NHL Stanley Cup Finals Update

Chicago Blackhawks (52-22-8) vs Philadelphia Flyers (41-35-6)
Stanley Cup Game 3: June 2, 8:00 PM | Wachovia Center

With two games of this year’s Stanley Cup Finals already history, Chicago has used their home ice advantage to take a 2-0 lead in this best-of-seven series. The action now shifts to Philadelphia for games three and four where the Flyers will look to do the same to try and even things up.

The Blackhawks came into this series as a prohibitive favorite to win their first championship since the 1960-61 season. After two highly entertaining games, they have hardly dominated the Flyers as everyone expected, but in the end they still have the two games to none edge. Before this series started Chicago was listed as a 2-5 favorite to win it all, while Philadelphia was listed at 3-1. I’m sure those odds have shifted heavily toward the Blackhawks after last night’s win in game two, but something tells me that this series is still far from over.

In game one both teams came out firing as they combined for five goals in the first 20 minutes. Every time Chicago scored Philadelphia was able to answer as the lead was never more than one goal. In the second period they combined for another five goals as the game was tied at five heading into the final period. The Flyers decided to pull goalie Michael Leighton in favor of Brian Boucher, who had played so well earlier in these playoffs in an effort to shut the Blackhawks down. Only one goal was scored in the third period and it proved to be the game winner as Thomas Kopecky found a way to get one past Boucher to give Chicago a 6-5 win in a wild one.

In game two both teams came out hitting as each side was committed to slowing the other side down. This time both goalies rose to the occasion as the first period ended in a scoreless tie. Leighton was back in goal for Philadelphia and Antti Niemi manned the nets for Chicago. Late in the second period the Blackhawks struck twice, first on a goal by Marian Hossa and one by Ben Eager just .28 seconds later to give Chicago a quick 2-0 lead. The Flyers were able to get one back with a little over five minutes gone in the third when Simon Gagne was able to beat Niemi off a deflection during a Philadelphia power play. They kept the pressure of for the rest of the game, but Niemi came up with a couple of huge saves to preserve the 2-1 win and send this series back to Philadelphia with the Hawks up 2-0.

So far the big names for both teams have been pretty quiet as most of the scoring has come from the second and third lines. With game three scheduled for Wednesday, June 2^nd at 8:00 P.M. you get the feeling that this will not remain the case as this series progresses. Chicago has to feel good about their position in that they have won the first two games while not playing their best hockey. Philadelphia on the other hand remains confident they can still win. They now know they match up very well with this team and can dig them self out of this hole with wins in the next two games at home.

Chicago Blackhawks Betting Trends:

• Chicago is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago’s last 6 games on the road
• Chicago is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
• Chicago is 4-13-1 SU in its last 18 games ,when playing Philadelphia

Philadelphia Flyers Betting Trends:

• Philadelphia is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games
• Philadelphia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
• Philadelphia is 13-4 SU in its last 17 games when playing Chicago
• The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Philadelphia’s last 11 games when playing at home against Chicago