SCF Game 1: Hawks Outlast Flyers For Sloppy 6-5 Win
by Ben Rothenberg on May 29, 2010 11:33 PM EDT
in 2010 NHL Playoffs
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Blackhawks lead series 1-0
[Box Score] - [Wire Recap] - [SBN Game Page] - [Chicago Reaction]
[Corsi and Fenwick] - [Head-to-Head TOI] - [EV Faceoffs] - [Shift Charts]
Despite having the lead at the end of a period Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1987, the Flyers could not come away from this ridiculously sloppy Game 1 with a win, a fitting end to a deceptively lopsided game that saw ten goals in the first two periods.
Let's get right to the bullets:
- The big story of the night is the play of Michael Leighton, which was, in a word, craptastic. The Flyers had all the momentum at the end of the first frame, but were totally undermined by Leighton. He let in four goals on his first fourteen shots, and eventually five on twenty before being pulled late in the second. Leighton played the way he did back with Carolina, not challenging the puck at all and barely even leaving the crease to cut off angles on odd-man rushes or most any other play. He gave up lots of rebounds and generally looked overwhelmed by the occasion, a far cry from the player who registered three shutouts only a round ago.
- After Leighton's exit, Brian Boucher played pretty well in relief, stopping eleven of twelve shots including several saves better than any Leighton made. Cue the controversy.
- There's a hockey adage that in order to win in the playoffs, your best players have to be your best players. Neither team can really say that their best were their best tonight, with goals coming from the likes of Asham, Betts, Kopecky, Brouwer, and Brouwer. Richards, Carter, Gagne, Toews, Byfuglien and Kane combined for zero points.
- The one bright spot of the game for the Flyers was the Leino-Briere-Hartnell line, which combined for three goals and five assists.
- It took Simon Gagne over a decade to make it to the finals for the first time, and due to nerves or whatever, he ended the night at -3. It took James van Riemsdyk only one season to make it to the finals for the first time, and due to nerves or whatever, he ended the night at -2.
- This game had better mark the end of Ryan Parent's stint in the line-up. He was completely at fault for the Blackhawks first goal, and never saw the ice again, making his total ice time for this Game 1 0:41. Oskars Bartulis had better be in for Game 2.
It's only one game. It's a game in the Stanley Cup Finals, but it's still only one game.
After the jump, questions answered and the comment of the night.
Questions to Answer
- Does the week off show, for either team? Who controls things from the start? No one ever seemed in control of this game. Rust was apparent on both teams' defensive corps.
- Can the Flyers silence the Madhouse on Madison early? Yes, but not for long.
- Keeping Chelsea Dagger to a minimum tonight, right? Seven times is not a minimum.
- Chicago is fast. Can the Flyers slow them down like they did to the Canadiens? Not really. Several goals on rushes.
- How does the much anticipated Pronger v Byfuglien matchup play out tonight? Not really a major story line. Advantage Pronger, I guess, since Byfuglien was a -3 and Pronger was a +2.
Comment of the Night:
Did [Pierre] just advise Niemi NOT to go down on his knees? A little hypocritical, isn’t it Pierre? -- shafnutz05
Go Flyers.
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I don’t think we’ll see another game like this, both teams will settle down now which hopefully is advantageous to the flyers.
Should be, because they did what they normally do for goals, and got them. On the other end…not so much
by JerseyDriver on May 29, 2010 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions
The Flyers NEED to find a way to get the Hawks off their game in the offensive zone.
When the Hawks took over late in the second and early in the 3rd, it was only a question of WHEN the Flyers would lose, not IF. The Flyers could not stay with these guys once they got to cycling.
If the third period represents how the Hawks will look after settling down, then we’re in trouble unless we can adjust.
The Flyers have overcome all sorts of adversity to get to this point, and to their credit they seem fairly nonplussed in the postgame interviews. They know they need to play better, and they will.
But, much like in 1987, their best may not be good enough. We watch and wait.
Go Flyers. Please do not give me the opportunity to see the Cup raised in Game 4 when I go.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
That is my biggest fear. The third period was so decisively one sided that I’m worried its a preview of the rest of the series.
Nobody can run on all cylinders like that each night without paying the piper. I don’t care how young you are.
true in most cases
but look at Chi vs. SJ. 4 games in a row where they did it.
by Coz_Bulls_Fan on May 30, 2010 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Some of you probably know this. The year the Flyers won their first cup, 1974, they lost Game 1 to Boston.
I like blackjack.I'm not addicted gambling.I'm addicted to sitting in a semi-circle.
