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Meltzer's Musings: 6-10-10 |
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The Chicago Blackhawks are worthy Stanley Cup Champions. They play a tenacious forechecking style, have all kinds of depth and the core group of players is as good as you'll find in the National Hockey League. The Hawks are deep enough that they could withstand Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Toews going without a goal in the Final and Marian Hossa being held to a single tally.
The Flyers were nearly deep enough to overcome the lack of production and defensive problems of the line of Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne and Mike Richards in the Final. They showed a level of depth and resiliency that few knew they had while they were struggling through an inconsistent regular season.
In the end, the Hawks were just a tad deeper and better. Antti Niemi did not have to be spectacular (and he was far from that in five of the six games) for the Hawks to win, while Michael Leighton absolutely could not afford to let in anything soft. That proved to be a little too much to ask of him. Leighton battled gamely, but he is what he is -- a journeyman backup goaltender who had a nice season and certainly did what the Flyers needed of him in the second and third rounds of the playoffs. In the Final, he got too far back in his net on many occasions and paid the price.
In terms of Game 6 performances, there were guys on the Flyers who stepped up in the biggest game of the season (Scott Hartnell, Danny Briere, Ville Leino, Kimmo Timonen) and guys who came up small (Matt Carle, the top line -- which was ultimately broken up). They were lucky to be tied after one, and down only by one after the second period and showed a lot of heart to force overtime. The club had its chances to win late in regulation and early in OT, but the funky-looking Kane goal epitomized the meaning of sudden death.
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I was among the media out on the ice while the Blackhawks were celebrating their Stanley Cup victory with family and friends shortly after skating around with the Cup. Someday I will appreciate that I got to witness it up close. Not tonight.
The Flyers lockerroom, as you'd expect was somber and quiet after the game. The hordes of media that crowded the players throughout the playoffs had dwindled down to a few people. Such is the sporting world when you are the losing team.
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Now that the Finals are over, I'm going to take a few days off from writing. I will post a player-by-player perspective over several blogs next week. Thereafter, I'll look at the Draft and free agency. I'm shooting to run my next blog on Monday.
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I'll close this final Stanley Cup playoff blog with a special thanks to some of the Flyers fans I got to meet and talk with tonight. Thank you to Chuck Bastie -- a passionate fan from Ontario who drove down for Game 6, and someone who works tirelessly to preserve the memory of Pelle Lindbergh --and to Chris, Sean, Jay and Rob for all the hockey conversation on a long day at the Wachovia Center.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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