The following preview comes courtesy of Sports Network. SB Nation's Travis Hughes is at the Wachovia Center for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, so check back throughout the day for the hype leading into Wednesday night's game. In the meantime, read more at our Flyers blog, Broad Street Hockey, and our Blackhawks blog, Second City Hockey.
The Philadelphia Flyers hope a trip back home can get them on the board in the Stanley Cup Finals when they host the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 tonight at Wachovia Center.
The Blackhawks held serve at the United Center in Games 1 and 2, winning both games by one-goal margins. Chicago earned a 2-1 decision in Monday’s second contest to grab a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Chicago is 18-2 all-time when winning the first two games of a playoff series and is now just two victories away from its first Stanley Cup title since 1961.
The Flyers, who haven’t won the Cup since 1975, are counting on getting back in this series in Philadelphia, where the club is 7-1 since the start of the playoffs.
"Obviously, not the way we wanted to start the series," Flyers captain Mike Richards said after Game 2. "But going home, I said all along, we played well there. We feel very comfortable playing there. So we have to go in and play like we have been lately."
The problem for Philadelphia is Chicago has been just as good as the road team during this postseason, posting a 7-1 record away from the Windy City.
Also tonight, the Flyers will also be aiming for their first win in the Stanley Cup Finals in 23 years. Philadelphia, which was swept by Detroit in the 1997 Cup Finals, last won a game at this stage against Edmonton in Game 6 on May 28, 1987.
The Blackhawks scored two goals in a span of 28 seconds late in the second period on Monday and then rode goaltender Antti Niemi to the 2-1 victory,
Marian Hossa and Ben Eager scored the quick goals in Game 2, a contest that was a different beast from the 6-5 offensive show in the series opener.
"We're finding ways to win these one-goal games," said Chicago right wing Patrick Kane. "You start out 2-0 just by winning by one goal. It's a funny thing, but I think throughout the season you see it by being down three or four goals and winning the game."
Niemi, lit up for five goals on 32 shots in the first game, had a terrific performance over the last two periods of this contest, as he stopped 29 shots in the final 40 minutes and finished the game with 32 saves. He has led Chicago to seven straight victories, dating back to Game 6 against Vancouver in the conference semifinals.
"He just shows up to play every night," said Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith of Niemi. "He works real hard in practice. He doesn't like any pucks getting by him. We're real confident when he's in net."
Simon Gagne scored the lone goal for Philadelphia, tallying his eighth goal of the playoffs in the third period. The Flyers dominated Chicago over the final 20 minutes of regulation in Game 2, outshooting the Blackhawks by a 15-4 margin.
“It’s disappointing because we had our opportunities in the third period,” said Richards. “We had a mediocre second period that cost us. We need to have a consistent 60 minutes next game.”
Flyers netminder Michael Leighton, back in net after being pulled late in the second period of Game 1, stopped 24 shots for the Flyers.
The Flyers have won just one series in their history after falling behind three games to none and, of course, that came earlier this postseason when they rallied to defeat Boston in seven games.
This is just the second-ever playoff meeting between Chicago and Philadelphia. The other battle was in the 1971 quarterfinals, a series that was swept by the Blackhawks.
Flyers 4, Blackhawks 3: Game 3 Scoring Chances
The Copper & Blue has been tracking playoff scoring chances for two months, and in this series, they can’t believe what they’re seeing. Not only is Philly getting the better of the play, they’re doing so by a significant margin. From Scott Reynolds:
For three consecutive games, the Flyers have outchanced the Blackhawks by a 4:3 margin or better. For three consecutive games the Flyers haven’t looked out of place. In fact, for three consecutive games, the Flyers have been the better team everywhere except between the pipes. And last night, they even managed to win the game! Patrick Kane’s goal to open the third period could have been a dagger to the heart but the goal seemed to instead give the Flyers new life. After responding with a goal of their own, the Flyers prevented Chicago from generating a single dangerous shot that actually required a save from Michael Leighton. Ridiculous. On top of that, they generated a bunch of chances themselves - the puck does need to be somewhere after all - and eventually capitalized by scoring in overtime. And when that was disallowed, they went out and scored again. The even strength chances with the score tied now stand at 28-21 in favour of the Flyers through three games. Every time I look at those numbers, I’m surprised anew. The Hawks had best get it together if they plan on winning this thing.
Read Article >VIDEO: Claude Giroux’s OT Game-Winner To Lift Flyers Over Hawks In Game 3
In Philly’s 4-3 overtime win over Chicago in game three of the Stanley Cup Finals, Claude Giroux scores perhaps the biggest goal of the Flyers 2009-10 season.
Read Article >Giroux’s Overtime Score Lifts Flyers To 4-3 Victory, Series Now 2-1 Blackhawks
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Claude Giroux’s tally at the 5:59 mark of overtime lifted the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals from Wachovia Center.
The play began with Danny Briere carrying the puck down the left wing. He stopped below the circle, and dished to the point for Matt Carle. The young defenseman’s slap-pass found Giroux in the slot for a deft deflection that managed to trickle through Blackhawks netminder Antti Niemi and in.
Read Article >VIDEO: Kate Smith And Lauren Hart Sing ‘God Bless America’ Before Game 3
The late Kate Smith was the Flyers good luck charm back in the 1970s. Now, her voice lives on at every big Flyers game, as Lauren Hart peforms a duet with her on the Wachovia Center video board. The chills are there every time, but they’re multiplied in the Stanley Cup Final.
Behold:
Read Article >VIDEO: Flyers Fans Confident Before Stanley Cup Final Game 3
PHILADELPHIA -- Sure, they have a reputation of being a little brutish, maybe even a little bit dense. But Flyers fans outside of Wachovia Center prior to Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final aren’t just hopeful that their team will pull out a victory against the Chicago Blackhawks. They’re downright confident.
Just ask the Hairman, who spoke to myself and Brandon Worley of NBC’s ProHockeyTalk out in the parking lot just a bit ago. After a four year absence, the alter ego of Bill Page has returned.
Read Article >‘Status Quo:’ Andrew Ladd Still Out For Stanley Cup Final Game 3
There was some speculation that Andrew Ladd could return to the Chicago Blackhawks lineup for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, but after the forward took the ice in Philadelphia for the team’s morning skate, the team shot down any hopes that he’d suit up.
Head coach Joel Quenneville said that the Blackhawks lineup ill be “status quo” on Wednesday night, meaning Ladd is sitting out for the third game in a row after injuring himself in the final game of the Western Conference Finals against San Jose. Tomas Kopecky will stay in the lineup in place of Ladd.
Read Article >No Changes In Flyers Lineup For Stanley Cup Final Game 3
While not official, it appears as though the Flyers will employ the same lineup in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals as they did in Game 2 on Saturday night.
James van Riemsdyk and Ryan Parent, each removed from the lineup prior to Game 2, skated with the reserves at the morning skate on Wednesday morning prior to Game 3. This likely means that Dan Carcillo, who replaced van Riemsdyk, and Oskars Bartulis, who replaced Parent, will be right there in the thick of things come puck drop on Wednesday night.
Read Article >Game 3, 8:00 P.M.: Confident Flyers Look To Get On Board At Home
The Blackhawks held serve at the United Center in Games 1 and 2, winning both games by one-goal margins. Chicago earned a 2-1 decision in Monday’s second contest to grab a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Chicago is 18-2 all-time when winning the first two games of a playoff series and is now just two victories away from its first Stanley Cup title since 1961.
Read Article >
