Stanley Cup Final Preview: Game 1
It is finally decided the Philadelphia Flyers will face off against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup finals. The game will be at Chicago, Saturday night, May 29th.
It has been decades since either team has won the Stanley Cup. Chicago last won in 1961 when the NHL had only six teams, the Flyers weren’t even in existence. Philadelphia won the cup in 1974 and 1975.
Chicago beat the NHL odds favorite team, San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference finals, while the Flyers beat Montreal in the Eastern Conference Finals to make to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Chicago will be led by forward Dustin Byfuglien who has eight goals in sixteen playoff games this year. Four of his goals have been game winners. Chicago goaltender Antti Niemi has twelve wins in the playoffs and a 2.33 goals against average in 16 games.
Michael Leighton the former Blackhawk will be in the net for the Flyers and would be happy to beat his old team. He has six wins in this year’s playoffs and a 1.45 goals against in seven playoff games.
The Flyers are considered the underdogs in the finals. They only made playoffs on the final day of the season, beating the New York Rangers in a shoot out.