Halfway Home

There's really not a whole lot more to say about these Blackhawks.  No matter what's thrown at them, they just keep on winning.  Last night's was their sixth in a row dating back to the clincher in the Vancouver series, and they've now won four in a row at home and will put their seven game road streak on the line tomorrow night.  They haven't played their best hockey yet in this Stanley Cup Final, but still, somehow, some way, have earned a 2-0 advantage over a very solid Flyers team.  A vastly different game from the opener, the two teams were scoreless until late in the second when the Hawks erupted for two goals in 28 seconds, getting tallies from Marian Hossa (remember him?) and former first-rounder Ben Eager.  Hossa's was a scrappy goal, gained from fighting for a rebound in front of Michael Leighton, who performed admirably in defeat.  Eager's, however, was not; he blasted a laser beam of a wrister just over Leighton's glove, popping the water bottle in the process and sending a partisan crowd (who'd just finished celebrating Hossa's) into delirium.  The Flyers mounted a furious rally in the third, tallying on a power play with about fourteen minutes to go; they'd pepper Niemi with shots the rest of the way, but our Finnish netminder stood tall, and denied the Flyers' bid to wrest home ice away from Chicago.  It's possible that the United Center may have seen its last hockey of the 2009-2010 season, but time will tell.  Personally, if the Hawks were to win, I'd love for it to be on home ice.  But they have a lot of work still to do; this Flyers team has already shown this postseason that they are never willing to say die.

• Love that we've won two games with nary a point from either Toews, Kane, or Byfuglien.  That line has been totally shut out, although they played much better yesterday than in Game 1. The fact that we have seven goals in the series from eight different guys from the 2nd/3rd/4th lines is simply remarkable, and a true testament to the depth of this team that unfortunately may not be there after the cap situation plays itself out this summer.  But at least we're taking advantage of it now.
• I don't think I've ever seen a goal celebration quite as cathartic as Marian Hossa's in the second period.  He's been playing some great, great hockey, but hasn't quite been able to put the puck in the net.  I'm sure he feels like the monkey is finally off his back.  He's been the best forward in the series thus far by a longshot; he clearly does not want to be a three-time loser.  He almost had a second goal a few minutes later, if not for an active stick by a Philly defenseman.  He has 3 points in the two games, and if he keeps playing at the high level he's at right now, he'll pile up a few more before it's all said and done.  
• Ben Eager showed why he was a first round pick a few years ago.  While he's settled nicely into his role as an enforcer, he clearly hasn't forgotten how to score.  It was a nice little Ovechkin-type move, pulling the puck in before shooting it so as to use the defenseman as a screen - it clearly fooled Leighton
• Antti freakin' Niemi.  How good was this guy yesterday? He made at least five or six above-average to outstanding stops that saved this game for the Hawks.  Again, he showed his uncanny ability to bounce back from subpar games to play a great one.  Just think, a little over a month ago, we were all worried about how the Hawks' goaltending might hinder their run for the Cup.  How long ago that seems.  And all the talk inbetween Games 1 and 2 about who the Flyers goalie would be served to highlight what wasn't being talked about in Hawks camp - never was it talked about on radio, in the news, in the paper, online, whatever, about who would start in goal for Chicago.  It was always Niemi, without a doubt.  What a legend he's forging for himself.  He's 14-4 in the playoffs, a new record for wins for a Hawks goalie in the postseason.  If you'd told me that in October, I might have laughed in your face.  Kudos to the front office and talent evaluators for snagging this guy, he's been more than invaluable this spring.  In fact, I'll go as far as saying we're not as far as we are without him.  Period.
• The power play needs to get better.  It just never looked comfortable at all in the three opportunities they got, and they're gonna need to cash in on the road this week.  I think it will be, because for whatever reason, they just seem to shoot more on the road.  In fact, their whole game plan is just simplified on the road, which has directly led to the seven-game streak.  I fully expect a split at least over the next few days
• It'll be interesting to see the fire drills that are the road line changes for the Hawks as Joel and Co. try to get their matchups.  He's done a masterful job in the past two series of outwitting his counterparts, and hopefully that continues at the Wachovia Center tomorrow night.  

It's been a helluva fun ride this spring, and the Hawks are closer than they've been in decades to the glory that comes along with being crowned Stanley Cup Champions.  Only two more stinkin' games to go.  Two (2).  That's it.  That's all. That's the magic number.  This Flyers team has showed a lot of heart, and has also outplayed the Hawks for long stretches of each game. But these players know how to win, and know what it takes to do it the hard way.  They can win playing their game, and they can win playing Philly's game.  It's gonna be fun to watch over the next few days.  History could be made.