This Is Tough

The Blackhawks are not making it easy on their fans.  After a sweep of the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference finals, some fans thought the Stanley Cup Final series would be a cake walk.  Think again, misguided fans.

Each game as been a battle.  The two games in Philadelphia were especially hard, for the team and the fans.  Game Three was an overtime loss that was the result of a shift change at the wrong time.  Mental lapse number one.  Game Four was so aggravating I had to turn it off for a spell.  Mental lapses were plentiful in this game as Hjalmarsson allowed a Flyer to steal the puck from behind his own net and put it right in.  The absolute worst was Giroux getting behind the defense, around the goal and waiting by the right goal post, unseen by Niemi.  The Flyers hit him with a pass, and he easily scored.

The 4-1 lead was the largest in the series.  The Hawks fought back to 4-3 and pressured hard at the end of the game.  Missed shots that were close scared the Flyer faithful but a bouncing puck over Duncan Keith's stick at the point led to an empty net goal and a 5-3 Flyers win.

The series is now tied at two games a piece with a return to the United Center set for Sunday night. 

Hawks fans are scared and rightfully so.  This team is having a hard time with with the Flyer's physical play and is giving up far too many easy goals on far too many mental lapses.  Yes, Chris Crosscheck, er.. Pronger is a big guy and is getting away with murder but don't let him get in your heads.  I know he has but hopefully some home cooking will erase a bit of that.