Chicago Blackhawks vs Philadelphia Flyers (Gm 6)

Chi-Phi Musings and In-Game Scribbles Stanley Cup Final

My English is as good as yours, I just write these in a stream-of-consciousness mode that I insist excuses me from small things like rules of grammar or general etiquette. Let’s call it conversational English, hopped up on beans. You know what kind of beans (no, Carl Mellesmoen, not the magic ones).

Chicago Blackhawks
visit
Philadelphia Flyers

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

Round Four – Playoffs (Chicago leads series 3-2)
Game Six (score posted following scribbles)

Missed it? Musings capture the game in writing. A written transcript typed during the game, posted and edited about thirty minutes afterward. Based on the RDS French telecast of the Montreal Canadiens game, Musings take about 20 minutes to read. More detailed than an article, fresher than a looping highlight and good with morning coffee. Or late-night chocolate. A unique way to re-experience the game.

Brunet and Houde discuss Byfuglien’s expected role for tonight’s game.  He came alive in the last game, connecting for two assists and two goals en route to a 7-4 Chicago win.

We’re playing in Philadelphia which means that the home team will use the Kate Smith advantage.  Or what seems to be an advantage.  The Flyers are 9-1 when playing a pre-recorded video of the old chanteuse singing God Bless America before the game.  She passed away in 1986 but her legacy has been a good luck charm of sorts since, never moreso than this season.  ( I don’t know why I said “we”.)

Tonight is her last performance of the season.  And the Flyers’.

Reseau des Sports featured a farewell segment for outgoing analyst Jacques Demers prior to the game lead-up and invitees included some of his former 1993 Stanley Cup champion players Vincent Damphousse, Patrick Roy, Eric Desjardins, Patrice Brisebois and Guy Carbonneau.  The gesture was warm, long and appropriate.  Demers was presented with a uniquely emblazoned Senateur jersey with a specially drawn image of the former coach.  Demers is leaving to more fully serve as a Senator at the federal level.

He was appointed some months ago.

I’m fighting a cold and trying to stay in a calm, monkish frame of mind so I won’t tell you that the false minister issued an all-French edict to Demers during the special segment; a pre-recorded message in French designed to, uh, build good will.  Does he believe Quebeckers are fooled?  Not this one.

Now a video montage accompanies shots of both teams leaving their respective dressing rooms.  The arena sounds about as loud as the Bell would for any game six.  Philly is a hockey town, yes.  But no hockey town is the mecca and flaming forum of hockey; the carnal cathedral that is the Montreal basin building of ice and stick work.

Lauren Hart sings the hopeful song for her team.   Same black leather jacket.

RDS’ Luc Gelinas interviewed Kimmo Timonen prior to these introductory proceedings.  It was an English interview and Timonen was as smart in his answers as ever.  But smart answers won’t be enough tonight.

Bob McCown said that at this point there are no flukes.  But I disagree.  Hockey is too capricious a game to reward its best.

Chicago should have their own anthem.  And they, like the Cleveland Indians and Washington Redskins, badly need to update their inappropriate and offensive logo.

Stephen Walkom and Kelly Sutherland are the referees tonight.  Antti Niemi and Michael Leighton are the goalies.

First Period

Hawks win it.  Keith to Seabrook.  Launches it down the ice.

Hossa controls in his whale marvel manner.  Early shot results and Houde’s voice rises.  He is a bit shrill tonight.  Burish, Hendry and Johnsson are the absentees from the Chicago lineup tonight.

Puck goes out of play.  Faceoff to Leighton’s left.  Flyers trundle down.  Puck is retrieved by Chicago immediately.  Their entry is rebuffed quickly.

Niemi handles a surprise shot.  With Philly most shots are surprises.  Their defensive bulwark is the where and the why.

Now an off-wing shot from the Flyers.  Handled.

Flyers are seeking to move against the Hawks.  Two carries.  Two exits and a dump-in neutralized.

Kane’s line hops on.  Briere’s is against them.  Long puck from the Flyers is called for icing.

Brunet says that Niemi needs to be very vigilant tonight.   I said I’d be a monk tonight.

Faceoff to Leighton’s right.  Richards versus Toews.  Toews wins it.  Hossa has it in the corner.  Supported by Toews.  Now Hossa drifts away as a second forward advances.  Hawks effect a long possession of more than fifteen seconds.  Four shots on the sequence, says Houde.

