First win in a Stanley Cup Finals game for the Hawks since 1973.

Based on Game One’s show, we might have a uniquely exciting series.

BTW as a sidebar, I should have mentioned that Tomas Kopecky has an unusual distinction, being part of the Stanley Cup Finalists for the third straight year…the last two with the Wings, playing both as an opponent of, and teammate with, Marian Hossa.

And this year, he gets inserted into the lineup to play alongside his Slovak compatriot.

Let’s do this, Hawks! Bring home the Cup. It’s been a long, long time – and the team doesn’t need to wait any longer…

When all else is stripped away, hockey, like any sport, is merely a diversion. It’s the individual and family milestones, moments of crises and triumph, that make a life.

Hockey players are a pretty courageous lot.

Right now Scotty Bomwan and his family are dealing with a difficult situation. Stan’s brother David, who suffers from a variety of crippling conditions, is under hospice care.

As you also know, Stan was stricken with Hodgkins’ Lymphoma a few years ago, and has fought the cancer to return to his post with the Hawks.

Adrian Dater has written an article about this which is well worth reading:
http://www.versus.com/blogs/no-holding-back/bowman/

A terrific piece, as usual.

One more historical connection. Many commentators have brought up the Blackhawks’ good fortune of landing the number one pick that enabled them to select Patrick Kane when the Flyers were the statistical favorite to have that selection.

Wasn’t there some (perhaps loose) parallel when Bobby Clarke was drafted by the Flyers? I know teams shied away from drafting Clarke because of his diabetic condition, but I seem to recall that he was very close to being Chicago’s selection. Or is that just so much folklore?

But tough is not fast and fast is enough to beat tough particularly if Pronger is targetted specifically – and I believe he will be.

I could be right, only time will tell – or my argument might have more holes than Bobby Hull’s front teeth.

Looking at this series, Chicago’s strategy of “playing every game like it’s a Game Seven” worked very well against San Jose…they will seek to bring the same discipline and intensity against the Flyers.

Philadelphia, however, is a tougher bunch than the Sharks.

This article carries on most of that tradition but it leaves me hanging – looking for more on the present and wondering about the silence on the future.

Mr. Morris quotes Ken Hitchcock when discussing the probable outcome of the upcoming series.

I believe that Ken Hitchcock knows hockey well (I would not say the same for most of the others) but his prediction that this series is too close to call seems bizarre given the regular season performance of each team.

True, the Phillies have shown no quit in coming back to beat the Bruins and in disposing of those pesky Habs but do they have what it takes to confront one of the NHL’s elite teams?

I would argue that the Flyers are only in the Finals thanks to the Habs who took out the talent in the East with an effort that should stand right up there with the string of Stanley Cups of old.

So I disagree with Ken Hitchcock as I see this series ending in 5 games with Chicago walking all over the Flyers.

It would be interesting to hear Mr. Morris’ take on this but his article while eloquent on the past, is strangely silent on the future.

The Hawks need to have a good start….the Flyers are a confident group.

I don’t think either team has faced a team that can match their current foe. Best of luck to the ‘Hawks, short of winning, of course.

I don’t think the Hawks or their fans underestimate the Flyers.

And I imagine vice versa is true in Philly.

The hawks must be favoured in this one, but fans should not under estimate the Flyers (I hate them till they shoot Carcillo).

Cheers