Big question
Boucher or Leighton?
Begin.
by PursuitOfLappyness on May 29, 2010 11:49 PM EDT reply actions
Ron Parent Lindbergh
"Tortorella’s got it all wrong ... Gaborik shouldn’t be messing with our skilled player." -Peter Luukko
Antero Froese / Bob Niittymaki
#1 Flyers fan in England (originally from Southeastern PA)
by Orange and Black Forever on May 30, 2010 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions
I think my answer to this one is “does it really matter?” Boosh looked a lot better than Leights did, but it won’t matter much unless the defense plays a lot better than they did tonight.
Leights looked really nervous with his eyes closed when they showed him in the locker room pre-game. Boosh had no reason to be any less nervous. If Boosh really is 100% (and I’d be surprised if he was), I’d go with him. Otherwise, go with Leights, and a defense inspired by a fire-breathing Pronger…
Leighton No Doubt
You don’t give up on the goalie who gave you three shutouts the last series.
Now he should’ve stopped some of those goals, but come on, a bunch (HELLO COBURN) were on the defense.
Now if he gives up another 4 in Game 2, pull him, but now is too early for that.
I'm now Kolb's biggest fan
Reid- Best Coach in Eagles History
McNabb- Best QB in Eagles History
This is the year
+1
#1 Flyers fan in England (originally from Southeastern PA)
by Orange and Black Forever on May 30, 2010 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Boucher
I understand that the defense played terribly in front of Leighton, but a few of those should have been flat out stopped.
Boucher played solid and although he did play a completely awful angle on the Kopecky goal.. solid overall and the defense in front of him was just atrocious.
"I'd like to thank my hands for being so great." (Freddie Mitchell)
by PhillySportsDave on May 29, 2010 11:51 PM EDT reply actions
This game looked like freaking pre-season hockey. It was sort of disgusting. I’d be more depressed but Roy helped calm me a bit.
"Tortorella’s got it all wrong ... Gaborik shouldn’t be messing with our skilled player." -Peter Luukko
Philadelphia Win Continuum Has Been Inverted
Normally, when one team wins, they all win. The opposite has been happening lately with the Flyers and Phillies. Phils win, Flyers lose. Flyers win, Phils lose. Why couldn’t the Finals have started on Tuesday?
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
Flyers stole Phillies mojo
Last week big time. It would appear the Phillies took it all back for one game. I hope it’s not an omen of some sort. I love a Perfect Game and all, but it’s only one game/one win. This is the playoffs, mang!
"Tortorella’s got it all wrong ... Gaborik shouldn’t be messing with our skilled player." -Peter Luukko
In one game Halladay throws a perfect game. In the other Leighton lets in 5 goals.
by PursuitOfLappyness on May 29, 2010 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I fully admit I did not get to see how bad Leighton actually played because I missed the first half of the game; so I mean this as a legitimate question…. was tonight crappy enough that it would warrant changing the tagline at the top back to the old one? Or was it really not that bad?
by DragonGirl0583 on May 29, 2010 11:58 PM EDT reply actions
He barely came out of his crease. He played a breakaway backing away into his net, did the same thing against a 2on1. So he wasn’t helping himself by any means.
by PursuitOfLappyness on May 30, 2010 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions
He wasn’t his usual self. He didn’t come out to challenge much. He had problems with rebounds again. A couple goals weren’t his fault and a couple were. He had a bad game for sure though.
OK, let's talk positives:
I’ll start. Briere was a monster. He did it all on offense and even played some defense tonight. His line was excellent and he was a major reason why.
"Tortorella’s got it all wrong ... Gaborik shouldn’t be messing with our skilled player." -Peter Luukko
Yeah, that line was terrific. Which bodes really well if Richie, Carter, and Giroux get back on the score sheet.
If the first line of Gags, Richie and Carter get going, and given how productive the second line has been, we can really pour on some domination.
by PursuitOfLappyness on May 30, 2010 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Although the same can be said for them as well, if Kane, Toewes, and Bufaiosfjasioghkghn;asklvnlyn get going.
More offense?
Ugh
Let’s just hope our defense gets going first then…
by PursuitOfLappyness on May 30, 2010 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions
I think both teams are saying the same thing on this one!
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII
James Madison is my Hero!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on May 30, 2010 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, but you didn’t give up a shortie, or that huge 2-on-1. Our D played worse than your D (if only that was the contest, hah)…
That shorthanded goal reminded me of when I used to have the net cover when I practiced myself. Leighton was practically in the net on a breakaway. Awful positioning.
