I too fancy the 'hawks. In how many I am not sure, the Flyers certainly play with heart and a fair amount of skill.
Hossa? strange how he plays, looks a very good player in all aspects of the game except for shooting.
From an Avs perspective I was originally disappointed we didn't play the 'hawks in the first round as I see the Avs playing a very similar style. I went to the next but last game of the season but the Avs put out a weak team against a full strength 'hawks so it was hard to tell how far behind the Avs really were. Now having seen both the Avs and 'hawks play the Sharks it, for me, has confirmed where the Avs strengths and weaknesses are. We need large, skilled, defenders. A human wrecking ball on attack could help too.
80f to 90f, perfect temperatures to watch the finals.

A bit of a wild start to the finals with Chcago beating Philly 6-5 in game 1.Neither n/m looking good but I think they'll settle down as the series goes on.

Yep and neither top line getting a point and combining for -16?

Think now game one is out the way hopefully the nerves will be okay for game 2.

Well game 2 is certainly more interesting so far and more like play off hockey with some big hitting and verbals going on.

Hawks take Game 2, 2-1 to give them a 2-0 lead in the Final against the Flyers. Hossa at last getting reward for all his hard work with a goal and Eager with a beauty 28 seconds later!!

Niemi again came up with some big stops as the Flyers threw everything at the Hawks in the 3rd period. Hope the Hawks road form can continue on Wednesday for Game 3 in Philadelphia.

Excellent glove save by Niemi from Asham in the 2nd and , as you say, Eager's goal was a beaut!

That save was unbelievable if its the one I'm thinking of where Niemi was already moving to the right but somehow managed to stretch back across and glove it out the air, plus the other save was the double save from Timonens slap shot and then Gagne on the rebound in the 3rd.

I see Laviolette is trying to put Niemi off his game with mind games by stating in his press conferences that 'he is a Rookie in a Finals' & 'he's representing a City who havent won a cup in 50 years' etc.

Hope the Hawks can beat the NHL record for consecutive road wins with a win at the Wachovia tonight

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Laviolette isn't the only flyer playing mind games as Pronger has acted like a child in picking the game puck off the ice at the end of games 1 and 2 before a Hawk could get it.He'll have 4 pucks soon if he wants them while the Hawks will be picking up the cup instead.

Flyers take game 3 with a 4-3 OT win. Hawks penalty kill and powerplay not performing as well as it has done. Just think the Hawks lacked a little intensity last night and also thought that a couple of the penaties given against the Hawks were iffy.

Still pretty confident they can step up another gear or two and take game 4 to head home with a 3-1 series lead.

This to me just means we can now win the cup at home in front of the Hawks fans in game 5

That would be sweet.



Go on Chicago.