but the hawks lost the penalty count 5-0.

It'as looking good for a Chicago/Philly SCF so far after both teams have taken 2-0 lead in their series.But neither team is nailed on for the final as Montreal have come back this year against better teams than the Flyers and Chicago have been struggling at home in the playoffs.

Still a massive win for the Hawks to take both games in San Jose tying the NHL play off record of 7 straight road wins (interesting stat that 3 of the last 4 teams to do this went on to win the Cup) but as you say their home form aint been so hot.
As long as they can hussle and create the space and speed against the sharks at home then it can only help as the Sharks are already frustrated.

I'd have settled for taking it 1-1 back to Chicago,i know i'm getting a bit ahead of myself but after watching the games this week I can't see a team that will stop us now.After being a fan since 1993 it seems a bit strange after all the bad seasons that in a few weeks Jonathan Toews could be lifting the Stanley cup.

I feel the same as would have been happy at 1-1 but its a massive boost to the Hawks and the opposite for the Sharks taking both games and opening a 2-0 lead in the series.
For me the strength the Hawks have is the fact they can roll 4 very good lines for the full 60 minutes where for me the Sharks maybe have 2.5 lines and think in these games that is showing as it di on Luongo and the Nucks. The Hawks just keep coming and its constant pressure no matter what line is out there. Plus Quenneville is being very astute with his match ups.
I really hope this is the year for the Hawks and its probably the best chance they've had since the days of Roenick, Larmer, Belfour, Chelios, Goulet, Noonan and Graham in 91-92.
Just hope Quenneville can get them fired up for the home games and take the series.

GET IN!!! Hawks take a 3-0 lead in the series with an OT win at the United Centre, Byfuglien getting the game winner and another great display by Niemi who has really stood up to the plate so far.

Think the Sharks will throw absolutely everything at us now, but them they've done that already and we have managed to ride the storm and find the wins by not letting up and sticking to the game plan.

Hope the OT win has really knocked the wind out the Sharks.

Dare I dream just yet

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WOOOOOOOOO WHOOOOOOOOOOOO Hawks beat Sharks 4-2 to sweep them out the finals. The BUFF strikes again



Is this really going to be our year

You'd have to say it's not looking half bad



I'd be happy right now if mine could actually make the playoffs

Well done Chicago Blackhawks.

So the final is set Blackhawks v Flyers

Saturday, May 29 at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Monday, May 31 at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 2 at Philadelphia 8pm
Friday, June 4 at Philadelphia, 8 p.m.
*Sunday, June 6 at Chicago, 8 p.m.
*Wednesday, June 9 at Philadelphia, 8 p.m.
*Friday, June 11 at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Come on Hawks bring it home

I'm with you all the way on that. At least the first game is on at a decent time for us Europeans.

Can Chicago get rid of the Hossa curse,this will be his 3rd SCF in a row with his 3rd team having lost the first 2.One of the big keys to the final will be can Pronger move big Buff from the front of the net.I can see Pronger getting frustrated and end up taking a few stupid penalties.

I'm looking at it as 3rd time lucky for Hossa. As for Pronger I think the speed and unrelenting pressure that comes with the Hawks rolling 4 lines will take its toll on an ageing Pronger even though he has had a good post season. He's logged alot of ice time already and that may well tell against the Hawks.

Think key to success will be whether Versteeg, Boland & hopefully Ladd can do to Richards, Gagne and Carter what they did to Thornton, Marleau & Heatley and nullify their offensive threat.
Who would have thought the Stanley Cup would be contested by 2 teams with pretty much inexperienced and realitively unknown netminders? Both of them have been outstanding question is which one will crack first under the pressure of the Final.

I really hope the Hawks win it now

Well the beers are in the fridge and chilling ready for tomorrow night. C'Mon Hawks this is your year!!!!

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

.

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