We won! No we didn't! We won!
Whew! They are gonna need a fresh crowd off the bench after the Philadelphia Flyers rollercoaster 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals yesterday in Philly.
The home crowd was in a mood to start a little ruckus as D-train Daily Passenger, and Flyers season-ticket holder, Andrew P. posted on Faceook, "This is by far the loudest game of the playoff season, yet."
And the Flyers gave the home faithful reason to stay fired up with inspired play. On defense the were everywhere, and on offense they kept up the pressure on Chicago goalie Antti Niemi firing shots in waves.
Marian Hossa (we hate that guy) was called for slashing after swinging his stick down on Chris Pronger's. Hossa's penalty was further evidence that Pronger and his difficult nature is getting to Chicago forwards. Speaking of which, we love how Pronger has this microscope on him which in turn keeps it off his teammates. It's one of those intangibles that can help his team towards a series victory.
The Flyers cashed in almost a minute into the ensuing power play. Scott Hartnell, about to lose his skates, flipped the puck backdoor to Danny Briere and the roof came off the Wachovia Center as Philly a 1-0 lead.
Speaking of the call on Hossa, and calls in general, the refs are missing a ton of penalties on both teams. It is more than likely that due to the stakes (the calls would probably be made during the regular season), the refs are "lettin' 'em play" however, that does not account for the quick whistles whenever it even looks like Niemi has a whiff of possession of the puck.
Yes, we are being partial. This is the United States of Litigation, so fee free to sue us.
With respect to Hartnell's power play goal in the second period, why does play have to continue for so long before a goal is reviewed? Not wanting to interrupt a scoring chance for a team is understandable, but can't play be stopped once the puck is in say the neutral zone? And what of the almost two minutes of game-time that elapsed before play was stopped? The jury must disregard that time?
When Patrick Kane's wrister went high stick side on Michael Leighton to put the Blackhawks up 3-2 early in the third period, you could feel the collective tension throughout the Delaware Valley. The reality of a another 3-0 series deficit was staring Philly in the face. Surely the hockey gods would not be so kind twice in the same post-season to the Flyers. And considering the team's journey, it could not end like this. It wouldn't.
An immensely tense twenty seconds would pass before Ville Leino would put the puck in the net to force overtime.
The refs would have to use replay again to overturn a Philadelphia goal, but it may have been a case of delaying the inevitable. Claude Giroux sealed a Flyer victory and an exhausted D-train Staff could hardly stay awake.
On NBC-10, a report will be done on how Chicago fans were treated here in Philly.
Spoiler alert: rudely to say the least.
Nice take on the action. I learned a little about hockey replay last night...they can't review the on ice call until the next stoppage of play. The replay showed it as a goal so they changed the clock back to the time of the goal. Now, had the Blackhawks scored the goal would not have counted. I think the same applies for the Flyers, in that case, but I am not 100% sure.
ReplyDeleteOh, and even if the OT replay showed it as a goal they would not have given it to the Flyers. I mean, seriously, can you really end a Stanley Cup Finals game on a reviewed goal? How anticlimatic is that?
They call the United Center Madhouse on Madison. I think they should call the Wachovia roofless as the fans blew that roof clear across the Spectrum parking lot. What a scene!
Lets go Flyers!