THE BLACKHAWKS WIN THE STANLEY CUP!!!!!

Last night in Philadelphia, it was finally the night when the Stanley Cup would be brought back to Chicago for the first time since 1961 with Patrick Kane's Overtime goal that won it for them. As the puck slipped through the pads of Leighton and no one new if it was in or not except fro Kane."I was just hoping to God it was just an actual goal," said captain Jonathan Toews, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP. "They came back hard in the third and we just stuck with it." With the Cup win this was also Hossa's first time lifting the Stanley Cup in his career after 2 back to back cup final losses."I'm so happy I finally did it," Hossa said. "We couldn't just put our heads down. We had to work, and we knew we could do it."

"There's so many great things about winning a Stanley Cup. This is it," Toews said. "This is the best feeling you can ever get. I just can't believe it's happened." So the great story of the Flyers had come to an end. But they can look back on this year and say: " This was a historical cup run." But we now they will just be thinking of how close they were to a Stanley Cup."It's no consolation," Hartnell said. "The storybook ending ended the wrong way for us. It hurts." Some bad news for the Maple Leafs is with the Hawks Cup win the Leafs now have the longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history (1967). It's offical the Stanley Cup Champs are the Blackhawks!!

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Scoring Summary

1st Period
16:49	CHI	PPG - Dustin Byfuglien (11) Wrist Shot - Assists: J. Toews (22) & P. Kane (17)
19:33	PHI	PPG - Scott Hartnell (7) Backhand - Assists: D. Briere (17) & C. Pronger (14)
2nd Period
08:00	PHI	Danny Briere (12) Snap Shot - Assists: V. Leino (13) & L. Krajicek (3)
09:58	CHI	Patrick Sharp (11) Wrist Shot - Assists: D. Bolland (8) & D. Keith (15)
17:43	CHI	Andrew Ladd (3) Tip-In - Assists: N. Hjalmarsson (7) & P. Kane (18)
3rd Period
16:01	PHI	Scott Hartnell (8) Tip-In - Assists: V. Leino (14) & D. Briere (18)
OT Period
04:06	CHI	Patrick Kane (10) Wrist Shot - Assists: B. Campbell (4)

HAWKS WIN GAME 5 7-4 AND ARE 1 WIN AWAY FROM THE CUP

Last night in Chicago, the Hawks beat the Flyers 7-4 and put themselves 1 win away from there first Stanley Cup since 1961 (longest drought in the NHL)."Getting down there two games in their building, we had to come back with some fire and get on them and show them we weren't going to quit," Byfuglien said (who scored the winning goal). "Right from the get-go we moved our feet and were physical." In the victory, Brent Seabrook, Dave Bolland,Kris Versteeg,Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp and Dustin Byfuglien (who had 2 goals) all scored in the 7-4 win and Niemi made 23 saves. As for the Flyers,Scott Hartnell ,Kimmo Timonen ,James van Riemsdyk and Simon Gagne all scored in this disappointing Flyers loss.

It was one of those games, high scoring hockey with no Goaltending and no defense. But at this point in the series I don't think the Flyers or the Hawks care as long as they win."I think it's a sign of reality," Hawks center John Madden said. "We haven't accomplished anything. Yeah, we're up 3-2 in the series and we've been able to hold home-ice advantage, but we know how well they play in their building. We have to get our rest, get our mind cleared on what we have to do on Wednesday. You can chalk it up to maturity, but I think guys are real focused on what they have to do and that's win the Stanley Cup." Game 6 will be Wednesday night at 8"00 Pm E.t on CBC, Versus and RDS.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

FLYERS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HOME ICE WITH BACK TO BACK WINS TO TIE THE SERIES

Last night in Philadelphia, the Flyers continued to be the best home team in these playoffs as they beat the Hawks 5-3 to tie up the series and improved there home record to 9-1."I said when we left (Chicago), I thought we could have won both games," coach Peter Laviolette said. "I like our game. I like what we're doing. It's going back and forth quick both ways. Guys are really competing out there. But nothing changed for us. Our game hasn't changed. Just the score changed."

