SCF Game One Notebook

Post-game Quotes of the Night

Blackhawks: “It was a little nerve wracking, that’s for sure.  Some of the guys in the series, it was their first time.  Nerves might have had a little to do with it.  It’s a real emotional game.” – Troy Brouwer on what it was like to play in a 6-5 game one of the SCF.

Flyers: “And we’re going to talk about that again? I don’t think we need to — what did he do?……OK good. Next question.” – Chris Pronger in response to questions about the battle between him and Dustin Byfuglien – who was left off the score sheet – in game one.

No More “Feeling Out Process”

The Blackhawks and Flyers combined for 11 goals, the most in a Stanley Cup Final game for 18 years. The last time 11 goals were scored in a Final game also marked the last appearance by the Blackhawks in the Final — Game 4 of the 1992 series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins defeated the Blackhawks 6-5 at Chicago Stadium on June 1, 1992, capturing the Stanley Cup with a four-game sweep.

Long Time Coming

The Blackhawks’ win tonight was their first in a Stanley Cup Final game since May 8, 1973, an 8-7 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 at the Montreal Forum. Entering tonight’s game the Blackhawks had lost each of their past five Final games – Game 6 vs. Montreal in the 1973 Final and four games to Pittsburgh in 1992.

Quick Start

The five goals scored in the first period (Philadelphia 3, Chicago 2) were the most in the opening 20 minutes of the Final since 1982, when the New York Islanders (three) and Vancouver Canucks (two) combined for five goals in what became a 6-5 Islanders overtime victory at Nassau Coliseum.

Streak Snapped

Jonathan Toews had his 13-game point streak snapped. It was a franchise record for a single playoff year, surpassing the mark of Hall of Fame center Stan Mikita, who compiled an 11-game streak for Chicago in 1962. The streak was the longest in the 2010 playoffs and the longest since Carolina’s Eric Staal recorded a 15-game streak in 2006.

Zero to Hero

Blackhawks forward Tomas Kopecky, inserted into the lineup for Game 1 after being a healthy scratch for five games, scored the game-winning goal at 8:25 of the third period. Kopecky replaced the injured Andrew Ladd alongside Dave Bolland and Kris Versteeg and finished the game with two points (one goal, one assist) and a +2 rating.

Winning Streak Continues

The Blackhawks won their sixth consecutive game and improved to 9-1 in their past 10 games. Since a 5-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks in the opener of their Western Conference Semifinal, the Blackhawks have gone 4-1 against Vancouver, 4-0 against San Jose and 1-0 against Philadelphia.

History On Their Side

Whoever wins Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final has gone on to win the championship in 54 of 70 seasons (77%) since the League introduced the best-of-seven format in 1939.

Solid On The Draw

Even though his scoring streak was snapped, Toews was dominant in the face-off circle with a 75% winning percentage (18-6). Chicago won 63% of all face-offs tonight (40-24).

Leino Eyes Record

Flyers rookie forward Ville Leino recorded two points in tonight’s game (one goal, one assist), increasing his total in the 2010 playoffs to 14 (five goals, nine assists). Leino is one point shy of the franchise record for points by a rookie in one playoff year, set by former Flyer all-star Brian Propp in 1980.