Puck is in the corner to Niemi’s right.  Lasts about two seconds.

Kane exits.  Over the line.  Down the right.  Pass to Sharp is too bright, says Houde.  Yeah, yeah.  Live?  Just a touch too strong, shall we say.

Jeff Carter delivers a blow for Flyers.

Gagne sneaks in thru several.  Shoots.  Stopped.  A good chance says Houde.

Flyers repel two Chicago exits.

Campbell sends a puck long to the centre line.  Hossa manages a sharp-angle shot as a result.

Hawk three-on-two follows.  Dies inside the blue.

Crowd boos.  Houde says that interference was close.  Uncalled.

Kane is in on the right.  Offside.  High bouncing puck.

Just over twelve minutes left in the first period.

Chicago’s initial juice is half-done.  They will get by on smoothness and odd-man exits for now.

Hey, how many of you realised that Chicago forward Kyle Beach is from North Vancouver?

The commercials look new.  I haven’t watched an RDS telecast since my dual input set-up from the last round.  Game five.  I’m getting there, I’m getting there.

Some replays of Leighton’s work in net.

We resume.

Campbell in the neutral zone.  Pass.  Pass again.  Hjalmarsson is bumped back as he releases a long puck.  Flyers exit.

Seabrook retrieves the dump-in.

Duncan Keith enters on the left.  Just to the hash.  Drop pass.

Penalty against the Flyers.  Pronger cruises over to impose his surly and unsavoury will on an official.  Fails.  And he goes to the box after failing at drawing a Black Hawk in with him.  What a piece of work.  Holding.

First thirty seconds are a wash.

Kane finally gets control of the puck at the hash.  Turns and moves to the blue with it.  Pass.  To the blue.  Shot.  Tink.  Rebound.  Big net.  Missed.  Houde allows his cool to click off.

Toews’ line leaves.

Campbell enters down the right.  Backhand pass to the slot is careless and the turnover forces Seabrook to retrieve.  Sopel and Kane work the puck in.  Kane has it at the slot.

Byfuglien works to control a puck at the side following more quality passing from Kane.  Kane has the patience of a snake-man.  Oil and slither, hither and venom.

But the Flyers survive the penalty.

Faceoff to the right of Leighton.

Flyers win it.  Their exit ends in a turnover in the neutral zone.  Retrieval.  This entry is better.  Coburn on the right.  TO Carter in the slot.  Loud pad.  No crowd.  No goal.

Hawks exit on a four-on-two.  They bungle it.

Hossa is on with Toews.

Leino chases a puck into a corner.  Keith is taken off the puck.  Toews supports on the other side.  He is knocked down.  Crowd loves it.  Several fans rise in the area.  Fists pump, flags wave.

Seabrook nails Leino seconds later.

Seabrook is beaten on in incursion.  Turns and corrects the error.  Giroux was stopped and downed.  Niemi traps a puck.

Replay shows a Hartnell double, no triple, no quadruple-hitter.

Brunet compliments Hartnell and says that the Regina native senses the need to revive the Flyers.

Hawks lead on shots 11-3.

Flyers’ pressure results in a Sopel penalty.  Sopel bears a non-plussed expression as he exits the ice surface.  Replay shows the call is legit.  Nothing less was expected.

First puck is cleared.  Pronger carries it up from behind his net.  Pass to the left.  Entry.

Flyers control.  Single player on the blue.  Pronger.

Controls is good.  Seven straight complete passes.

Finally a poor Richards’ pass ruins the timing and the beauty.  Flyers retain, however.

Four passes.  A shot.  Low danger.

Crowd is at a constant low beer level.  Waiting for something to exult over.

But the Flyers aren’t able to create the spaces they need and the Hawks playing a soft box are able to move when needed.  Seabrook and Keith hold down the staple ends to close the power-play.

Kane and Hossa follow as Chicago returns to full strength.  Toews is with them.

Pressure.  Kane orchestrates.  Their spaces create white.  And now they draw a whistle.  Flyer penalty.

Pronger again.  Brunet says that Pronger’s hits have become more vicious as the series has progressed.  He suggests warmly that Pronger should be cautious.

Early control by the Hawks.  To the point.  To the hash.  Under the end-line.  To Byfuglien in the low slot.  In the net.

Goodbye, sweetheart.

