(Sports Network) - The 2010 Stanley Cup Finals have been dominated by the home teams thus far, and the Chicago Blackhawks will try to keep it that way when they host the Philadelphia Flyers in a pivotal Game 5 tonight at United Center.
The Blackhawks won Games 1 and 2 in the Windy City, but the Flyers tied the best-of-seven series with two straight victories at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.
After notching a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory in Game 3, Philadelphia skated to a 5-3 decision in the fourth meeting. Friday's contest was the first game in this series to be decided by more than one goal.
Michael Leighton turned in a 32-save performance and a three-goal first period helped Philadelphia survive a late Chicago rally in the most recent battle for Lord Stanley's Cup.
Now, the Blackhawks, who were 29-8-4 in Chicago during the regular season, will try to regain the momentum on home ice. The Hawks have also taken four straight as the host and are 7-3 overall in the Windy City during the playoffs.
"We're excited with going back home," said Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville. "I know the series is wide open. It's even. We get to go home. We have to take advantage of home ice. We played well there all year."
Meanwhile, the Flyers are just 5-6 away from Philly in this postseason after posting a 17-21-3 road mark in the regular season. The Flyers will try to steal tonight's game in Chicago and have a chance to clinch the title when the teams meet Wednesday in Philadelphia.
In Game 4 on Friday, the Flyers were able to spread the offense around, getting goals from five different players. Mike Richards, Matt Carle, Claude Giroux, Ville Leino and Jeff Carter each lit the lamp for the Flyers. Leino's goal in the third period proved to be the game-winner while Carter's empty- netter sealed the win.
"I like our game and I like what we're doing," said Philadelphia head coach Peter Laviolette. "In saying that, they probably thought they could have won Game 3. It's going back and forth quick both ways. Guys are competing really hard out there."
Brian Campbell, Dave Bolland and Patrick Sharp each notched a goal while Antti Niemi stopped 26-of-30 shots for the Blackhawks. Duncan Keith tallied three assists in the loss.
"We were very generous in the first period in what we gave them," said Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville. "We've gotta be smarter and more composed in the discipline area as well."
Philadelphia and Chicago are both looking to end lengthy championship droughts. The Flyers last hoisted hockey's symbol of excellence following a successful defense in 1975, while the Blackhawks are searching for their first title in 49 years, the longest current dry spell in the NHL.
The Flyers are 13-6 all-time when a series is tied 2-2, while Chicago is 13-18 when splitting the first four games of a playoff series.
This is just the second-ever playoff meeting between Chicago and Philadelphia. The other battle was in the 1971 quarterfinals, a series that was swept by the Blackhawks.
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