Ready to Go. Our Line Starts.

That's right, the Lounge has fired up Republica's "Ready to Go," one of the tunes the Kings of the late 1990s skated to during warmups before yet another crushing loss at the Great Western Forum.

Ah, those Inglewood nights, the mix of folks in Warren Rychel and Marty McSorley sweaters hoisting adult beverages in the vast parking lots at the neighboring Hollywood Park horse track. The Kings fans in that lot were definitely ready to settle some issues.

And tonight there definitely are some issues in the Lounge as we await the Rangers' visit to Winnipeg. The Maple Leafs are getting sticks up in the faces of the Flyers; stitches aplenty at the Wells Fargo Center. The Canadiens look like mere mortals, perhaps even worse, and the Panthers have evened things up after one period.

Any way you look at it tonight, the table is full, and I mean full even after I clear the main table of all the fixings for the Lounge's chicken tacos. And I do make some pretty fine tacos.

If I weren't here at the Lounge, I would be at the Flying Puck on Seventh Avenue and 30th Street, or at Five Guys on 34th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. Rangers fans will have to make these venues two points of interest. Another would be Jimmy's Burger Shack on 31st Avenue just across from MSG near Eighth Avenue. If you go there, get the No. 9. Burger, bacon, fried egg, cheese. Goes down like candy.

OK, enough with the preliminaries and naked plugs. Hungry? Ready for hockey?

Good. You've come to the right place.

Kane Ends Chicago's Wait for the Cup

It wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I stated that Patrick Kane was the X-factor in this series, but his overtime goal in Game 6 was exactly what the Chicago Blackhawks needed to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-3, to claim the Stanley Cup.

And now comes the hard part for the franchise, which will next face the accountants who will help them scan the roster and trim the payroll to fit under the salary cap next season. (Sporting News Today offers Kris Versteeg, Patrick Sharp and Dustin Byfuglien as candidates for departure. Consider and discuss. Who are your candidates?)

There will be some pain this summer. Some critical figures in the dressing room will be on the move. Some champagne or cold beer in the Stanley Cup should help make that part of the story go down better.



Next up is the rest of the American Hockey League's Calder Cup finals (check the spreadsheet bookwork below for all the details) and then the NHL draft. After that, I put the Lounge's remote control on the shelf, open up the blinds and throw out about 400 pounds of notes, box scores, magazines, schedules, power-play diagrams, depth charts and take-out menus.

And after that, summer is officially marked in the Lounge by watching the NHL Network, which shows every game of the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, from the first to the last. Thanks to better technology, good cable plans and some fortysomething eyes that can still get the job done, I watched all but 6 games this spring. Gotta do better than that next year.

The CBC always does a good job on video montages to sum up the playoffs, and I thought they would be hard pressed to top the production of last season, which was put to the fine tune "Sleeping Sickness" by City & Colour (for my money, ain't no flaws there). This year the Smashing Pumpkins' "Tonight, Tonight" gets the call.

And while I might have been disappointed by the song, the footage remains top shelf. Seeing Jean Béliveau giving the Canadiens' Glen Metropolit a note of encouragement is enough for me. I hope it is for you.

Don't forget about us here in the Lounge this summer. We'll be here. Thanks for dropping in.



NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Stanley Cup Finals
Best of 7
Chicago 4, at Philadelphia 3 OT
(Chicago wins, 4-2)
Recap is here.
Three stars by Puck Daddy.
Chicago Blackhawks, 2010 Stanley Cup Champions



AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Calder Cup Finals
Best of 7
Hershey 4, at Texas 2
(Series tied, 2-2)
Recap is here.

Looking at the Cup After Game 5

After the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 7-4, to take Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals, the immediate talk centered on which goaltender the Flyers would use in Game 6.

Keith Jones of Versus said he guaranteed that Michael Leighton, who was pulled after the first period of Game 5, would be the starter again on Wednesday night. Kevin Weekes, who has been working on the NHL Network during the finals, thought that Brian Boucher had earned the starting nod for Game 6.

The Puck Daddy blog looks at the question a bit deeper, although it prefaces it's post by stating that it really doesn't matter who starts so long as the Flyers play Game 6 as they did Game 5.

But that's too simple (It may be true, but that response is more about being a smart aleck than trying to view the game from a coach's perspective). You are trying to decide who will give you the best chance to win with the assumption that you will play your best game. You shouldn't open the door to the ice if you don't think you will play your best. (This is most likely the reason why the Puck Daddy blog decided to carry out it's analysis rather than just say, a la "Meatballs," "It just doesn't matter. It just doesn't matter." By the way, that movie gave us Bill Murray in a Blackhawks jacket straight from Gunzo's, just like mine.)

And just remember, Flyers Coach Peter Laviolette did not spend a second, either after Game 5 or (below) during the off-day, considering a response to the reporter who asked whom he would start in net on Wednesday. He knows; he's not telling. Next question.



