Stanley Cup Game 5

And the Blackhawks win! And, look, it's not even 1 yet (It will be when you see this). Let's take a look at what we saw in what could be a very decisive Game 5.

- The atmosphere in Chicago was excellent. These fans had been waiting forever for a moment like this. There team had been far to uncompetitive for the good of the NHL for a while, and these great original 6 fans have been cup-less for way, way too longs. It's great to hear them have something to cheer about, as they inch closer to ending the drought. SPECTACULAR job by the veteran NBC broadcast. They spoke for only about 7 seconds from the 1 minute remaining announcement to about 30 ticks after the horn sounded, to let you get feel what it was like in Chicago, as the Hawks fans screamed for the whole minute and a half.

- The Flyers did not play a bad game. The Hawks jumped out early and it ended up being too much for Philadelphia. But the Flyers all around played a solid hockey game for most of the ice time. Philly doesn't show me the kind of team that is built to come back from major deficits (goal-wise (though there was game 7 of the Bruins series)). However, the Flyers lost 7-4, so there have to be reasons why:

1. The Blackhawk forwards are no pushover. These guys are big. Marian Hossa, Patty Kane, Jonathan Toews, Dustin Byfuglien; these guys don't get pushed off the puck. They are able to control time in the Flyers zone by shielding off the big defenders and giving themselves time to make plays. Brian Gionta, Mike Cammileri, Scott Gomes; they were pushed around by the Flyer defense. The Hawks don't let that happen. They stay solid on their feet and the close control, especially of Kane and Hossa dramatically increases the offensive zone pressure.

2. The Blackhawk defensemen are not afraid. The Flyers push people around on offense too. They throw power forward after power forward at you. Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Claude Giroux; they use their physicality to make space and get good looks at the net. The Hawks aren't backing down, even in instances when there are size mismatches. If you get in the pads of these power forwards it disrupts the rhythm of the cycling and hampers the timing of the cuts to the crease.

3. The Flyers defensemen need to be more involved on offense. The Blackhawks are using a penalty-kill type collapsible defense to combat the Flyer offense. Philadelphia dumps the puck in, pressures with a hard forecheck, and cycles around the net until they puckhandler finds space or a break to the net. The Hawk forwards are collapsing into the zone to crowd lanes and jump on pucks that squirt out of the corner. The Flyers defense is, at times, taking advantage of this in their ability to keep pucks in the zone. However, the D needs to take a more active role in the offense, right in from the rush. A defenseman should be using the seam created by the pinching wingers to generate a look from the high slot.

4. The Flyers need variation. As much as they have and will have success creating opportunities from the forecheck, at least a couple of the most important Flyer goals have come from a, still very blue-collar, offensive rush. The tying goal in game 3 and the quick goal in the second period of this game both came from the Flyers creating a quick shot off the rush, and a hard charging trailing winger pounding in the rebound before Chicago was able to get into position. The Hawks have been very disciplined on defense, but they're game plan takes a few seconds to align. The Flyers have to make opportunities of those first few seconds.

- Brian Boucher did a better job of controlling rebounds than Michael Leighton. I don't know what Peter Laviolette will do in Game 6. I imagine he will stick with Leighton. I probably would stick with Leighton if I were him. He has been solid for them when he's played. I just wanted to make the point that this was the one difference I saw in their play. Leighton also made it clear he needed to be pulled, after looking uneasy on some rather rudimentary opportunities late in the first, even though he prevented further damage.

- Ville Leino is playing great hockey in a losing effort. He had 3 assists in tonight's game, gives him 7 points in the series.

- Antti Niemi is taking care of business. He has been flashy when he needs to and simply solid when he needs to. Niemi certainly isn't taking the series over single-handedly, but he is providing the Blackhawks with exactly what they need at the precise times that they need it. He has won the high scoring game and the pitcher's duel. Niemi needs to try to either corral rebounds or guide them into the corner when the Flyers are shooting on the rush, but he is certainly putting forth some solid play, and sits just one win away from a Stanley Cup.

- The NHL uses the much better 2-2-1-1-1 system, and this will gives us a great game 6 on Tuesday. (another great move, getting the game on a different night than the NBA. This was a tough night for both, splitting the spotlight. I would think they'd want to be on the same page with that. ) Philly is going to be raucous and a blue-collar team like the Flyers should feed on that emotion. I expect a the hitting to intensify even further. Look for the Flyers fans to focus their anger on one or two of the Hawk forwards, raining boos from the rafters. If Chicago jumps out quick again, I'd be very surprised. It maybe even be a period before we see a goal. Look for the Flyers to send this back to Chicago with a hard-fought 3-2 victory.

- APT