A team which allows five goals in one game will generally lose. Only, not tonight. Chicago took a scalp, despite letting the enemy into the teepee way too many times. It was a weird, wild, wooly game filled with run and gun fire-wagon hockey.
The most common scores in close hockey games are 3-2, 4-2 and 4-3. That reflects the average number of goals per game, which has been about six in recent years. A late third period score of 3-2 is not uncommon. From there, three outcomes are possible. The score can stay the same. The losing side pulls its goalie and has an empty net goal scored against it (4-2). Or the losing side scores, evens the game and then the contest goes to OT, ending 4-3.
Go over four goals allowed, and in most games, your offense cannot put enough pucks in the net to balance your leaky defense. But today, statistics were turned on their heads. In tonight's first 2010 Stanley Cup game, the number of goals was almost DOUBLE the league average over about 1300 games, for the past couple of years.
Go over four goals allowed, and in most games, your offense cannot put enough pucks in the net to balance your leaky defense. But today, statistics were turned on their heads. In tonight's first 2010 Stanley Cup game, the number of goals was almost DOUBLE the league average over about 1300 games, for the past couple of years.
John Madden, Chicago's veteran (and a Stanley Cup winner with the New Jersey Devils) called it a "weird game". High scoring game are more typical of amateurs who don't know how to play defense, and goalies in pickup games who get into the net because they can't skate.
The NHL is calling it a "wild game". The score was tied five times. That's never happened before. This game is also tied for the highest scoring Game One in Stanley Cup history. Chicago should not have won this game, except for the fact that Philadelphia allowed six goals.
Actually, Michael Leighton allowed five goals on 20 shots (.750 save%). Brian Boucher came in and settled things down, allowing one goal on 12 shots. But that was the straw that broke the camel's sagging back, and Boucher earned the loss. Chicago's Tomas Kopecky got the game winner with the sixth goal, at 8:25 of the third period.
Actually, Michael Leighton allowed five goals on 20 shots (.750 save%). Brian Boucher came in and settled things down, allowing one goal on 12 shots. But that was the straw that broke the camel's sagging back, and Boucher earned the loss. Chicago's Tomas Kopecky got the game winner with the sixth goal, at 8:25 of the third period.
Some predictions:
The score in Game Two will not exceed the total number of goals scored in the first period of this game (five). Philadelphia's spotty goaltending will even out with Boucher between the pipes. Unless Chicago's Anton Niemi can improve his own performance (he allowed five goals on 32 shots tonight), the Flyers will take the second game and eliminate home ice advantage, before the series moves back to Philadelphia.
The score in Game Two will not exceed the total number of goals scored in the first period of this game (five). Philadelphia's spotty goaltending will even out with Boucher between the pipes. Unless Chicago's Anton Niemi can improve his own performance (he allowed five goals on 32 shots tonight), the Flyers will take the second game and eliminate home ice advantage, before the series moves back to Philadelphia.
The Hawks should not be satisfied or happy tonight. They earned a sloppy, ugly victory because Michael Leighton and the Flyers' defense allowed six pucks to cross the goal line. It won't happen again.
Hockey Rules, but sometimes the games truly are weird.
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