Well the SHG
is why we call a Hawk Penalty a Hawk PP. The SHG and 2-1 are right up the Hawks alley on playing style.
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII
James Madison is my Hero!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on May 30, 2010 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Although I think the 2 on 1 also came down to Pronger pinching
by PursuitOfLappyness on May 30, 2010 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Pronger pinching
He saw the forward covering for him there so he could pinch. The forward then went the wrong way anticipating possession…
OK
I wasn’t exactly sure whether it was his fault. Thanks for clearing that up.
by PursuitOfLappyness on May 30, 2010 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions
That was true for the Flyers last year. This year, not so much (aside from game 5 last series, anyway)…
This year teams were a lot more careful with their passing on the blueline. Last year Richie would take that interception and create the breakaway.
by PursuitOfLappyness on May 30, 2010 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Yep, though I also think Lavi got ’em to back away from that a bit too. Ironic, given his system of play…
the thing is, it’s a gamble in an already vulernable position. Eventually you will get burned more often than not or else you would see alot more short handed goals being scored.
The HAwks arn't only fast skaters
they can be very quick (their is a difference), taking gambles like that may not be in the Flyers best interest. I do not think the Flyers can win a run-n-gun game with the Hawks. It does take more point and mid board play away by keeping the D back, but it also prevents the quick breakouts.
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII
James Madison is my Hero!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on May 30, 2010 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions
you missed the point. I was referring to short handed goals. run and gunning it is a gamble when your a man down. It’s a matter of time before it burns you. The league is full of good fast hockey players – it isn’t all skill, you just haven’t experienced the downside of chance yet. Otherwise there would be more short handed goals
run and gunning it is a gamble
The Hawks have 13 short handed goals for the season and 4 in the playoffs. All while giving up 18 less power kill goals during the season then the Flyers and even during the playoffs.
The Hawks are an offensive threat with a man down and have been all season. And they have a goal and a quarter baseline advantage in a 7 game series against the Flyers from shorthanded and 4on4 play.
That has been the Hawks all season
13 RS SHG, 4 in the Post Season. This is now the law of averages. When they breakout Short Handed they are not stupid, the Goalie will play the puck, or it will end up in the corner or behind the net, providing time to recover back to center and defensive ice.
They just are very good at picking off perimeter and slot passes leading to these 1-0, and 2-1 chances, while not over playing them. The D is first, but they are quick and fast enough to counter before the PP unit can get back.
They are not run-n-gun on the PK, just very opportunistic based off of a very good Defensive PK.
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII
James Madison is my Hero!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on May 30, 2010 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions
No doubt. The 16-to-1 margin in SHG/SHA last year was amazing, but flukey. Certainly not something I’d expect to count upon in the playoffs, and not something I’d even want to try. But given how aggressive Lavi is otherwise, I just think it’s kind of surprising he doesn’t try it more.
Probably the toll it takes on players. You have to pay the piper sooner or later. Considering he had to ’recondition the team in Dec., maybe he decided not to press his luck.
Hmm…it would be interesting to know how the 05/06 Hurricanes were SH. Maybe he believes the PK is for penalty killing, so that you can conserve energy for the fast attacking play he’s known for at ES.
by PursuitOfLappyness on May 30, 2010 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions
That 2-1 I figured was 50-50 Goal being scored
The Hossa-Toews 2-1, I was like “Oh my God watch this crap” and that one was broken up!
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII
James Madison is my Hero!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on May 30, 2010 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions
If the that is a style then you will have a rude akwakening when the law of averages catches up to you.
I'm referring to quick transition
moving the puck the other way before the other teams D can respond. Using their speed to the advantage. This allows more SHG chances, and more odd man rushes, by quickly having the puck go the other way. That is the Hawks game!
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII
James Madison is my Hero!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on May 30, 2010 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Again, didn’t see enough to know this one… Is Lavi still playing Gags on the right side of that line? He just seems kind of out of sorts on that side; it’s bothering me. He’s been exclusively on the left for as long as I can remember.
by DragonGirl0583 on May 30, 2010 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions
More Positives
Stayed out of the penalty box. Our secondary scoring was huge when our top guns were blanked.
Yeah, we did manage to stay out of the box, but if we’re being honest, the only reason for that was luck. There were probably two plays where the refs pretended we were the other team from Pennsylvania when it came to putting the whistle in the pockets.
That’s not to say Chicago didn’t get away with one or two, but the officiating was in our favor tonight. A real shame we couldn’t convert on that more (the Coburn turnover SH really, really hurt).