Chicago 1, Philadelphia 0

Seabrook is called for a high stick.  Hit Hartnell in the face.  It was accidental.  Uh, no.  It was an elbow.  And it was on purpose.  Seabrook argues the call.  Now he is in the box.  Head drops.  Rises again.  Both hands clutch his stick.

Briere is on the first wave with Giroux.

Early exit.

Hjalmarsson and Sopel are the first defence pairing.

Richards has it behind the net.  To the high circle.  Shot results.

Briere kicks someone after the whistle.  Uncalled.

Faceoff to Niemi’s left.  Shots are 17-3 in favour of Chicago.  Two minutes in the period.  One minute in the period.

Flyers control off the faceoff.  To the point.  But it’s a flustered attack and a savvy Hossa and determined Toews who provide kill pairing certainty.

Toews blocks two shots to close the sequence.  Flyers’ control was adroit but not enough.

Penalty ends.  Whistle goes as Patrick Sharp flies down the right side.

Sopel is called.

In 1985, even I would have been annoyed by the number of whistles.  Annoyed at a ref.  But these days, I blame not the refs, but the players.  And generally they are the ones who should be blamed.  Don’t commit the penalties.  That’s my message.

The days of arguing a drunk-driving call with an officer are over.  Blame not the police.  Blame your boozed-up self.

Flyers score.  Hartnell.  Brunet says Chapeau.  Compliments Hartnell.  Is Brunet hoping for a monogrammed towel and keys to the executive sauna?  Or what.

Philadelphia 1, Chicago 1

Crowd is alive.  But they sound subdued.  They are frightened.  As should be expected.  A loss tonight ends their season and allows the Cup to be skated around their ice.

Shots on goal are in favour of Chicago 17-7.

Hartnell’s goal came from the crease and after being knocked down, slashed and mishandled by Hawk defender Duncan Keith.  Keith is a Winnipeg, Manitoba native.  If the NHL can publicize heritage on their site, so can I on mine.

First Intermission
Philadelphia 1, Chicago 1

There are knuckleheads on both teams but King Frat Boy is tipping the scales for me.  And has most of the series.  Our false minister should arrest him the next time he sees him.  Stealing pucks is a crime.  And we’re building jails up here.  Now aren’t we.

Weird new alignment on the studio panel.  Hartley and Morissette with the pretty boy and that other smart guy I like.

Tampa Bay Lightning hired Hamilton Bulldog (Montreal’s minor league AHL affiliate) coach Guy Boucher.  How about “JC Watts joins the Ottawa Rough Riders”?  Graveyard for quarterbacks.

Tampa?  Graveyard for anyone intelligent.  Yzerman is not qualified for anything.  He could be one day.  But, uh, not today.  Boucher is a highly regarded coach and I haven’t heard or read anything indicating otherwise.  This reminds me of Paul Maurice’s doomed tenure with the Leafs.  Good man in a bad building.

Morissette says that he is surprised.  He mentions the job offer from Columbus Blue Jackets.  I expect Morissette to be blunt.  But he isn’t.  Instead he spins it in a positive way.  He mentions the coterie of French players in Tampa Bay and how it will be a benefit (or a joy?) for Boucher to coach this bunch.

The RDS crew are, in general, soft touches when it comes to criticizing the varied NHL old boys clubs.  I can understand why.  But I don’t have to like it.  Exceptions include Michel Bergeron, Jacques Demers, Alain Crete and some others.  Usually the guys with the experience and the thicker skins.  The guys who know how to navigate the consequences of telling the truth more fully on air.

Imagine being jostled by Pat Quinn? And going a bit breathless?

Boucher is future Montreal Canadiens coaching material.  So is Patrick Roy.  Both will have earned their way.  I admire Roy for refusing to take a GM job offer from Colorado Avalanche, his last NHL team.  He said at the time that he was not ready for the post.  He has been learning the ropes in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League since then.  With the Quebec Remparts (Guy Lafleur’s old junior team).  Roy infuriates many and sometimes with good reason but his integrity in the Colorado situation was, for me, unexpected but worth noting.

I predict Roy will coach the Canadiens before Boucher does.

I like Martin, yes.  But the tenure of a coach, right or wrong, is usually a short one.  And for the record, I believe it is wrong.

Unearned coaching tenures that come to mind?  Russ Jackson with the Toronto Argonauts.  Wayne Gretzky with the Phoenix Coyotes.  Jim Popp with the Montreal Alouettes.  Rick Tocchet in any position.  Craig MacTavish with anybody.  Mike Tice with the Minnesota Vikings.  Jack Del Rio with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

It’s always some drink and a dame.  Or thick arms and a glare.

