This is a very good Chicago Blackhawks team.  They have a 2-0 Cup Finals lead over the Flyers and their leading All-stars, Patrick Kane, and Jonathan Toews have been held scoreless.  That shows you the depth of this team.  Thank you Dave Bolland, et al.  Kane and Toews looked sharper in the last game, but still failed to score.  They are getting coaching and watching videos prior to game 3, that is for sure.

This Series is far from over.  Philadephia seems to have more lives than a cat.  They bounced Boston in game 7 trailing at one point 3-0 in the game, and won 4-3, after coming back from an 0-3 series deficit.  That is quite a feat.  So, don't count them out.  Trailing 2-0 for them is a piece of cake.  The Hawks have to withstand the initial Flyers blitz in the opening 5 minutes of the game, and then establish their own game.  One Chicago player termed a road win, a "greasy" win.  Right now, they'll take one any way it looks.  But all four lines have to do their part, and the defense needs to continue to play superlative.  Annti Niemi needs to put in another great game in goal. 

Continue reading "Kane and Toews Need to Step Up"

The Chicago Blackhawks returned to the United Center and beat the Flyers 7-4 on Sunday to take a 3-2 games lead in the Cup Finals.  The Hawks need one more win to win their first Stanley Cup since 1961 when Bobby Hull was a young gunner.

That is a long time ago.  Last night Hull could been seen beaming as he and fellow Hall of Famer Stan Mikita looked on as the Hawks put on an offensive show.  Winger Dustin Byfuglien finally showed up last night, scoring 4 points on 2 goals.  Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews both had moments of brilliance.  Kane reminds one of Denis Savard.  He is so quick and graceful on the ice.  His wrap-a-round wrist shot went to the net and almost caught the Philly goalie off guard.  Goalie Michael Leighton was pulled after the first period, with the Hawks leading 3-0.  Philly scored twice in the second period while Chicago added another goal.   You have to admire the grit of the Flyers.  They sinply don't give up.  They played hard but not particularly smart.  And the Hawks made them pay.

Continue reading "Hawks 1 Win From the Cup"

Chicago Cubs closer Carlos Marmol gave up a two out two run single in the bottom of the 9th to lose a nailbiter in Milwaukee, 3-2.  That's why the Cubs are the Cubs.  Having a 2-1 lead in a game in not enough runs.  Marmol has been great in the 9th inning so far this season, but tonight he showed he's human.  It doesn't matter how the Cubs battled to take a 2-1 lead in the 8th inning.  It does matter than the Cubs couldn't hold a lead in a game they had.

But that's why the Cubs are the Cubs.  You don't want to see Marmol walking a tightrope in the 9th.  But he did, and this time, it didn't work out.  Baseball is a funny game.  It is a game decided by inches, by a base hit from a guy who was 0-3 in the game.  Corey Hart was on deck and he hit a homer earlier, the guess is Carlos didn't want to face him, so he grooved one and McGhee got a game winning hit.  That's baseball.  Tough loss for the Cubs.

Continue reading "Late Hit Spells Defeat for Cubbies"

Patrick Kane's drive from an odd angle eluded goalie Michael Leighton in OT of game 6 and the Chicago Blackhawks ousted the Philadelphia Flyers in a taut, thrilling finish to win Hockey's version of the Holy Grail.

The Hawks won the game 4-3, outplayed and outshot the Flyers for most the game. Yet the Flyers would not go away.  Scott Hartnell tied the game late in the third period at 3-3 to send the hometown fans in to a frenzy.  It appeared a Chicago team would yet again, find a way to lose a game they had all but won.  Antti Niemi, the Hawks goalie made a brilliant save in the final minute of the third period to keep his team from avoiding what would have been a terrible defeat.  He made some key saves in OT, and it was the heroics of Patrick Kane, a supremely talented winger, who came to the fore.  He was silent for most the Finals.  But he kept skating and found his game. His teammate, Jonathan Towes, had a great Playoffs performance and won the Conn Symthe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player.  If Antti Niemi won the award, no one would argue.  Niemi was stellar in goal throughout the playoffs, and especially in the clutch, when the Hawks needed a big save. And some of his stops were jaw-dropping.  Niemi will go down in 'Hawks history as the clutch playoff goalie.

Continue reading "Kane's OT Goal Take Hawks To The Stanley Cup"

I've seen the the replay 10 times and it still feels sort like you stole cookies from the jar and didn't get caught.  No one said, "Hey, no dessert."  In this odd ending to a helter-skelter Cup Finals, nobody said "No goal, Patrick"  and the Hawks survived Philly's onslaught to steal the game on Kane's great shot, and thus win the Stanley Cup.

The Flyers had the momemtum going to OT, tying the game with just under 4 minutes left on a Scott Hartnell goal in a scrum near the Hawks net.  The fans went wild.  The energy was back in the building and it seemed the Hawks were lucky to get to an OT.  Then the OT started and Niemi came up with some great saves to keep the Hawks in the game.

But Chicago, who seized the early action and looked like the better team in this all important game 6.  It was a home team win series until game 6 when something had to give.  The Hawks took a 3-2 lead into the clincher and although gave their hungry fans fits and grief, their talented winger stepped up to make the huge shot.

Continue reading "A Goal Is A Goal And Kane Gets Cup Winner"

They don't have too many parades in Chicago for it's sports teams.  Of course when Phil and Michael and Scottie were plying their trade for the Bulls, they used to have rallies in Grant Park.  But winning the Stanley Cup is so new and unique to this loyal sports town, that loves the Bears, the city had to do something.  So Friday late morning, the city stopped and paid tribute to a bunch of young guys who captivated it's collective heart.

49 years is a long time to wait, when Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita were kids, when the Hawks last won the Cup.  So today the city held a parade and rally on Michigan Avenue.  Two million citizens overnight it seems, became hockey mavens.  Cheering the site of Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith, and John Madden.   Patrick Kane, who scored the zany OT goal in game 6, has been instantly placed in the pantheon of Chicago greats...and Jonathan Toews is right behind him.

Continue reading "Hawks Are New Heroes in Chicago"

Don't count them out.  Just about everyone who follows baseball did, but the Chicago White Sox have found a winning recipe, great starting pitching, and have won 9 straight games.  The White Sox beat Atlanta 2-0 on a late Paul Konerko 2 run blast to left field.  They swept the Braves, now bring on the Cubbies. If ever a cross-town rival series had import, this one does.  If the White Sox take 2 out of 3 this weekend, they will be in the Central Division race. 

That was once a dream.  The Sox found themselves 9 1/2 games out of first place, but have made up 7 games in two weeks of white hot baseball.  Konerko mentioned that winning makes baseball fun to play.  Can't argue that, is it nice to de well in a performance sport.  You can't wait to get to the ballpark and suit 'em up. 

Continue reading "ChiSox Are Hot, Win 9th Straight"

When you're hot you're hot and that's what the Chicago White Sox are.  They won their 11th sraight game Saturday night, 3-2, defeating their cross-town rivals, the Chicago Cubs on Paul Konerko's 8th inning Home Run.  Konerko has 19 dingers and most likely will be picked for the AL All-Star team in a few weeks. 

The Sox have turned around their season.  Mired in a a long slump, the Sox have feasted in inter-league play, winning game after game.  The starting pitching has been almost perfect.  Their ERA hovers just over 2.0 runs a game.

If you don't give up runs, and outscore your opponent, you win.  That's what the ChiSox have been doing and now they trail the Twins by 1 1/2 games.  Earlier in the month, they were 9 1/2 out and looking for ways to dump salaries.

Continue reading "White Sox Keep Winning, Beat Cubs 3-2"