Yeah, they played well, and the rest of the O was there, just didn’t finish. Hard when you are chasing. If the D shores up, and they play the game plan of dump and forecheck, they should be fine. Either team was going to be luck to win this game
by JerseyDriver on May 30, 2010 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Blah. This game left me completely drained after all the anxiety this week. I like it much better when we win.
Agreed
Hard to see positives when you lose one like this.
If you score 5 goals in a SCF game.. no way you should lose.
"I'd like to thank my hands for being so great." (Freddie Mitchell)
by PhillySportsDave on May 30, 2010 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions
But the Flyers need to see the positives so they can build on those. Can’t focus on what sucked. Gotta have a short memory and adjust (or adhere it would seem) the game plan.
"Tortorella’s got it all wrong ... Gaborik shouldn’t be messing with our skilled player." -Peter Luukko
From a player’s standpoint.. definitely agreed.
But as a fan.. it hurts. Although it’s ok.. plenty of hockey left!
"I'd like to thank my hands for being so great." (Freddie Mitchell)
by PhillySportsDave on May 30, 2010 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions
The Flyers did Shut Down the Toews-Kane-Buff line
Toews was riding a 13 game playoff point streak until tonight. You guys have that line figured out it appears, as well as the Hawks top two D Pairings.
I think game 2 will be a better tell of how this series will be, this game I think no way in hell is it the norm!
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII
James Madison is my Hero!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on May 30, 2010 12:09 AM EDT reply actions
It can't be
Or we’ll (and the players) will all die from nervous breakdowns/exhaustion.
"Tortorella’s got it all wrong ... Gaborik shouldn’t be messing with our skilled player." -Peter Luukko
It’s only one game. It was a weird one fo sho but I suspect defense will pick up a bit in G2. Has to.
…right?
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
Defense will hopefully pick it up
Kimmo and Pronger are way too good not to. Carle sometimes has these off games but has been good all season, so I expect him to rebound.
But in my mind three of the first five goals were more the goalie’s fault than the defense. And that needs to get fixed some other way.
That said, this was an away game, we put up 5 goals, and the Stanley Cup finals aren’t decided in the first two (as you would know haha).
by PursuitOfLappyness on May 30, 2010 2:29 AM EDT up reply actions
The haven’t had two poor defensive outings in a row this post-season, and I don’t expect them to start now. Neither Lavvy nor the players’ pride in their own play will let them.
We’ll see a better effort from the D and the goaltender in game 2. If we can keep the offense flowing, all the better; however, I’d take a grinding one-goal win over the scoretacular we saw last night.
#1 Flyers fan in England (originally from Southeastern PA)
by Orange and Black Forever on May 30, 2010 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Just utterly awful. I had feared Blackhawks in 5, but now I’m worried we’ll take it that far.
Leighton was awful, Boucher was awful, all five defensemen were awful (I consider Ryan Parent a member of whoever we are playing against), Giroux and JVR were awful, and the first line was putrid. Hell, I even think Laviolette had a bad game.
This team seems to thrive on adversity, which is good, because this is the first bad game I’ve seen them play in the postseason (I missed Game 3 of the ECF). Even our losses to NJ and BOS were games we could have won. My hope is that this serves as a wake up call and they get things together. After all they’ve gone through, I certainly will not count them out, but its an awful start.
In fairness to the Flyers, I’m incredibly angry at them because they ruined Roy Halladay’s perfect game. Perhaps by Monday night this game will sting less.
Also, Danny Briere is the greatest Flyer of all time.
in case you missed it
The Hawks were pretty shit-tastic last night too. I said before we need to split in Chicago and we can still do that.
Pilgrim: Be gone pest, and give me the Bird
Yakko: We'd love to but the FOX censors wouldn't allow it
I agree, the Blackhawks were pretty god damn awful. A flip of a coin could have decided that shitfest on ice.
The Hawks played like shit for the first 40 minutes. But one hockey team showed up in that third period, and it wasn’t the one with fans who actually know the rules of hockey.
it wasn’t the one with fans who actually know the rules of hockey.
so the blackhawks got away with something? I’m a bit confused. Are they less informed fans? If they are who cares?
Besides we finished strong and played well for that last 8 minutes of the 3rd. We can’t match them speed wise and if we get lured into playing their game we will lose. Who gave them a hard time? The Predators did. They slowed the game down. We have to as well. We can’t run Pronger and Kimmo like they are 25 year olds. We’re gonna have to sit back at times and let them exhaust themselves cause no one can run on all cylinders like that every game and considering their youth, if they can’t do that then we certainly can’t do it either.
