The Hawks dominated much of the first and second period with Kane seemingly scoring the game winner in giving Chicago a 3-2 lead with 17:10 remaining in the third. The Flyers would immediately rebound with a goal from forward Ville Leino just 60 seconds later in a defensive breakdown from the Blackhawks. Defensive struggles would ensue from that point forth as the Flyers dominated the remainder of the third and virtually all of overtime.
Two of the underlying themes of the game would be video goal reviews and broken sticks. The Flyers would see two potential goals reviewed by replay earning 1 goal out of the 2 as Chicago goaltender Antti Niemi deftly plucked a possible score off the goal line only to give up the eventual game winner to young Flyers forward Claude Giroux immediately afterward. Giroux's line dominated much of the game with sharp play from forward Ville Leino as well. Giroux would earn star of the game earning 1 goal and 2 assists.
The Flyers appear to have taken much of the momentum back from Chicago in a well played physical win. The broken sticks were ridiculous throughout however. I like a good graphite stick as much as the next casual hockey player, but I must have counted 7 or 8 breaks throughout Game 3. And some were at crucial times! Hawks defensemen Duncan Keith had one snap during a breakout pass and Niklas Kjallmarsson broke one defending a puck on a 1 on 1 rush.
Say what you want about the old school Sherwood and Titan sticks from the 80's, but you didn't ever see those break!
So what do you guys think about Game 4? Do the Flyers even the series or does Chicago find a way to take some momentum back?
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