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How What We Saw In Game Two Shapes the Series. |
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Game two was a lot more like it. Here are some Quick Hit Observations on where we sit now in the series before going to work on my "off-day" rumor blog..
On the City of Chicago...
*Since the lockout there has been no cooler place to house a Cup Final. I LOVE this town. Great, nice people everywhere. Chicago folks are outgoing and friendly. The arena staff at the United was bar none as good as any I have seen. But mainly, the town is...well it's CHICAGO. It has everything. I am really hoping to get a return trip for at least one more time during this Final.
On the United Center...
*It's a very different experience than most. There are moments when they are louder than loud. The pre-game video montages are absolutely awesome. More so than any building I have ever been in. Really strong hap tips to the past.
*The Anthem may be the best, and if there is one thing we can be sure of with the loud anthem cheering in Chicago and "God Bless America" in Philly, we are witnessing the two best American Anthem experiences in the NHL. In both cities you get chills on top of chills. Simply awesome.
*However, as the game is going, the United Center is far more reserved and quiet than the Wachovia Center, the Bell Center, or Boston's TD Garden. Hawks fans are knowledgeable of the game, but I get a sense they are almost too intense at times. They can get VERY loud when their team scores or when the victory has been achieved, but these aren't the "hang on every shift, every pass, every movement" fans I am used to. Not a ton of the "oooohs" when a puck flies by the net.
*Home Ice Advantage in the playoffs is often almost laughed about as to its importance, however when you get to the Cup Final I feel it plays a much bigger role as the away team tries to figure out how to play against a team they have had little experience with. The Flyers tried all sorts of schemes out in the first two games, but it wasn't until game 3 that the schemes started to work for them. You can tell a scheme is working when it starts to show weaknesses which may have gone previously unnoticed.
On the Flyers...
* I think Danny Briere nailed it when he said the team played way too conservative of a game. In Game 1 I thought they actually played a better first two periods. The Flyers did go into their shut-down mode they tend to do when their goalie is struggling. In the first period they looked to be in a counter attack mode, and while they definitely limited the chances, they also created very little. The Flyers came out playing like they were a team who was protecting a lead.
* I have talked to Claude Giroux many times this year, but last night when I talked to Claude he was much more focused. He felt the team didn't start to move their skates until the last 25 minutes. He was quick to add however that once they did they saw some things they felt they could exploit. He actually said, "We will score more now. We know what to do now."
*Scott Hartnell had a monster game in Game 2. We haven't seen this Hartnell in a while, but he really has become quite the factor now. He never gave up on a puck in game 2.
*Ville Leino has gone from healthy scratch to "major factor." His patience and strength on the puck gives his linemates a ton of confidence.
*The Flyers adjusted to the speed of Chicago in the third period.
On the Hawks...
*To have a weapon like Hossa really makes Chicago hard to play against. It amazes me that he is almost an "afterthought" on this team when you think of players you need to shut down. He is such a smart player though and you could see the all out joy in him last night after putting one in.
*Toews and Kane are going to score. They are getting closer and closer and I am not sure if it is nerves, their youth, or the Flyers ability to get Pronger or Timonen against them. Toews especially looked stronger in game 2. He had a few really nice moves that could have easily resulted in goals.
*Niemi is completely "in the zone" right now. His feet are as quick as any I have seen. You simply aren't going to get anything past him down low. He is also has such a strong concentration level. He can go a few minutes without a save and still be in top form.
*Keith is truly a marvel to watch. Often times young defensemen can be burned because they are being too tentative. Whatever the opposite of tentative is how I would describe Keith.
*The Hawks have put themselves into a glorious position, but need to guard against the desperation and resiliency they will see in Philadelphia.
On Game 3...
As I said before the series, no two games will be alike. So far I am 2 for 2 with that wisdom. Both teams looked ready to get out of Chicago to me. For the Hawks, the constant having to entertain family and friends was wearing on them. For the Flyers, the confidence they have in playing in the Wachovia Center may be all they need to get the "one more bounce" which could make this a really long series.
Update: Two best quotes from today's Flyer's presser:
Pronger: "They [Hawks] did what they were supposed to do, defend their home ice. Now it's our turn."
Laviolette: on Niemi..."He's a rookie goalie in his first SCF with a city that hasn't won a Cup in fifty years. We have to make it harder for him. We have to put a crack of doubt in him."
Be back in a bit with your rumors and update to the Rumor Chart
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