I agree with you on that strong finish. My theory is that when we beat the Hawks in the regular season we matched them on the back and forth so Lavvy thought that might a potent strategy. I would expect the tight defense we’ve seen so far in these playoffs to come back in game 2. I really don’t think we can match speed with the Hawks over a long series. Keith and Seabrook are young guys, Kimmo and Pronger are not. So let’s just play our game and put them off theirs.
by PursuitOfLappyness on May 30, 2010 4:04 AM EDT up reply actions
One thing I noticed about them play in the play-offs is they gamble alot and open the game up. I think teams fall prey to this (like the Sharks) and try to match them . It’s like an offensive counter punch. Teams see the game open up and believe the Hawks are making mistakes but realize before it’s too late that they compensate for these holes with their speed either in transition or if that fails match you goal for goal.
I think teams fall prey to this (like the Sharks)
To be honest I think the Sharks played that way on purpose. I think they thought they could play with the Hawks in that style. They did get a lot of really good chances but they just didn’t capitalize on them.
Still I was surprised on what the Sharks game-plan appeared to be…
Shucks, I sure do wish I knew dem dere stick n'puck rules like you.
I’d say both teams played like shit in the first 40 defensively. Both tightened up in the third but the Hawks kept the attack up while they Flyers kinda just took the foot off the gas. The next game won’t be the same. I expect a much tighter defensive game from both teams.
High-five for showing class!
Sorry, I’m not going to take part in this little pretend world where Chicago is a hockey town in the interest of “showing class.” It’s okay, we’re used to this. We played Tampa a few years back.
As for your substantive point, I do expect both teams to try to tighten up defensively, but I’m worried we’re not going to keep much offensive presence if we do that.
Not as easy as facts do.
Fact: The Blackhawks were consistently one of the worst drawing teams in the league until they started winning.
Fact: Prior to last year, Tampa drew more fans than Chicago every year since 2001.
Fact: In 2007, the year the Flyers were the worst team in the NHL (and the Blackhawks were pretty f’ing bad too) some of the teams that outdrew Chicago included:
The Islanders(!!)
The Capitals
The Bruins
The Coyotes (despite having a worse record)
The Kings (despite having a worse record)
The Panthers
The Flyers – by 7,000 fans a night.
See, generalizations based on facts DO make everything easier!
I’m not going to take part in this little pretend world where Chicago is a hockey town
Pretty bloody ignorant there aren’t you. Since you aren’t pretending to be nice, I won’t either.
In 1992 Wirtz took the Hawks off free TV. After his subscription TV experiment failed he refused to put home games back ON any TV. Try comparing Chicago fans up to and before 1992. Try looking at Hawks fans after Wirtz died. Basically from 2007 on…
Wirtz traded away all of his players from the 1992 season until in 1998 the Hawks missed the playoffs for the first time in 29 years. Wirtz destroyed the team and punished the fan base creating a blackhole where the Hawks used to be for 15 god damn years.
Please understand you are entitled to your opinion but to criticize Hawks fans because of that era is in my opinion beyond bloody ignorance…
I cannot even imagine something like that happening to my team. My head would explode. It’s a shame an owner would do that. I’m not that familar with Wirtz. Did he have any sort of background in hockey, or was he just a businessman?
Businessman first. Boxing fan second. Hockey somewhere down the list. He was a really old school owner and demanded loyalty above all else from his staff, to the point where any kind of dissent was never raised in any kind of serious manner; it seemed a culture of keeping quiet, toeing the line.
He also thought his marquee players shouldn’t be paid top dollar, but should play for the privilege of playing there; it’s long been rumoured that it was his refusal to pay Belfour/Hask/Roenick/etc market dollar that forced management into trade; there have also been rumours that there were a few players elsewhere in the league that he used as benchmarks in terms of salary … but then these contracts that he was loathe to match were outdated by the time the Hawks’ stars were asking for raises.
His background was in real estate and for years the Wirtz family owned the largest liquor distribution network in Illinois (still may be the case). He never looked at the Hawks as a business the way he looked at other facets of his money-making; consequently, he made decisions that mystified any normal businessman.
There’s more, but ya.
www.mjt.org
I remember a radio interview with Rocky Wirtz on ESPN
He said he was shocked when he took over to see how far the Hawks’ were “in the red”… every other business his dad touched was hugely profitable.
I don’t really expect fans of other team to really understand the magnitude of what old man Wirtz did, b/c there was no precedent for it and there has been nothing like it since. The best description of it all I’ve read was something along the lines of “the owner of the team actively hated the fan base.” It’s hard for even Hawks fans to wrap their mind around that, b/c we certainly did not deserve it.
