Blackhawks Off to a Good Start in the Stanley Cup

Written by: EricC on 30th May 2010

What a crazy way to start off the Stanley Cup Finals…64 shots exchanged and 11 goals made. The Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers went back and forth in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup, switching off the lead several times in the 60 minutes. In the end, Tomas Kopecky, who was absent from the ice in the last series against the San Jose Sharks, scored the Game Winner.

Nearly seven minutes into the game, Philly came out with the opening goal of the Finals, getting a lucky bounce off of Niklas Hjalmarsson. Only a little over a minute later, Troy Brouwer snagged his third goal of the Post Season with an assist coming from Marian Hossa. During the 11th minute, while the Flyers were on the Power Play, Dave Bolland made another amazing steal at center ice, making a breakaway and putting in a Short Handed goal. Unfortunately, a few minutes later, Philadelphia tied it up again with a Power Play goal, followed by taking the lead again with a goal in the final seconds of the period.

Patrick Sharp wasted no time in the second period, tying the game up again in the opening 1:11. Then, seven minutes into the period, the Flyers took the lead again, but Kris Versteeg evened things up again about two minutes later. With under five minutes remaining in the period, Brouwer put in his second goal of the game, giving Chicago the lead, once again.

Yet, the scoring wasn’t quite over yet; in the remaining 1:11 of the period, Philadelphia tied things up at 5-5. With two periods down and ten goals on the board, there was no telling what the third period had in store. A great effort by both teams in that final period, but Kopecky held the lone goal of the period, and it ended up being the game winner.

Antti Niemi may have given up more goals in this game then he did in almost the entire Sharks series, but they weren’t all his errors. There were some errors by the defense that left Niemi in a tough position. However, in the end, Niemi chalked up his 13th Playoff Win, and is now only three away from adding a Stanley Cup Championship to his resume. Niemi had 27 saves against the Flyers.

Game 2 will take place this Monday, May 31, at 7:00 P.M. The Hawks will try to continue their six game winning streak and take two games in this series.