So the week that saw several strong, damaging storms, a 10+ game win streak for the left for dead White Sox, wonderful Lillie's 11th birthday and the start of dismantling the Stanley Cup Champion Blackhawks because of the salary cap winds up with The Crossroads Guitar Festival.  As June has been, there are storms forecasted for this afternoon and tonight.  Argh. 

Guitars and Lightning don't mix.  We have the sunscreen and emergency ponchos so we're prepared for any weather event.

The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup last week.  The parade has come and gone.  They were at Wrigley Field tonight to throw out the first pitch and sing the 7th Inning Stretch.  Tomorrow they will be on the Tonight Show.

That leaves us with baseball until football starts in August.  Baseball has been pretty depressing so far.  The White Sox had won four straight games until tonight.  Both pitchers had no hitters going into the 6th inning.  Gavin Floyd lost his in the bottom of the 6th, Ted Lily in the top of the 9th.  I was sure it was going to be the first game neither team would win but the Cubs somehow got one run to salvage the final game of the series.

It is no coincidence that the winner of the combined series receives a trinket called The BP Cup.  That would make the less losing of two losing teams receiving a trophy from a loser company that is destroying the environment in the Gulf of Mexico.

It's all so sad.

It was a hard fought series but the Blackhawks triumphed over the Flyers tonight with a goal by Patrick Kane in overtime to bring Chicago it's first Stanley Cup since 1961.

And the fans in Philadelphia stayed through it all so they could boo the commissioner and throw orange shirts at the Blackhawks as they skated around with the Cup.

Parade back home in Chicago starts Friday morning at 10:30.

Congrats and thanks Hawks.  Now go shave those playoff beards.

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.

Last night, the Stanley Cup Finals got under way and it was not much of a defensive showcase at all.  The score was tied at 5-5 after two periods.  What would happen in the third?  Finally some defense showed up for the Blackhawks.  They held the Flyer scoreless and went ahead when Tomas Kopecky scored with 11:35 remaining in the third period.

I can't see the game tomorrow being played this way.  Hopefully it was opening game jitters and things will settle in game two.

Some awesome Finals wallpapers are available at the official Blackhawks website.

It's official, the Blackhawks will be playing the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup Finals starting Saturday at 7pm.  The rest of the finals shakes out like this. 

Game 1: Sat., 7 p.m., at Blackhawks, NBC
Game 2: Mon., 7 p.m., at Blackhawks, NBC
Game 3: Wed., 7 p.m., at Philadelphia, Versus    
Game 4: Fri.,  7 p.m. at Philadelphia, Versus
*Game 5: Sun., 7 p.m., at Blackhawks, NBC
*Game 6: Wed., 7 p.m. at Philadelphia, NBC
*Game 7: Fri., 7 p.m., at Blackhawks, NBC

*-if necessary

The Blackhawks completed their sweep of the San Jose Sharks today and return to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 1992.  That series was a great disappointment as they were swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins.  I expect different results this time.

I've seen a few versions of the Blackhawks logo with his playoff beard and felt that was proper.  I know I will go into withdrawal until the games begin.  I was already missing the games after today's ended.

Go Blackhawks.  End the drought that has lasted since 1961.  Bring Lord Stanley's cup to Chicago to reward the fans who have returned to show you support like this city hasn't seen in years.

The Blackhawks continued their quest for Lord Stanley's Cup by taking game one of the NHL Western Conference finals from teh San Jose Sharks 2-1.  Both teams played very well with the Sharks holding the edge in shots on goal.  But Dustin Byfuglien came through with about six minutes left in the game to score teh go ahead goal in front of the stunned faithful at the Shark Tank.

Game Two is Tuesday night at 9pm Central.  Playoff hockey is great.  Go Hawks.

After a very cold outing to the local minor league baseball game, we returned home to watch the Blackhawks v. Canucks game four.  Once again, the team in the Blackhawks uniforms was not the team I watched for the first series and on and a half games of this series.

Lethargic and tentative in game one and halfway through game 2, this team is aggressive, plays smart and is patient in setting up shots for goals.  This is a team that can go far in the playoffs.  I enjoy watching this team much more.  I have confidence in this team.

In game three Dustin Byfuglien's agressive play led to a hat trick and star of the game status.  In this game, the Captain, Jonathan Toews was not to be outdone.  Not only did he score a hat trick but he picked up two more points with assists to tie a team playoff record.

At the ballpark, the number of people with Blackhawks gear on was very pleasing.  This team has seen an amazing renaissance in this area.  A few short years ago, they were lucky to have a couple thousand people show up at the games.  Now they sellout and, at least last night, people quickly stop what they're doing to get home and watch them play on TV.  And since Rocky Wirtz has taken over the team, they can happily do that with home games, too.

The Hawks are now up three games to one.  They return home for a Mother's Day tilt at the UC.  I know one Mother, and a Mutha, who would find a series wrap up to be a great present.

The Blackhawks came out in game two just as flat as they were in game one.  After falling in the hole 2-0, they scored a goal of their own and seemed to come alive.

After that, they played a much more aggressive game and went on to score the go ahead goal in the closing minutes plus an empty netter.  Now at the start of game three in Vancouver, they are playing active and look very much like a different team.

Up 1-0 at the five minute mark of the first period, this Blackhawks team looks much more engaged and may just get back up on top.