Chicago really is a hockey town, but this organization was starting to be run into the ground at the same time as the Bulls’ second 3-peat. Bad ownership, and bad timing.
"I have only space enough to add: against the assault of desperate pandas nothing can stand."
-ChicoMaki (channeling Mark Twain)
by HungryHungryPanda on May 30, 2010 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, as a Flyers fan, anymore, we see so little of the Western Conference, I can’t keep up with every teams going-ons. I’ve been playing and following hockey for so long, but I never really heard of any of this. That said, as one of the original 6, I would have just naturally considered you a hockey town.
As much as I want to win this series, (and holy shit, do I want this bad), if we were to lose, I won’t be as heart broken to see it go to a team that has gone through a drought like we have, in an American city. There’s something about these Canadian fans that I just hate…..and I would hate to see a fanbase like Washington or San Jose hoisting the Cup…..
Wirtz
The Wirtz family has been part of hockey since the 1920’s. Dollar Bill ran the team for over 40 years. They were never a big spending team since it was his father that gave up Bobby Hull.
It got bad in the 1990’s. Basically, when Wirtz was 62 he tried the make fans pay for watching his team on the TV subscription gig. When that failed he decided that the league was going to go out of business because the salaries were out of control.
He then traded all of his good players for cheaper ones and waited for the league to crash. He wanted to say “I told you so to the rest of the league” When the league didn’t fold he kept on waiting.
As was mentioned the Wirtz son didn’t even have access to the books before his father passed. Nobody could tell his old man that anything he was doing was hurting the team.
I view Wirtz similarly to Al Davis of the Raiders. Somebody that should have retired the reigns of the team. Wirtz was worse in my opinion because he was clearly vindictive to the fans over his subscription service failure…
There’s something about these Canadian fans that I just hate….
The entire heart (literally and figuratively) of your team is Canadian. Flyers and Hawks are both predominantly Canadian … cause that style wins big games.
I’m not picking a fight, I just take issue with this ‘cause it’s another massive generalization … there are dicks on both sides of the border, in equal numbers.
www.mjt.org
WAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!! OUR OWNER WAS MEAN!!!!!!
See, I’m a hockey fan, so I was aware of all that. I follow the league.
I don’t give a crap. When a city abandons their team, it is pretty pathetic. Pittsburgh’s owners threatened to move the team. Does that let them off the hook?
Look at that list of teams I listed. Are you going to really tell me that the Islanders or the Bruins or the Coyotes or the Panthers haven’t suffered through terrible ownership? Again, the Islanders are on that list.
Of course, that would’ve required you to have read what I wrote and thought rationally, clearly not something you people are capable of.
To steal a bit from Norm McDonald…. Note to Self: Do not try to rationally engage illiterates.
City abandons team...
You are correct to a degree. I also know that when a team abandons a city the city reciprocates. Bill Wirtz was like his father Arthur who was the one that let Bobby Hull go. It’s quite possible had Bobby stayed they would have won the 73 title and a lot of fans were pissed back then.
When Dollar Bill Wirtz took over the team was still decent but never quite good enough. We had the Savard era which other than for the fact that there were a couple guys named Gretzky and Messier on a different team could very well have gone to and possibly won a couple titles.
After that the team really went downhill, letting JR go a great case in point. Bill Wirtz drove the team into the ground and basically destroyed the fan base, though in reality it was always there, just not at the games.
When Bill died there was a huge sigh of relief from fans and when Rockwell took over he immediately changed the face of the team. His first announcement was that all Hawks games would be on TV and also began negotiations with WGN to get games on an over the air station. Obviously it helped to have kids like Toews and Kane in the mix but from a fan perspective Rocky changed the whole dynamic of the organization and the fans came back in droves.
Chicago will always be a Bears town first along with the Cubs. But there has always been a huge base of Hawks fans and they have now come out of hockey hibernation.
Yea figured that would be your response...
Lets try a different tact. The TV viewership ratings are out for game one. So if Philly is the “hockey town” and Chicago isn’t. Why didn’t Philly beat Chicago in the viewership ratings?
And oh by the way, Note to Self: Do not try to rationally engage a complete moron…
Might have something to do with Roy Halladay throwing a perfect game at the same time as the Flyers/Hawks game.
Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
DTrain, your arguments are too strong for the feeble mind of this non-hockey fan, I submit. Please forgive me my ignorance.
