Last night in Chicago the Blackhawks defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 to take a two games to none lead in their best of seven series. There are a lot of things that have happened during the first two games that I want to get into so let's not waste anymore time.
Style of Play: In game one Philly tried to play up-tempo hockey with the Blackhawks. That didn't work the way they hoped as Chicago won a 6-5 shootout. In game two the Flyers tried to play a more physical brand of hockey. That didn't work either as Chicago was able to win 2-1.
Early on it seemed like Philadelphia was so concerned with being the more physical team and setting the tempo of the game rather than scoring goals. Yet the Hawks were able to match them hit for hit and I thought they were the most physical team on the ice. It wasn't until the 3rd period where Philly stop trying to out-muscle Chicago and tried out scoring them.
I can't say I disagree with the Flyers plan of attack after game one but once Chicago took the lead the time for being the more physical team was over.
Goaltending: Both goalies were less than spectacular in game one. Both were able to bounce back strong in game two. Antti Niemi was strong in net for Chicago stopping 32 of 33 shots. The only goal that Philly scored was on a bouncing puck where Niemi was screened in front of the net. He faced a total of 15 shots in the 3rd stopping 14 of them, earning the first star of the game.
Michael Leighton bounced back from being pulled in game one with a stronger performance in game two turning away 24 of the 26 shots that he faced. Chicago's first goal came off a scramble in front of the net which I can't blame Leighton for.
The second goal which came twenty-eight seconds later on a wrist shot from Ben Eager is a shot that Leighton needs to make a save on. It's one thing if Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews or Marian Hossa scores on that shot. They are expected to do that. Ben Eager however is not. It's the only bad goal Leighton gave up and right now it is one of the reasons that Chicago is up two games to none.
Marian Hossa: After being MIA during last year's Stanley Cup Finals, Hossa has a goal and two assists after two games. I have heard at least two Chicago players say he was the best player on the ice in game one. With Kane & Toews being held off the score sheet after two games it is critical that Hossa continues to contribute.
Dan Carcillo: A big deal was made last night about Carcillo returning to the lineup after being a healthy scratch the last three deals. I would have to say his return was over-hyped. The only big hit he delivered was when he ran into his own teammate, Jeff Carter, and knocked him on the ice.
Other than Carcillo wasn't a factor in the game. One reason for this is that Chicago has the last change at home. Because of that Joel Quennville was able to keep Duncan Keith & Brent Seabrook off the ice when Carcillo was on the ice. Philly will have the last change when the series resumes at Wachovia Center on Wednesday night so I expect to see Carcillo going head to head with Keith & Seabrook.
So after two games Philly has a huge hole to dig themselves out of. They will tell you they have overcome adversity all season so this shouldn't be any different. It's one thing to win a shootout to make the post-season & rally against a Bruins team that couldn't throw a beach ball into the ocean. It's another to comeback from two games down against a Chicago team that can play any style of hockey. I expect Philly to play their best game of the series on Wednesday night. I'm just not sure it will be enough.
Thanks for reading & enjoy the hockey.
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