Luc Gelinas interviews Jonathan Toews in French.  Toews’ French is very good.  Gelinas ends the interview upbeat.

Unearned coaching tenures come about as they do in the, uh, business world.  Cronyism and unearned privilege.

Second Period
Chicago 1, Philadelphia 1

Gagne.  Breakaway.  Speed.  Niemi.  Vulnerable.  Oh.  No.  And a pad.  Snakepad.  Flat.  Houde’s cacophony reduces.  It was cacophonous in my head only, I’m sure.

The bad guys must lose.  Ok?

High sticking is called.  Hartnell.  Hjalmarsson is down in the corner.  Gets up.  Brunet is cheering for the Flyers.  He says that if the Flyers do this and that they can survive and get out of this situation.  No harsh words for Hartnell.

Alright.  Bring back Pednault.

Mauvais jeux par Hartnell.  Et c’est un sequence intolerable pour le jouer cette serie.  Or something like that.  Man.

Chi power.

Toews, Sharp and Kane are the wave for the final minute.

Missed puck at the blue.

Niemi is out and fielding.

Now he crosses into a butterfly as the puck is carried by a defensive Hawk across the mid-slot.  Niemi’s caution is evident.  Good.  And good for Chicago.  Go Chicago!  Hey?  How about that.  How about that.  Fork the Flyers.

Ladd is in following the power-play.  Across.  Forehand to backhand.  Nope.

I yak with my Cosmic affiliate and Briere scores.

Philadelphia 2, Chicago 1

Keith flubbed at the blue.  Briere’s goal was beautiful.

Immediate change.  Flyers are called.  Crosscheck.

Hossa moves in on the right.  One arm.  And he is the one called.   Interference.

Houde wonders aloud and Brunet, too.  Houde adds that the players are starting to get frustrated on the ice.  He is referring to Chicago.

Replay shows that Hossa interfered with the goalie.  It was on the border.  Looked accidental but Hossa might have been able to stop.

Sharp.  Hands and head to the sky.  Fours and a goal.

Fists along the bench.  And Leighton has been tied.  Short side goal.  Lifter.  Beautiful shot that Patrick Sharp.

Chicago 2, Philadelphia 2

We return to Chicago’s man advantage.  A long shot.  Boof.  Another.  Clear.  Boof.

Hagler and Hearns.

Hossa almost breaks in against two.

It’s back and forth.  Chicago’s style.  Chicago’s advantage.  Ok, Chicago’s menu.

The Flyers continue to turn over the puck.  The Hawks occupy spaces and circle.  They search it out.

And finally a long puck deflects into the net.  Slapshot from Hjalmarsson.  I remember his mishandling behind his net.  And I smile.  Good for him.

Just under two minutes in the second period.

Toews’ backhand nearly misses.  Houde’s voice is sharp.  Whistle.  Briere is called.

He shakes his head as he goes to the box.

Period closes with a Hossa closing shark shot.  He turns away from the kneeling Leighton and Pronger leaves it be.  Still thirty-two seconds in the penalty as the siren goes.

Chicago leads on shots 10-6.

Second Intermission
Chicago 3, Philadelphia 2

Chicago is being told, win the next period … and win the Stanley Cup.  A coach doesn’t often get to say it.  Eh?

Pierre Houde interviews Pat Brisson.  I am immediately impressed by the player agent.  Interesting interview choice.  They are both standing throughout the interview.

Daniel Briere is interviewed by Luc Gelinas.  Le tout pour le tout kinda talk.  You know.  All the marbles.  Once and for all.  Blah-dee blah.

Third Period
Chicago 3, Philadelphia 2

Early hit by a Hawk in the neutral zone.  Flyers clear.  Remaining seconds of the power-play drain away as the Hawks quarterback from the hash to Leighton’s right.  Stoppage.

Kane line.  Ladd accompanies.  Quenneville isn’t afraid to reinsert.  Hjalmarsson and Campbell are on defence.

Action stays in the neutral zone.  It’s a mucking pace.  Flyers are ultra-conscious of lanes.  But where is the outstanding coverage they effected throughout the Montreal series?  I’ve been waiting to see that dominant presence in the rectangle, the area in front of Leighton.  But all series, the Flyers have been unable to suffocate the Hawks as they had the Habs.

Defensive coverage is always of great interest.