To steal a bit from Bill Hicks: The idea of getting a, you know, syringe full of heroin and shooting it in the vein under my cock right now seems like almost a productive act.
www.mjt.org
a
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII
James Madison is my Hero!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on May 31, 2010 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
NUMBER ONE FACT
The Chicago Blackhawks were run into the ground dive bombed into the ground by an owner who was loyal only to season ticket holders. Bill “Dollar Bill” Wirtz was the cheapest most out of touch owner probably ever seen in North American Sports (even beyond Comiskey who drove his players to throw a World Series). He crapped on the fans at every opportunity, and smiled while doing it while saying “I care”! I have always been a Hawks fan, but after Roenick and Chelios were traded for used dirt, I swore I would not give a dime to that SOB. I went and watched the Wolves of the IHL and AHL. It was not because I did not want to see the Hawks win, it is because I wanted Wirtz to fail! He cast aside the Hawks heritage, I mean damn Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita wanted nothing to do with the Hawks, JR still holds a grudge. BILL WIRTZ destroyed the Hawks, he took the team away from the fans and its history! During his “moment of silence” at the UC in 2007, the UC was cheering the fact he was gone!
Learn this part of Blackhawks History, and how much it hurt the ENTIRE fanbase, before throwing out attendance numbers. IT was not because the fans did not care about the Hawks, it was because the Hawks (Dollar Bill) did not care about the fans. When Rocky Wirtz took over, he worked on undoing all he could, and that is why the Hawks sell today. It helps to have a great team, but the Hawks now care about the fans, Hull, Mikita, Sutter, and others are now official ambassadors, Rocky Wirtz is cheered at games.
Chicago will back a losing team, look at the Bears and Cubs. They just want to know that the team cares as much about their fans, as the fans do about their team. I do not think any team can really know what it was like with Bill Wirtz, and hope they never do. That man could Destroy the Canadiens, Leafs, Cubs and Yankees.
Chicago is a Hockey town, it just needed its team back. It got it back, now the fans are back.
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII
James Madison is my Hero!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on May 30, 2010 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
FACT
I’m usually a very nice, polite poster until people start making ridiculous, ignorant comments like this BS that prove they haven’t been reading the discussion on their OWN BLOG for the past several days.
yes, you have some facts. and you’re missing a hell of a lot more, so maybe a bit more complete research on the matter might help next time.
by puppetmasterp on May 31, 2010 4:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Another fact
I am sick of Hawks fans having to constantly defend themselves as “fans” after being abused for a decade by the ownership of a team they once adored. I defy almost any fanbase in ANY SPORT in this country to say they been through something even remotely similar.
And once you have been through that, then come show me your attendance stats, and how you went out of your way to unload money on an ownership who took your money and laughed at you, and i’ll then listen to absurd rants about “loyalty.”
by puppetmasterp on May 31, 2010 4:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Incidentally, I don’t mean this as a dis on your city. Chicago is my second favorite city in the world. But you’re not a hockey city. Which is fair, we’re not a NBA city. It happens.
I'll have to slightly disagree
with Chicago not being a hockey city. The ownership gave up and stopped caring about the Hawks and then the fans did. While the attendance did drop, a fair amount of the fans started going to Chicago Wolves games. The Wolves were averaging between 8-9000 a game at one point.
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene."
You’ve called attention to attendance during the worst Wirtz years (which were arguably the worst rosters we iced in the franchise’s entire history) and derived from that some kind of indication that “Chicago fans” in general aren’t “real fans” and don’t know the rules of the game. I didn’t realize the Flyers had rights of exclusivity for being more real.
What are the hard numbers, then? The Flyers have 100 000 fans (in the truest sense of the word), and the Hawks have 70 000? And what does this mean, exactly? That Chicago isn’t a hockey city? If it were, say, 85 000, would that get us into the club?
I guess this best sums it up for me.
www.mjt.org
Dude, read up on some of the shit Bill Wirtz did and ask yourself if the Flyers were run the same way, would you still follow the team?
Hawks fans had every right to not give Wirtz a dime during that era.
Proudly supporting a Flyers team with "no honor."
by Justin F. on May 30, 2010 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Keep telling yourself whatever makes you sleep easier at night.
It’s hilarious that you don’t even read the stuff posted on your very own blog. Talk about ignorant.
For your convenience so you don’t spent too much time straining yourself:
Enjoy the read. Maybe you’ll learn a little something.
I didn’t get to watch the game, but I did watch the highlights. Back and forth, offensive outburst from both team. Chicago just happened to get the last bounce go their way. That said, I look for both teams to tighten down, and the rust that showed from a week-long layoff for both teams will no longer be a factor.
