By Hockey Guru
Why? Why go back on Chicago? The men-against-boys argument sounded good. The experience in the Philly lineup seemed good. The Flyers depth looked good.
(I blame my bookie, who wouldn't take my last-minute bet I tried phoning in from the airport).
But Chicago is really good. They may be young, but they're just really, really good. They do whatever they need to to win. Throughout Game One it seemed that if they needed a goal, they simply went out and got it.
Brian Boucher looked like an injured goalie. The Game Winning Goal was scored when he failed to extend his leg out when down in the butterfly - a move that simply seemed too painful to execute. If the Flyers need him again, they're toast.
Michael Leighton was a Chicago Blackhawk draft pick and player. It would seem that not only does the organization know him very well, but likely many of the players were in camps and on teams with him. (Okay lazy research, but the Guru gave the Research Department a day off today, for the holiday).
Fortunately for us fans, both teams believe that trading scoring chances will work to their favor. De-fense is merely de wall in the backyard that keeps the dog in. Expect another high scoring game tonight and another Chicago win. And tonight, Chicago gets a few Power Plays, especially towards the end of a relatively lopsided and chippy game.
Final Score: Chicago 7 - Philadelphia 3