Whistle.

Flyer bench is reflective.  Subdued.  Laviolette chews his gum a bit more quickly than in the last round.

Faceoff to Leighton’s right.

Houde says that there are just seventeen minutes before the drought of nearly fifty years might come to an end.

True.

Keith loses a puck battle in the corner.  Seabrook gets a desperation fwack pass from him and moves the puck up .  Hawks rush.  Leighton seizes.

Now takes a sip of water.

Brunet talks about how Niemi let in four goals last game and provides instructions for how the Flyers can beat him.  The instructions are basic.  And banal.  Get some guys in front of him.

Great.  Let me jot that down somewhere.  Brunet is declining into cactus status again.  What happened.

Just over fourteen minutes left in the period.

Kopecky and Hossa enter.  Toews with them.  Six seconds of weave and lean.  Toews nearly comes up with it on the boards.  But the Hawks have to retrieve.

Mike Richards misplays a puck on the Hawk blue line and is awkward in getting back.  One bad play after another by Mike Richards.  What else is there to his game?  Really.

Niemi is forced to bumble and stumble.  Now he is paralyzed for a moment by his post.  Has he lost his stick?

Puck is smothered a few seconds later and the beleaguered goalie is saved.  To answer the question, yes.  Yes, a team can win a Stanley Cup with average goaltending.  Or worse.  Ten years ago, probably no.  But now.  Yes.

Unless it’s Martin Gerber.  Nobody could win with him in net.  Not at the NHL level, anyway.

Sorry.

Montage of Flyer chances is shown.

Faceoff is to Niemi’s right.  Brunet’s ongoing partiality to the Flyers is on my nerves.

Three on three.  Flyers.  Backhand high disc sails uselessly across the slot.

Flyers form a wall at centre ice.  They need something.  Briere is on.  He is a must for Flyer scoring and, just as important, to change the tenor.

Hawks move it down anyway.  Puck goes out of play along the Flyer boards.  Faceoff to Leighton’s left.

Crowd is in amber.  I can’t say I’m happy about it.  I know even better than before, how it feels.  And I can remember for longer periods of time, it seems.

Timonen dives to prevent a Byfuglien break to the net.  Can Byfuglien stickhandle?  I wonder as I see Niemi make a bird then a crab of himself.  Tilts his mask up afterward and skates out of his crease.  He has a big beard that has to be a heat brush under his nose.  My word.

Long shot from Briere.  Crossed the line and shot like Lafleur.  Big shot.  Houde got intense.

And now I remember that Giroux, Gagne and Briere are the reasons RDS might prefer Philly.

Well, boys.  Not moi.

Briere is in on the left.  Off-wing.  Close.  Closer.  Backhand slides at an angle across the crease.  Into the corner.

Nine minutes left.

Flyers are working to create.

Hawks are watching.  Hoping?  Hjalmarsson is on the ice.  Campbell with him.  Failing.  They work it out at last.

Hossa tries to block a puck behind the Hawk net.

He comes up with it at the hash.  He is looking gassed in a very Kovalev way.  Hurling his body into crowds in slow motion lethargy.  It was the end of his shift.  He managed to implicate himself in a midslot scoring chance.

Kane is on.  USA should have won gold.  Kane, like him or not, is a killer and a champion.

Seven minutes.

Hossa is back.  Intercepts a pass.  Houde’s words accelerate.  But the Flyers stand up the entry.  And moments later the puck hits the protective screen.

Quick shot of Quenneville (Chicago’s mercurial coach) and I’m surprised by his head-down slow pace along the Chicago (back) bench.  It’s thoughtful.  He isn’t bulldog.

Not yet.  And maybe he won’t feel the need to be tonight.

Crob’s goal was lucky.  Try saying that in public.

Quick shot of Stan Bowman.  Directeur Generale is the moniker used by RDS to mark the icon’s son.   He is the team’s general manager, the club’s ninth.  He was named on July 14th, 2009.

The icon is his dad.  Scotty Bowman.  The winningest coach in NHL history.  Cup-wise.

Richards enters on the left.  Wrister.  Gloved.  Niemi.  Whistle.

Houde’s enunciation is equally urgent for both the Flyers’ scoring chances and for the Hawks’.  Houde is the best.

Hawks create the best chances of the late period now.  Replay shows that Leighton was, uh, Sharpe.

Stoppage.

Flyers have it deep.  Puck bounces suddenly to the net.  Houde cracks.  Niemi doesn’t.

Faceoff.

About five minutes left.  Next season I hope there are more elegant matches available to us in the final.  Flyers remind me of the Celtics in 2008.  It was the first time I’d seen an NBA team win with sloppy defence.  Both teams were sloppy.

The Hawks are careless with the puck in their own zone.  Flyers are at their worst on offence.  Ugly.

But when the puck is in the Flyer end, we see interesting things.

The Stanley Cup guy is shining the trophy.  Can’t they designate a different guy every year?  Egos inflate over time.  Look at Ron McLean.  How much more of that do you want?  I mean really.

Faceoff is won by Chi.

Puck leaves and Flyers are circling with it.

Leino enters down the right.  Total individual play.  Down the right.  Now he looks.  Finds a man.  It’s in.  Uh.  Total team play.  Beautiful pass.

Philadelphia 3, Chicago 3

Brunet compliments the Flyers character.

Laviolette is very pleased.  A staff member bumps him hard.  It’s a cool moment.

Just under four minutes.  This is what the fans want.

Ombudsmen don’t want to see happy frat boys.  It’s not easy when Adidas, Nike, Puma and Reebok are all on the floor.  Can’t mandate them all.  Can’t egg-paint them all.  Can you?

So I target McDonald’s.

Giroux is in with Carter.  Three on two.  Pass.  Shot.  Nope.

Out of play.  Deflected off a diving Hawk defender.

Faceoff to Niemi’s left.

Crowd is standing.  It’s as loud as the opening minutes.  It’s fading a bit.  Stays at a high plateau.

Seabrook and Briere collide in a puck chase down the Hawk boards.  Houde says it’s right at the limit.

Leighton traps a puck moments later.

Action resumes.  Both teams are in the broiler again.  With just under two minutes a long Chicago puck is called for icing.

Two kids are waving towels.  They look happy.

Faceoff to Niemi’s right.  Campbell sends another puck down.  Houde says that the panic is now on the side of the visitors.

C’est vrai.

Quenneville is in his one knee up pose.  About to go bulldog.  The jaw is shaped.

Carter nearly scores.  Niemi gets the puck but Carter could have scored if he had been able to raise the puck.

Oh.  He did.  Niemi raised his glove from a sprawled forward position.  Carter watches the replay.  He reminds me of the ne’er do well but well-loved ruffian.  Just the archetype.  Ok, Justin Time.

Timeout.

Crazy Train by Ozzy blares.

Faceoff to Niemi’s left.  Puck goes to the hash.  Stays in the Hawk zone.  Bounds out.  Flyers retain control.  Hawks are spinning and drugged.  Fear.

Sharp.  Up for Ladd.  Sharp has it in the corner.  Leighton traps the slot pass.  Sharp and Kane draw a crowd.  Flyers are aggressive again.

Faceoff.   To Leighton’s left.

Sharp, Kane and Hossa are on.  Keith and Seabrook.

Richards wins the draw.  Carle sends it to Pronger.  It’s sent out.

Hawks are in.  Hossa.  Cuts to the left. Gets the shot he wants.  And Leighton stops the slot attempt.  Wrister.  All danger, all silver.  Bullet.

Faceoff.

Kane misses a shot high to Leighton’s left as the final ten seconds eke out.

Overtime.

Chicago leads on shots 12-9 for a total of 39-22.

Third Intermission
Chicago 3, Philadelphia 3

David Arsenault is the smart guy I like.  They discuss the character players.  Bob Hartley comments on the type of goals that are much more common in the NHL today.  He says that the shots from the wing, forget it.  The goals down the centre, that’s where it’s at.

Great.

Ian Laperriere is interviewed by Luc Gelinas.  Another French player for RDS to be pleased about.  Not a fan.

Ice is clean.  Leighton skates on.  Refs follow.  Tying goal is shown.  Hartnell from the slot.  Leino’s pass.  The trio of Briere, Leino and Hartnell have combined for seven points tonight, we are told.

Overtime
Philadelphia 3, Chicago 3

Brunet emphasizes what an incredible story the Flyers have been this season.  Houde agrees.

Carter versus Toews.  And coach Quenneville is smouldering.

Hawks win it.  But Keith gives a puck away.  Just a dead giveaway.  The great Duncan Keith.  Flyers should have scored.  Keith is a Grundy.  Whangs at the puck and nearly deflects it into his own net.