Neither team scores more than 3 goals a game the rest of the way, and Flyers in 7 starting tomorrow when they take Game 2 in Chicago
I was not entirely disheartened by this game -
For the most part Philly’s play in the first was rather encouraging to me and showed promise in their ability to take this series. The Briere, Hartnell, and Leino line was rolling as each managed to beat Niemi. All in all I was impressed to see the Flyers put nearly twice as many shots up as the Hawks but what impressed me even more was where the shots were taken from. A quick look at espn.com’s gamecast reveals that not only did the Flyers force the Blackhawks to shoot from the outside but they also seemed to stake ownership of Chi-town’s slot. The Blackhawks were lucky to net two and escape this period trailing only one.
I saw more promise when Philly was very effective in shutting down many of Chicago’s top players on multiple lines including the elite – and incredibly hot – Byfuglien, Toews , and Kane line. Granted, Richie’s line was held pointless as well but throughout these playoffs, we’ve seen that each of Philly’s lines are more than capable of stepping up and contributing to the scoring. They proved this yet again tonight as the Flyers managed to net 5 even with solid goaltending in Niemi. However, between some lucky bounces, weak goals, and a breakdown in the defensive zone that opened the door for a continued assault on Leighton Chicago was able to turn the tides and take back a game going in Philly’s direction after the first 20 minutes.
I’d like Leighton to get the start in game two and can easily see Philly bouncing back like they have so many other times to return home with the series tied at 1.
To quote Pronger – the Flyers are "relentless"
solid goaltending in Niemi
.
Thank god it wasn’t the Niemi I saw in the Sharks series. It would have been 6-3. The Hawks defense was pretty bad.
Just as bad as our defense
Agreed, Keith as good as he is, really doesn’t play well with a lot of time off. Been that way all year. First games in series for Hawks fans are every bit as “hold your breath” as first games seem to be for the Flyers.
C&B scoring chances are up.
Another reference to Pronger being a beast…
1. Chris Pronger – The Philadelphia Flyers had 20 chances on the night. Chris Pronger was on the ice for 19 of them. With Pronger on the ice the Flyers outchanced Chicago at evens 11-5. When he was on the bench they were outchanced 7-1. Chris Pronger led all skaters on either team with a Corsi rating of +17. The next closest player is the unguessable Ben Eager at +6. Chris. Fucking. Pronger. He’s a damn good hockey player.
http://www.coppernblue.com/2010/5/30/1493709/blackhawks-6-flyers-5-game-1
Leighton
I think we’ll see Leighton back in there. Didn’t get this far with a bad goalie and everybody has a bad night sometime. It’s the Stanley Cup FINALS so I think everybody should either wake up or calm down he needs some help. I’ve been a Flyers fan ever since satillite TV came to Alaska and been waiting for this a LONG time.
Was it hard for you to root against the Canadiens with Scott Gomez? I hear he’s like Elvis up there.
I’ve actually heard the opposite—that anyone who actually knows the guy (aside from his family, I would assume) finds him to be an insufferable asshole. Someone wrote it on a Habs thread earlier that he’d gone to school with someone who knew Gomez from HS and he hated him so much he made him take a plastic cup with Gomez’ likeness outside their room and toss it in the garbage.
"Tortorella’s got it all wrong ... Gaborik shouldn’t be messing with our skilled player." -Peter Luukko
Don't push the panic button
this is far from over. Expect the Flyers to come out hungry with something to prove in Game 2.
Flyers and Blue Jackets...nuff said.
From a Blues fan perspective
Niemi is a sieve as the Flyers exposed in game 1. Move the puck to the offside and score at will. He can be a rebound machine too many times so keep crashing the net.
Blackhawks are cherry pickers, gotta watch the back door and the floaters looking for the breakaways and 2 on ones.
Keep pounding them in the corners, Blackhawks are not built for a long gritty series.
Also it is written in the Book of Hossa that he will doom the Blackhawks to yet another SC series loss. He’s 2 for 2 the last 2 years and I’d bet the farm on a trifecta.
Just a chew toy for the hockey gods
I wouldn't
Bet the farm just yet. In case you were not aware, the Flyers have been horribly inconsistent all year long. They are just as capable of throwing this one away. Here’s hoping they have a much better game plan next time out and that they are able to execute it. Do not want to come back to Philly down 2 games to none.
"Tortorella’s got it all wrong ... Gaborik shouldn’t be messing with our skilled player." -Peter Luukko
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