Monday, June 7, 2010

Is Lord Stanley's Cup ready to be sipped from?

The Philadelphia Flyers have their work cut out for them if they want to have any chance to drink from Lord Stanley's coveted silver chalice any time soon. Trailing the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in the Stanley Cup Final series, the Flyers need to improve upon their inconsistent performance in their recent 7-4 loss on Sunday. Giving up seven goals in a Stanley Cup Final series game is not exactly playing to the level of a champion.

Are they capable of pulling it off? Absolutely. However, coach Peter Laviolette must convince goaltender Michael Leighton to relax and make the first save and then emphasize to his defense to help out their goaltender in cleaning up rebounds and to push the puck forward. Though they trailed 5-2 at one point in Game 5, the Flyers still managed to score a few more to make it interesting. They possess the ability to score, but not if they are on defense all night.

Look for the Flyers to win Game 6 and extend this series to a seventh and deciding game to be played in Chicago. Hockey fans will be in for a treat and will watch the Stanley Cup awarded to the last team standing in this epic battle of young superstars and role players. At the end of it all, the NHL and its players will have made a tremendous mark on the sporting landscape with such a dramatic and exciting finish to the season that will have fans coming back for more.

We are truly watching good old time hockey in the new era.