Blackhawks Seek To End 49 Year Drought

1961.  The last time the city of Chicago could claim Stanley Cup Champion as their title.  Rudy Pilous would go on to coach his Hawks squad to a 4-2 series win against Sid Abel's Detroit Red Wings.  The only time in the 25 year existence of the Original Six Era that a team other than Montreal, Detroit, or Toronto would win.

Tonight in Chicago, the Blackhawks seek to end their 49 year drought against a Philadelphia Flyers team that hasn't won in 35 years (1974-75).  It will be the first time in NHL history the two teams have met in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Neither team has been in the Finals since the 90's.  Meanwhile it's the third straight season that Hawks forward Marian Hossa has advanced to the Finals for his third team (though he has yet to actually win one).  For Philly defenseman Chris Pronger this makes a 3rd Finals appearance in the last 5 years.

Team Breakdown:

Scoring:  The Flyers have more depth at Center, but the Hawks have significantly more depth and experience at Wing.  Jeff Carter's (GP-6 G-4 A-1 Pts.-5) return was a big factor in Philly's Eastern Conference series win against Montreal while the phenomenal play of Jonathan Toews (GP-16 G-7 A-19 Pts.-26) helped the Hawks steamroll through San Jose in the Western Conference Finals.  RW Marian Hossa needs to step his game up with only 2 goals in 16 games.

Edge:  Chicago

Defense:   Philly's Chris Pronger has put up stout numbers offensively (GP-17 G-4 A-10 Pts.-14), but was defensively suspect at times against Montreal.  Braydon Coburn, Kimmo Timonen, and Matt Carle have all put up excellent plus-minus numbers throughout the playoffs.  Duncan Keith has been a beast for the Blackhawks doing whatever it takes to stop shots including taking a puck to his teeth.  Brent Seabrook and Brent Sopel have played well as has the surprising Niklas Kjalmarsson, but Brian Campbell has failed to live up to his offensive billing thus far with only 3 assists in 16 games.  Philly just seems to have a little more depth.

Edge:  Philadelphia

Goaltending:  Flyers goalie Brian Boucher returns in time to play backup to a hot hand in Michael Leighton who boasts an astounding .945 save percentage in 8 games posting 3 shutouts while filling in for Boucher due to injury.  Chicago goalie Antti Niemi (GP-16 G.A.A.-2.33 Sv Pct.-.921) played a large role in the Hawks dispatching San Jose with several acrobatic puck stopping displays.  What Leighton's stats don't indicate were the lack of genuine quality scoring opportunities against as the Flyers defense consistently kept Montreal's forwards on the perimeter.

Edge:  Chicago

Coaching:  Flyers coach Peter Laviolette leads his second squad to the Finals in the past 5 years.  Laviolette hoisted the cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2005-2006 and boasts a 32-22 Postseason record.  Hawks coach Joel Quenneville ought to understand that regular season success doesn't always equate to playoff success.  The "Q Stache" as Quenneville's affectionately known has compiled over 500 regular season victories yet this is the first time he's ever coached a team to the Finals.  He boasts a playoff record of 63-57.  Quenneville has the edge in experience while Laviolette is a proven Stanley Cup veteran.

Edge:  Even

Prediction:  The Hawks are firing on all cylinders after a slow start to the playoffs.  Hawks In Five.