So we’ve come down to the last two teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs. 28 teams finished the season, golfing, vacationing and watching the Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks square off for the holy grail of hockey. I must say that there have been several surprises along the way. When I looked at the 8 teams that represent the Eastern Conference, I would have predicted that Washington or Pittsburgh would have emerged as the Eastern Champions. Philly has defied all expectations.

They beat New Jersey handily relying on a rock-solid defense and a great goal from Brian Boucher. They then fell 3 – 0 to a soft Boston Bruins team, who subsequently disappeared and squandered a 3 game to nil lead, and then a 3 – 0 nil lead IN BOSTON in game seven. I can’t say I was surprised the Flyers beat the Montreal Canadians. After putting their hearts and souls into taking down the biggest guns in the East (Ovechkin and Crosby), the Habs looked tired, sluggish, and were abused by a bigger, stronger, meaner Philadelphia team.

The Blackhawks were an easier pick to emerge as West champions. They beat Nashville in a tight series, then easily dispatched the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks. There are arguments that the West is a tougher conference, but the playoffs are a different season altogether. The Canucks and Sharks are perennial playoff flops and the Blackhawks played solid enough to send them into their early hours.

The first game of the final was amazing and lived up to all the expectations I had after an action packed first 3 rounds. The first period was dominated by the Flyers. The Hawks couldn’t handle Philadelphia’s tough, skillful and fast forwards. However, the Hawks held their own and began to match the pace in the second period. The game was tied at 5 going into the third period in Chicago. Needless to say, with ten goals in total scored in 2 periods, both goalkeepers played a mediocre game.

The third period was back and forth, but the Chicago d-men were much more adept at keeping the pucks in the Philly area. The tide turned when Tomas Kopecky scored a patient but skilful goal that ended up being the winner. Philly stood her ground on Hawk’s trail, but couldn’t survive them.

The game was a blast to watch. Of note is the battle between Chicago’s gargantuan 260-pound forward Dustin Byfuglien and Philly’s obnoxious giant Chris Pronger. They both used their bodies against each other and the confrontation was exciting. It looks like Pronger won the battle, keeping Byfuglien and linemates Toews and Kane off the scoreboard, but Chicago won the war in that game as they headed into game 2 leading the series by one game.