The Cup

Thoughts on game 5 and musings for game 6:

A pity Jonathan Toews finally showed up to the Cup finals. Kane is also going a little more than he was earlier in the series.

It was no surprise the blackhawks played with such energy and desperation, they were facing an elimination road game if they lost.

In each of the games at the United Center, the Flyers have mounted comebacks only to be thwarted by soft goals – both by Leighton and Boucher.

How is it that the high stick on Briere that drew blood merited barely a mention by the announcers and not a penalty – especially after Emrick and Olzyck had already mentioned that linesmen can intervene on penalties if there is blood? Nobody saw the high stick?!

Is Jeff Carter going to step up or his still obviously injured foot going to prevent that?

Leighton should start game 6. He's so great at home. I would then start Boucher in game 7 in Chicago.

Similarly, I would scratch Carcillo for game 6 but play him in game 7 to help counter the Blackhawks' strong starts.

Unprompted by me, my kids have started calling them the "Blackstinks."

The Flyers' inability to clear the puck out of their defensive zone will likely be their undoing.

For all the gnashing of teeth by fans after game 5, this series is exactly where it should be. A game 5 upset would have been a terrific opportunity to gain control of the series but was probably too much to ask.

More to the point, if the Flyers win game 6 this series is about all Philly fans could hope for – a game 7 winner take all. Like Pittsburgh last year, I'll take my chances on anything happening in that one.

Hopefully, the extra day of rest will help Richards the most, who is clearly worn down.

For as dominant as Pronger has been on Chicago's top line, it's hard to believe it took Quennvile till the 3^rd period of game 4 to split up the Kane and Toews.

Don't Stop Believing!