In game one of the Stanley Cup Final between the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers, a total of 11 goals were scored. Stars Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter had none of those. Both of these teams are very deep offensively, which is why they are the two teams left standing in the playoffs. Game two goes tonight, May 31st, 2010 at 8pm EST in Chicago.
Every Stanley Cup Final has Unlikely Heros
Since the lock-out in 2005, the leading scorers in the NHL playoffs have been big name stars. Evgeni Malkin in 2009, Henrik Zetterberg and Sidney Crosby in 2008, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza in 2007, and Eric Staal in 2006. But the Stanley Cup isn't always won on the backs of star players. Games are won in the trenches, by role players and third and fourth liners who give everything they have on the ice. And in the case of this year's finals, game one was filled with secondary scoring. In 2007, Anahiem's checking like of Travis Moen, Rob Niedermeyer and Samuel Palsson were instrumental to the Ducks first Cup win. In 2008, third liner Dan Cleary played a huge role in the Red Wings Stanley Cup championship. The following year in 2009, grinder Max Talbot did the same thing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring both goals in a 2-1 victory to clinch the Cup. This season, names like Dave Bolland, Ville Leino, Aaron Asham and Troy Brouwer filled the headlines after game one. A total of 11 goals were scored, and the big stars on both teams were silenced. Although it's unlikely game two will feature so many goals, it's the secondary scoring that wins games when the stars are held in tight check.
Flyers are Going Back to Michael Leighton in Game Two
After allowing five goals on 20 shots, Michael Leighton got the hook in favor of Brian Boucher, fresh off injured reserve. Boucher was the guy who got the Flyers into the playoffs and into the second round, but it was Leighton who shut out the Canadiens three times and helped Philly get to the Stanley Cup Final. But head coach Peter Laviolette has decided to go back to Leighton, citing that he feels the netminder is good at bouncing back from a tough loss. Some have questioned the move, saying that Boucher is the better goalie, but the reality is that when the Flyers lost their number one goalie Ray Emery early in the season, they picked up Leighton on waivers despite already having Boucher. That move made it clear they didn't feel Boucher could carry the load, despite his stellar play at the end of the season when Leighton was injured. Philly is in a good spot, however, because Boucher is a capable netminder should Leighton falter again. They are in a much better position than Chicago, who has so little faith in back-up Cristobal Huet that coach Joel Queneville refused a make a switch despite started Antti Niemi allowing 5 goals as well. Perhaps depth in goal will be a factor as well in this series, because neither goalie was very sharp in game one. But both teams have a lot of work to do as they try to avoid another goal barrage like in the first game of this series.
Marcia Di Michele - In addition to Suite101, Marcy is also a writer for TheHockeyWriters.com and blogs for Sports Illustrated's Fannation page. Marcy has been ...
Join the Conversation