The hockey world knows the score. There are two kinds of finals. Some are let downs, after intense Conference championship battles. One team, totally wiped out, folds in the final. That's not happening this time. This one is loaded with suspense and game-changing leads.
The Stanley Cup 2010 series is deadlocked at two games apiece. The number of goals scored in four games is 29 - a bit on the high side, after the Game One rinky-dink-wheres-the defense game got out of both teams' systems. One team, the Flyers, have scored one more goal than the other team. 15 to 14 goals.
The goaltending has also been close. Both goalies (Leighton and Niemi) have save percentages just .001 apart. Philadelphia's is .883 and Chicago's is .882 - you can't get closer than that.
Philadelphia's play has been slightly more consistent in terms of shots on goal. 31 to 33 per game. That means Chicago has not been able to figure out a way to shut the Flyers' offense down. The Flyers on the other hand, have contained Chicago in two games to 26-27 shots on goal. The Hawks won the first one, with stellar goaltending (1 GAA). The Flyers won the next one with an OT goal.
What's missing in these playoffs is stand-on-your head goaltending, the kind that Jaroslav Halak came up with for the Montreal Canadiens before being de-railed by Philly. In past Cups, a goaltender has taken control of a series. Not this one, at least not yet.
The funny thing is that the Hawks had the second best goals against performance in the Western Conference during the regular season (209 GA). The Flyers, with 225 GA, were far down in the standings (and their last minute 7th place finish reflected that). So here's the question.
Will the law of averages finally re-assert itself? Will Chicago's defense and goaltending rise to the occasion and shut down the Flyers in game six? If they don't, is sure looks like Coach Q and the boys from the shores of Lake Michigan won't be parading a Stanley Cup down State Street this year.
One more note about personnel. Chris Pronger, age 35, has already won a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. John Madden is in the same position, age 37, with two Cups under his belt (a former NJ Devil on their 2000 and 2003 championship teams).
Marian Hossa, age 31, has never won the Cup. This is his third appearance in a final series. He missed with Pittsburgh in 2008, he missed with Detroit last year and this year, his chances are ??? What's more, Hossa has never won an international medal playing for his home country Slovakia, has remained medal-less in two World Junior Championships, seven World Championships, two Winter Olympics and one World Cup. The last time he won anything was the Memorial Cup in 1998 with the Portland Winter Hawks of the WHL.
If the hockey gods are watching, it is Hossa's turn to finally bring home some hardware. If he misses for a third consecutive time, Chicago can always hope for next year...or even 10 more. Hossa signed a 12 year contract with the Hawks. Somebody must feel he can keep playing until the ripe old age of 42. Some goalies make it that far, but a forward? Hossa must have a really good agent. In fact, the contract is a source of controversy in the NHL, because it may bend some of the salary cap rules. No forward plays until 42 years of age, unless you are Gordie Howe and want to play with your kids.
Hockey Rules.
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