The Flyers got started with a great first period by scoring 3 goals by Mike Richards (7),Matt Carle (1) and Claude Giroux (10) and giving up just 1 goal by Patrick Sharp (9) . There were no goals in the second. But in the third the Flyers added to the lead with a goal by Ville Leino (7) to make it 4-1. Game over right? Wrong as the Hawks scored a 5 on 3 powerplay goal (first powerplay goal of series) scored by Dave Bolland (7).Then the Hawks would cut the lead within 1 with a goal by Brian Campbell (1). But that's as close as they would get. As the Flyers would add an empty net goal by Carter(5) to make the score 5-3 and that's your final as the series is tied at 2-2 going back to Chicago.

"They've got a great team," Chicago's Marian Hossa said. "We knew it was not going to be easy. We have to play smart hockey. In the first period, I think we were running around in our zone too much. We just have to be much smarter." Game 5 will be Sunday at 8:00 pm E.t on CBC, Versus and or RDS.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

FLYERS WIN IN OVERTIME AND NOW TRAIL THE SERIES BY 1 GAME

Last night in Philadelphia, the Flyers played hard and beat the Hawks in overtime by the score of 4-3. The first goal came 15 minutes into the game by Danny Briere to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead. But it wouldn't last for long. As Keith would tie the game just 3 minutes into the second on a point shot. But 7 minutes later the Flyers would take the lead again on the powerplay with a goal by Scott Hartnell. The Hawks would tie the game on a point shot from Sopel. Then in the 3rd, Kane had a breakaway and he scored to give the Hawks the lead. But the way the game was going there was no way the 3-2 lead would last. As just a minute later the Flyers tied it with a goal from Leino. So were off to o.t. Then in o.t, Claude Giroux would score to give the Flyers some life in the series as they trail the series 2-1.

"I tried to get a stick on it, and it just trickled in," Giroux said. "Our line started playing well, so any time your line's going you just play better I think. The whole team just showed up tonight, and we really wanted that win.Desperation was the key word, I think. It's almost do or die." This was a great win for the Flyers they deserved it. But it could have gone either way. But it went the Flyers way and they all of a sudden have life. This was also a huge win for Philly because they snaped there 8 game Stanley cup Final losing streak and it couldn't have come at a better time."Right now it looks like they have the momentum in the series," Kane said. "But if we take Game 4, then we put ourselves in a great position to go back and play in front of our home crowd and hopefully win it there."

Game 4 will be Friday at 8:00pm E.t on CBC,Versus and RDS.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

HAWKS WIN 2-1 TO TAKE A 2-0 SERIES LEAD

Last night in Chicago, the Hawks came out to play. As they won 2-1 and took a huge 2-0 series lead. It all started late in the second period as Marian Hossa scored on a rebound to put the Hawks up 1-0. Then 28 seconds later Ben Eager scored on a great shot top shelf to put the Hawks up 2 going into the third. In the third the Flyers would get just the 1 goal from Gagne to break the shutout. As the final score was Hawks 2 Flyers 1."I think our 'D' played maybe a little bit better in front of the net in blocking shots and letting me see the puck," Niemi said. "But it's always a little bit about the luck, too, how you see the puck, and how it bounces."

More good news for the Hawks is 31 out of the 33 teams who took a 2-0 series lead in the cup final went on to win the cup. The only teams that have blown it were the Blackhawks (1992 VS Penguins) and the the Red Wings (2009 VS Penguins). So if you look at the stats you know this series isn't over especially since the Hawks franchise has blown it before. But I honestly don't think that they will blow it because in 1992 it was a different team."We had a little turnover at the blue line. I talked to Matt Carle about it. He said his gap wasn't as good as he wanted it to be, so it allowed him to walk in," Leighton said of Eager's goal. "I just didn't see him release the puck. He made a good shot."

Game 3 will be Wednesday night in Philly on CBC, Versus and RDS.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo