Stanley Cup News | June 4, 2010

Flyers take Blackhawks 5-3, tie series 2-2

By Rich Chere
June 4, 2010


Philadelphia, PA — Now that it’s a three-game mini-series for the Stanley Cup, a lot more people believe the Philadelphia Flyers are a team of destiny.

The best-of-seven finals are even at two games apiece after the Flyers capitalized on several mistakes by the Chicago Blackhawks last night and held on for a 5-3 victory at the Wachovia Center.

Game 5 will be played tomorrow night at the United Center in Chicago.

The Flyers have not lost in these playoffs after the third game of each series. They are 9-0 in Games 4-7 and do not look like a club that struggled just to get into the playoffs.

“They’re not a seventh seed,” Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell said of the Flyers. “Everybody else in this room would say the same thing. They had a tough regular season with their chemistry and everything. Then they jelled together and got through some injuries.

“That’s something we all laugh about with the underdog thing and all. These are two teams that deserve to be here and match up pretty well against each other. We’re both fighting for every inch.”

Goalie Michael Leighton (8-2) brought a 3-1 lead into the third period before the Flyers struck again. Ville Leino’s shot hit the back of Blackhawks winger Kris Versteeg and deflected into the net.

Danny Briere, Philadelphia’s leading playoff scorer, and James van Riemsdyk, of Middletown, assisted on the goal for a 4-1 lead.

Chicago had been 0-for-7 on the power play in the series before Dave Bolland scored at 12:01 during a two-man advantage.

The Blackhawks pulled to within a goal at 15:50 when a Brian Campbell shot deflected off the stick of Mike Richards and the skate if Kimmo Timonen before landing in the net.

With Niemi out of the net for an extra skater, Jeff Carter scored an empty net goal for the Flyers with 24.6 seconds left when Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith couldn’t control the puck at the left point.

Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson had a second period that may have changed the momentum of the entire series.

It started after Chicago’s Tomas Kopecky was sent off for high-sticking at 4:30. Five seconds later, the Flyers had a 1-0 lead.

Although Blackhawks center John Madden won the faceoff in his own zone against Jeff Carter, Mike Richards stole the puck from Hjalmarsson as the defenseman skated behind the net.

Richards backhanded a shot past a surprised Antti Niemi at 4:35 as the Flyers took the lead.

Van Riemsdyk returned to the Flyers’ lineup after being a healthy scratch in the second and third games of the series and he made his presence felt in the opening period.

Van Riemsdyk skated past Hjalmarsson and behind the net, getting the puck to Claude Giroux. Niemi made a save on Giroux, but Hjalmarsson cleared the rebound in front right onto the stick of Flyers defenseman Matt Carle for the goal at 14:48.

Both Blackhawks goals were unassisted.

The Blackhawks cut the deficit in half at 18:32 of the first when Patrick Sharp’s shot was deflected past goaltender Michael Leighton. Then disaster struck for the visitors.

Scott Hartnell drew two Chicago players including defenseman Brent Sopel, leaving Giroux all alone at the left side of the net. Kimmo Timonen got the puck in deep to Giroux, who was untouched when he scored his 10th goal of the playoffs from the bottom of the left circle with 36.3 seconds remaining in the period.

Philly’s goal came 51 seconds after the Sharp tally.

Frustration began to creep in for the Blackhawks in the second period. Patrick Kane’s shot with 8:37 left in the second triggered a scramble in front of Leighton. But Dustin Byfuglien was unable to get to the puck to lift it over Leighton as Flyers defenseman Ville Leino made the block in the crease.

While van Riemsdyk replaced Dan Carcillo in the Flyers lineup, the Blackhawks also made a change. Andrew Ladd, sidelined by back problems, played his first game of the series as he replaced Adam Burish.

Leighton, who made a pair of big stops on Jonathan Toews in the first period, joined his teammates in playing Flyers hockey. Madden hustled in for a loose puck, but Leighton got there first and covered it up. The goalie then gave Madden the butt-end of his stick in the face, knocking the Chicago center to the ice.

Madden had something to say to the goalie after he got up and skated past Leighton.

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