from Hartnell and Asham, tying the game up at five a piece with another period still left to play.
As the third period began, you would have thought that the intensity would have died down a little, but it was go, go, go and go for both teams.
At 11:35 in the third period, Tomas Kopecky scores from Versteeg and Bolland and the Hawks take the lead 6-5.The Hawks played rowdy, the Hawks played rough, but they held off the Flyers.The Flyers had maybe four or five power play opportunities and only converted on one by Pronger.The Hawks didnt have a single power play through the entire game and they Beat the Flyers six to five.Blackhawks lead the series 1-0.
Game two, Chicago and the Flyers, playing on Memorial Day.The game started out slow in the first period, and at 12:31, the Flyers go on the power play.The Hawks do a great job at killing the penalty, and the Flyers didnt record a single shot on goal on that one.Then at 5:13 in the first Chicago gets their first power play, but can not convert.Then again at 2:31 left in the first, shots were 9-3 Chicago, but they ended up being scoreless after the first.
By the time the second period started it appeared to be a totally offensive game, scoreless, not too many power plays, and shots were few and far between.At 14:52 in the second the Hawks go back on the power play, but still can not convert.Shots were 14-6 Philadelphia with 12:02 left in the second.In game one Chicago's face off wins to the Flyers were 40 to 24.With 5:49 left in the second, shots still favored Philly.
At 2:51 left to play, Hossa scores from Keith and Sharp, giving the Hawks a 1-0 lead, then at 2:23, Eager scores from Byfuglien and its 2-zip Hawks.28 seconds between the two goals.At 35.7 seconds, Flyers draw a penalty and will take their power play into the third period.
At the start of the third period, the Flyers carry over their penalty.The Hawks manage to kill it off.Keeping the Hawks in the lead.The Flyers need to get some Oomph or Chicago will take them by two games going into game three in Philadelphia.Shots are 22 to 18 in favor of the Hawks, and at 16:39, Flyers go on the power play and with one second left at 14:38, the Flyers score cutting the Blackhawks lead to one.But the Blackhawks hold them off and come out with a win and now are up 2-0 in the series.
With this being Chicago's longest drought since their last Stanley Cup win, I am most definitely attempting to pull for the Hawks, but stranger things have happened, so we will see.