Nightmare on Madison Ave

Well if you couldn't tell from the first 4 games then Game 5 should have gotten the message across, this series is gonna be dominated by the Home team. The Flyers, coming off of a home sweep finished by a 5-3 win on Friday leading to numerous questions if the Hawks were done. Well the Hawks killed that and even now have many asking if the Flyers are done.

The Flyers had things going there way leaving Philly, Niemi was solved, Chicago's top scorers were asleep, Pronger was stopping everything that moved, and their 1st line was somewhat awake. All of that changed once they crossed into the Central Time Zone.

It was Niemi's game to win as the Hawks chased Leighton out after a 1st period where they scored 3 goals. In doing so he stopped 24 of 28 shots that came his way. But those Four goals are defiantly something to build on as 2 of them came in the 3rd, where Niemi was been lights out as of late.

The Trio of Kane Toews and Bluff were seperated for the 3rd period of Friday's game 4 loss where they almost mounted a comeback. So they stayed seperated. Kane played along side Sharp and Ladd, Toews with Kopecky and Hossa, Bluff with Bolland and Versteeg. Big Bluff, Cuff, call him what you will broke out on the Powerplay with a goal off a tip in in front from a pass from Toews. Bluff ended his night with a empty netter from center ice around Pronger and 2 assists.

Speaking of Pronger, he put up a -5 with 0 goals or assists in over 28 minutes. The -5 was a career worst for the big guy. To add insult to injury Bluff was all over him with hit after hit, this may have taken Pronger out of his game. Looking at the goals he was on for none were really his fault. Carle was playing just as badly ending a -3.

What can Philadelphia take out of a loss which saw their starting goalie fail them and get pulled early, your top Defenseman way in the negatives ,and your top scorers slump?

• The Flyers never quit they made it a game all the way through until Bluff's empty netter.


• Guys like Leino and Jvr stayed hot as they made crutial plays in the final period.


• Niemi still does not look comfortable in net, a big game in Philly could destroy him for Game 7 in Chicago.

They Flyers seem to get awful comfortable and never seem to really work until their backs are against the wall. Peter Laviolette always says the team that wants it more will win. Chicago wanted it more, they turned it into a must win and Philadelphia wasn't prepare for the energy Chicago came out with. Chicago stole the Momentum, now on Wednesday it's Philly's turn to take it back, and force a Game 7.