Oh, the great Canadian defenceman.

Hartnell and Briere now create fear and torn laundry from whispering Hawk lines.  Throats go dry.

Seabrook now saves a sure scoring chance as he dives to poke a pass from Briere to Hartnell into the corner.  Great play from the Richmond, BC native.  Happy?

Niemi freezes the disc.

Replay shows that Carter was set up with onions and frazz in mind.  Sizzle.  Stoppage, instead.

We resume.

Hossa is on.

Who will score?

Hawks are playing frightened.  If they make it past the first ten minutes, Hossa will score.  If not, I pick Briere for Philly.

Kane and Ladd are together on a line again.

Kane controls.

More.

Kane.

Kane.

Kaaaaaaaane.

Shoots and scores.

Hawks win the Stanley Cup.  Felicitations.  Killers kill.  Scorers score.  Hawks fly.

Short side goal.  Leighton should have had it.

The Black Hawks can’t believe it.  Quenneville is waiting to wake up.  His face is a pink hot dog.  He gets hugged.

The Hawks are white socks and grey mob.  Smiles and beards.  Brunet says he is happy for Marian Hossa.

Chicago 4, Philadelphia 3

Hawks win the best of seven series 4-2.  Next game for HDS will be in September.  Hopefully the preseason games will get more telecasting.

Chicago 4
Philadelphia 3 (OT)

HDS Stars: Patrick Kane, Antero Niemi, Scott Hartnell
RDS Stars: No stars from RDS?  Or I just had to retire.

Oh wait.  Patrick Kane, Daniel Briere and Antti Niemi.  I waited long enough.

They line up and shake hands.  Hugs.  No nonsense.  I don’t expect any.  Lots of beards on the Hawks.

This is Chicago’s first Stanley Cup since 1961, when they defeated the Detroit Red Wings in six games.  The longest NHL Cup winless streak comes to an end.  Your Leafs are next.  (Leafs haven’t won since 1967)

Hats are out.  Championship hats.  What happens to the losing team’s hats?  Well, it’s irrelevant in a game six.

Luc Gelinas interviews Marian Hossa.  His first thoughts are about himself.  His second thoughts are about Kaner.  Yeah.  Kaner.

Seabrook says he can’t describe the feelings.  He looks catatonic.

Conn Smythe trophy (for the most valuable player of the playoffs is brought out).  Gary Bettman is mentioned and Houde chuckles.  Bettman is booed.  Jonathan Toews wins the Conn Smythe.

So.  Crob?  Or Toews?  Jonathan Toews is the greatest player since Wayne Gretzky!  Say it.  You’ll be hearing it.  Crob?  Forget him.

Cup is brought out.  Two guys.  That one guy is more pleased than ever to have his hands on it.

Does he expect Bettman to spotlight him?

Bettman talks about the Hawks.  He is booed through the process.  I think it irks him.

Toews carries the Cup.  Kisses it.  Hands it to Hossa first.  Slaps him on the butt.  Hossa kisses it.  Skates with it a bit.  Some cheering from the crowd.  They can’t leave.  Hossa hands it to Patrick Sharp.  What a shot.

Sopel has it now.  More kissing.  Madden gets it.

Whooping.  Keith holds it up.  He wears the “A”.  And he is one of the least deserving winners this season.  Seabrook has it.  The holds are getting shorter.  Ladd.  Bolland.  Cameramen follow the proceedings.  They keep balance on the ice.   Campbell has it.  Campbell only hits players he isn’t afraid of.  Didn’t know that before this playoff season.  But I know it now.

Good, good.  The Cup is over.

I’ll still keep writing.  Every day.  Every Hab.  Bon soir.

Chicago Blackhawks.  Stanley Cup Champions 2009-10.

In the old days it would have been Chicago Black Hawks.  Stanley Cup Champions.  And so forth.

Luc interviews Cristobal Huet near the end and his beard disguises him.  Huet is the former Montreal Canadiens goalie and he is asked about bringing the Cup to his homeland, France.  He goes along with it and warms up.  I get the sense that he doesn’t feel a big part of this win.  Houde follows up by saying that he was an important part of the regular season.

Huet.  Canadiens.  Cup.  Et bien.

Related posts:

1. Chicago Blackhawks vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Gm 3)
2. Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Gm 5)
3. Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Gm 4)
4. Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Gm 3)
5. Expressly Canadian (Gm 2)
6. Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Gm 2)