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COLUMNS
- For most rookies, stargazing is a popular pastime Justin Bourne
- Will Twitter create an even duller hockey player? Justin Bourne
- Can a defenseman play forward? Should he? Justin Bourne
| Wild 'One' between 'Hawks and Flyers |
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| Headlines |
| Written by Denis Gorman |
| Saturday, May 29, 2010 23:42 |
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As the final second ticked off the clock at the United Center Saturday night, the first note of The Fratelli’s "Chelsea Dagger" exploded over the speaker system, while arms and a hat were thrown in the air. At first glance, The House That Jordan Made Famous appeared to celebrate yet another championship. The reality was that the Blackhawks had won one game. Just imagine what Chicago’s reaction if the Blackhawks win their first Cup since 1961. The Blackhawks are three wins away from ending the longest current Cup drought after outlasting the Flyers, 6-5, in a wild first game of the Stanley Cup Finals. Game 2 is Monday night at the United Center. It will be difficult for Game 2 to equal what transpired in the series debut. The game had six lead changes. Fifteen players finished with at least one point. Sixteen players finished plus-one or better. There were only four penalties called – all on the Blackhawks – and only one power play goal scored, by Scott Hartnell in the first period. Most fascinating of all was that both teams' leading men – the Flyers' Mike Richards and Jeff Carter and the Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane – were statistical non-factors. None of the four recorded a point and all were minus players. The pointless game ended a stretch of 13 consecutive with a point by Toews. Troy Brouwer (two goals and an assist) finished with three points. Dave Bolland (goal, assist), Tomas Kopecky (goal, assist), Kris Versteeg (goal, assist), Niklas Hjalmarsson (two assists) and Marian Hossa (two assists) recorded two points each. Patrick Sharp scored a goal. Danny Briere (goal and three assists) had a game high four points. Hartnell (goal, two assists) finished with three points. Aaron Asham (goal,assist), Ville Leino (goal, assist) and Chris Pronger (two assists) notched two points. Blair Betts (goal) and Darroll Powe (assist) had a point each. Kopecky beat Brian Boucher at 8:52 into the third period for the game-winner. Boucher (11 saves) replaced an ineffective Michael Leighton (five goals allowed on 20 shots) after the second intermission. Antti Niemi stopped 27 of 32 shots. |
