Game 6 tonite.
Looking to see Philly even things up (3-3) at home. Defensively the Flyers have been good, no worse really than the Hawks -they missed a couple of wide open nets that could have tied things up in game 5 before it got away on them- it’s just been a shoot-out-the-lights kind of series. We’ll see how long Leighton lasts in net. He usually plays fine at the Wochovia centre. If they win, maybe go with Boucher in Chitown…
Offensively, no one before the series started would have compared the two clubs in terms of fire power, but the Flyers have held their own with Chicago. Leino has impressed immensely, making things happen every time he is on the ice and should be key again in this game. He works well with anyone he’s paired with. Scott Hartnell, another key player, is a concern because of his health and would significantly diminish Philly’s effectiveness if he’s not 100%. Otherwise, Gagner, Briere, Richards, Carter and Giroux simply all have to have a nose for the net and they should be fine….!
For the Hawks, pretty hard to nail ‘er down when you know you have a retry next time at home if all fails tonite. I haven’t sensed that peddle-to-the-metal, killer instinct from the Hawks this cup run and it may be the missing ingredient that lets it slip away from them. Hossa, always a threat to be a game breaker, could be a liability if he gets in the box once or twice in this game. Look for Madden to be particularly nasty tonite. Hope we see a game 7.