Game One: Blackhawks 6 Flyers 5

It looked more like a baseball game than a hockey game, but 11 goals after the opening draw, Chicago came away a winner in Game 1 in Chicago. If you are a Chicago fan, there is a lot to hang your hat on with the game. If you're a Philly fan, you're ready to turn the tables in game 2. Let's break down the 6-5 Chicago victory.

1. Antti Niemi did not have his best effort, but the team picked him up the way the netminder had gotten Chicago to the Stanley Cup.
If you give the argument that not every goal was entirely his fault, I'll agree. The defense struggled (see below). But he gave up a couple of very uncharacteristic soft goals. In any event, giving up 5 goals on 32 shots is not likely to win you a cup. But the way Niemi has played, a bad game played turns into 2 or 3 outstanding efforts. If history holds true, the Hawks may be able to use this as a jumping point.

2. The defense was horrendous.
Chicago may have their worst defensive game of the year. Multiple Flyer goals were results of sloppy Blackhawks turnovers. If Chicago can return to the defensive game and stop over rotating or making bad decisions with the puck (i.e. play like they did after game against Nashville, Vancouver and San Jose) they'll significantly cut down on Philly goals.

3. Guys stepped up on the scoresheet.
This is clearly a team that doesn't want to lose. That sounds obvious I know. But when your top line is a -3, the team is not usually winning. Just ask San Jose. Kane, Toews and Byfuglien all had the negative hat trick, yet the Blackhawks got two goals and an assist from Troy Brouwer, a goal and an assist from Dave "Breakaway" Bolland, a goal and an assist from Kris Versteeg, goals by Patrick Sharp and Tomas Kopecky, who was only playing because of the injury to Andrew Ladd, and the "Cursed One" named Marian Hossa had two assists. If Chicago has this much help from its bottom lines in this series, the game where Chicago's top line returns to form, could be the day the Blackhawks are too much to stop for the Flyers.

4. No Powerplays No Problems
The Blackhawks got exactly 0 chances with the man advantage. 0. In a game that is often decided on special teams, scoring 5 goals even strength and 1 shorty bodes well for the team when they start getting powerplays. This is Philadelphia they are playing. 0 penalties is not a standard. It is an anomaly.

5. They stood up to the Chris Pronger effect.
Physicality. That embodies the Philadelphia Flyers, and no one is more physical that Chris Pronger. Just watch what he did to neutralize Byfuglien. But the Blackhawks, who did struggle with the physical game in the first period made simple adjustments that allowed them to stick with the Flyers and eventually come out ahead. The biggest key to this series was going to be if the Blackhawks would be able to deal with a team as physical as Philadelphia. I think the answer is yes.

Now if you are the Flyers, yes you lost game one. But you have once again showed that you are not your everyday 7-seed. And you have every reason to believe that this series may end with the Stanley Cup in your hands.

1. Leighton struggled, but Boucher looked pretty good.
Michael Leighton looked like the goalie Chicago got rid of many years ago. It was a matter of time before he fell back to earth. Philly fans just hoped it wouldn't be so soon. But Brian Boucher, after not playing for a few games due to injury, came back and looked good in the 24 minutes he played. 12 shots on goal, only 1 slipped past him. If I'm a Flyer fan, the fact that my goalie came in cold and effectively stopped the Blackhawks, with the exception of the Kopecky gives me a lot of hope for when he is ready to start prepared.

2. 5 goals. 5 goal scorers.
Philadelphia was going to need all the offense they could get considering how Niemi was playing. Having 5 different guys on the scoresheet means that all cylinders are working for Philly and guys are stepping up at the most important time. It also means Chicago has to have every man covered because the Flyers showed that anyone on the ice can score. Blair Betts? Point made.

3. Chris Pronger
A lot was made of the Chris Pronger-Dustin Byfuglien matchup. Advantage Pronger. Not only did Pronger have 2 assists and a +2, but he completely stopped DB, making more trouble for Toews and Kanes. The fact that DB could never set up in front of the net means Pronger is in the head of the Blackhawks' big forward and once a guy is in your head you are never going to be as effective.

4. You can play with Chicago.
Philly now knows they can play with the best. They forced bad turnovers and lost the game by 1 goal on the road. There are no moral victories, but don't think for a second the Flyers lost any confidence. They gained it.

5. Daniel Briere is a monster.
1 goal and 3 assists in this game. The stars need to step up when the lights are brightest. Briere joined Pronger in that trend. Chicago can't necessarily expect its 3rd and 4th lines to be consistently providing the scoring, but Philly is expecting guys like Briere to step up, and he did just that.

It was fantastic game 1 for the 2010 Stanley Cup. Even if you are not a hockey fan, you could not helped but be hooked by this contest. Expect more viewers for game 2, but not more goals. I don't see this being a 6-5 series the entire way. The goaltending is too good. This will be the biggest key for game 2. Will Niemi return to form? Will Boucher be starting (I think probably)? Will the 1 line for Chicago be effective? Can Briere duplicate his masterful performance? Will the Hossa curse hit? We'll just have to watch to find out. It's going to be fun.