SB Nation Chicago - Niemi Stars As Blackhawks Win 2-1, Take 2-0 Series Lead In Stanley Cup Finalshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48877/chicago-fave.png2010-05-31T22:04:39-05:00http://chicago.sbnation.com/rss/stream/12586712010-05-31T22:04:39-05:002010-05-31T22:04:39-05:00Niemi's 32 Saves Lead Blackhawks To Victory
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<p>CHICAGO (Sports Network) – Marian Hossa and Ben Eager scored 28 seconds apart in the second period, and Chicago held on for a 2-1 win in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals at United Center.</p>
<p>This game was a different beast from the 6-5 offensive show in Game 1, which Chicago won, and the Hawks now hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series after winning their seventh playoff game in a row.</p>
<p>Antti Niemi, lit up for five goals on 32 shots in the first game, had a terrific performance over the last two periods of this contest, as he stopped 29 shots in the final 40 minutes and finished the game with 32 saves.</p>
<p>Simon Gagne scored the lone goal, while Michael Leighton, back in net after being pulled late in the second period of Game 1, stopped 24 shots for the Flyers, who will look to rally at home, as the series heads to Philadelphia for the next two games with Game 3 set for Wednesday at the Wachovia Center.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2010/5/31/1495485/niemi-blackhawks-stanley-cup-flyers-game-twoAl Yellon2010-05-31T21:26:43-05:002010-05-31T21:26:43-05:00Simon Gagne's Power Play Goal Trims Hawks' Lead
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<p>Simon Gagne scored with one second left on a power play to give the Flyers their first goal of the game. The Blackhawks still lead 2-1 with 13:53 remaining.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2010/5/31/1495446/carter-flyers-blackhawks-third-periodAl Yellon2010-05-31T21:00:34-05:002010-05-31T21:00:34-05:002-0 Blackhawks Going To Third Period
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<p>Antti Niemi has stopped 18 shots.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2010/5/31/1495412/blackhawks-flyers-stanley-cup-second-intermissionAl Yellon2010-05-31T20:54:58-05:002010-05-31T20:54:58-05:00Ben Eager Gives Blackhawks 2-0 Lead
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<p>I wasn’t even finished typing the last update when Ben Eager scored 28 seconds later — Blackhawks lead 2-0.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2010/5/31/1495405/eager-blackhawks-stanley-cupAl Yellon2010-05-31T20:53:59-05:002010-05-31T20:53:59-05:00Hossa Gives Blackhawks 1-0 Lead
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<p>Marian Hossa scores the first goal of the game at 17:09!</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2010/5/31/1495404/hossa-blackhawks-second-periodAl Yellon2010-05-31T20:01:12-05:002010-05-31T20:01:12-05:00Teams Too Tired To Score, End First Period 0-0
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<p>The teams must have been tired out from all the scoring on Saturday night; they end the first period of game two tied at 0.</p>
<p>Only 12 shots were made on goal — eight by the Hawks, four by the Flyers.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2010/5/31/1495351/blackhawks-flyers-stanley-cup-first-periodAl Yellon2010-05-31T08:31:50-05:002010-05-31T08:31:50-05:00Give It Up For Dale Tallon
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<p>Dale Tallon may no longer be the Hawks GM. But as Rick Morrissey writes, <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/sports/morrissey/2336094,CST-SPT-morrissey31.article" target="_blank">he deserves a lot of credit for putting this team together:</a></p>
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<p>But what we saw Saturday night was a living, breathing tribute to Tallon, who recently took the GM job with the Florida Panthers. Look at the names of the players who made a difference Saturday night at the United Center: Sharp, whom Tallon traded for in 2005. Versteeg, who arrived in a Tallon-authored trade in 2007. Hossa, signed as a free agent last offseason. Same with Kopecky.</p>
<p>Dave Bolland, Troy Brouwer, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook — all of them Tallon’s boys, either when he was assistant GM or director of player personnel.</p>
<p>And Toews and Kane, the Hawks’ ’’burden’’ in Game 1? Guess you’re going to have to blame Tallon for drafting them.</p>
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https://chicago.sbnation.com/2010/5/31/1494638/blackhawks-tallonAl Yellon2010-05-31T08:21:57-05:002010-05-31T08:21:57-05:00Blackhawks Ready To Take Two-Game Series Lead In Cup Final
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/CHI">Blackhawks</a> and goalie <span>Antti Niemi</span> struggled for consistency in game one but managed to win anyway, 6-5. They'll try to go up 2-0 tonight at the United Center; television coverage on NBC starts at 7 p.m. CDT.</p>
<p>Game one's crowd included not only members of the Cubs, but also <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ct-spt-0531-around-town--20100530,0,7082393.column" target="_blank">some of the visiting St. Louis Cardinals:</a></p>
<blockquote>Cubs pitchers Sean Marshall, Randy Wells, James Russell at Game 1. … Several Cardinals also attended Saturday's Hawks game, including Chris Carpenter, Skip Schumaker, Tony LaRussa, Jason La Rue. "I don't normally go out after a loss," LaRussa said, "but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to experience the crowd, the anthem, and the entire environment."</blockquote>
<p>The Cubs are at Pittsburgh today, but the White Sox's home series with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/NYR">Rangers</a> doesn't begin until tomorrow; perhaps some of them will be seen at tonight's game.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2010/5/31/2315881/blackhawks-ready-to-take-two-game-series-lead-in-cup-finalAl Yellon