Here are some postgame thoughts, first from Leighton.



Next up in the Lounge is Boucher.



OK, now that you've weight all the words, written and spoken, just whom would you start for Game 6 if you were Laviolette?

I say Boucher. He has looked much more confident in his time in net and I believe he can best complement his team's effort rather than force them to do even more to lessen the goaltender's workload.

But I'm just behind the bar here at the Lounge. What do the customers say? (Here is what Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer has to say. And now that we've heard from the Inky, I guess I'll have to dig up a copy of the Daily News to see of that part of Philly is on board with the same plan.

Ah, here's that copy of the Philadelphia Daily News. Rich Hoffman is wondering a bit about the goaltending situation as well.

Down at at the other end of the bar, Blackhawks Coach Joel Quenneville looks pretty good after doing some major shuffling of lines. My question, why did it take until Game 5? Yeah, I know. I'm no expert. But that is why I am asking the question. What made him confident that he did not have to make major changes for Games 3 or 4, considering that there were signs of trouble?

Those are the words on the bar today in the Lounge. Following the spreadsheet bookwork on Game 5, you will find the latest installment of "Coach's Corner."

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Stanley Cup Finals
Best of 7
At Chicago 7, Philadelphia 4
(Chicago leads, 3-2)
Recap is here.
Three Stars by Puck Daddy.

Flyers Answer Challenge. Hawks? Hello?

Two unassisted goals in the first period. For that matter the game. When you have that going for you, you have to like your chances in the Stanley Cup finals. The Philadelphia Flyers responded when presented with the opportunity to dictate terms in this series, recording a 5-3 victory in Game 4. The series is tied at two games apiece.

Patrick Kane, Dustin Byfuglien and Jonathan Toews have struggled as a line in this series, which is why we are having this conversation now. The Puck Daddy blog raised the issue of breaking up the top line in this post on five questions the Blackhawks must answer.

I'd like to ask a question to the list, this one going out to Chicago Coach Joel Quenneville, who has placed his toes dangerously close to the the tires of the team bus with his comments that the Flyers were setting the tone of the game with more ease than the Blackhawks liked.



That's the coach's job to address. But the Hawks appeared, from my seat well north of Philadelphia, to keep butting their heads against a wall rather than devise a new plan to get around it.

Smarter, more composed, more disciplined. Yes, that one is on the players. But when it's not there, it's on the coach to regain control on the situation.

On the other bench, the Flyers are feeling better about life after having erased a two-game deficit in the finals. They're confident and relaxed. Maybe too relaxed, according to Daniel Briere.



Go through the spreadsheet bookwork below and see if you can come up with a plan that might work for the Blackhawks in Game 5. The Flyers' Peter Laviolette thinks his team has been on the right track all along. After Laviolette's comments, you will find the spreadsheet bookwork and then, as a treat, a look at the top draft prospects as presented by "Coach's Corner."



NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Stanley Cup Finals
Best of 7
At Philadelphia 5, Chicago 3
(Series tied, 2-2)
Recap is here.
Three stars by Puck Daddy.

A View of the Cup After Game 3

Listen to Eddie Olcyzk's amazement at the end of the video above. Puck leaving the Flyers' zone in overtime. Two Blackhawks head to the bench for a line change. (It's a long change, Olcyzk says, meaning the new skaters will have to go the length of the ice to help defend the net.)



The Flyers were too fast for that. Basically a shorthanded situation for the Blackhawks, who had no answer for Claude Giroux, who moved past his closest defender to get in place for a deflection. Dirty job. Giroux gets it done. Flyers have gained a measure of tangible confidence to go along with the "What, me worry?" attitude they had prior to Game 3.

Hold serve at home is the next job.



Danny Briere, Scott Hartnell, Aaron Asham and Giroux gave this team the spark on this night. But can they keep this up? To take the next game, or perhaps the next two and put themselves in better position to win at home in Game 6, the Flyers need this type of effort to be the rule rather than the exception.

And listening to Coach Peter Laviolette, you hear him admit for the first time that some people did not do as well in Games 1 and 2, which goes against what the coach was saying after those games.

This victory gives you room to reassess and not sound hopeful. listen to the Flyers' Mike Richards, below. That's the sound of confidence of purpose.



Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews calmly listed what he thought his team did well, and what was lacking. Well, no one was accusing Chicago of being overconfident, but now we have to wonder what will get the top line going on a consistent basis.

The puck possession issue, which Toews addressed, is not going away if the Blackhawks maintain their style of play. The Flyers are taking the fight to them, and the Blackhawks look like they are searching for a knockout punch rather than try a sustained offensive flurry of their own.

But Chicago is capable of doing it. Game 4 is a chance for them to prove that they can do it in response to a loss in the Cup finals.

Next is a little joust between Ron MacLean of CBC's "Hockey Night in Canada" and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. Nothing like a little between-period entertainment last night. Just how uncomfortable do you get watching these two trying to stomp their foot down on the other's shadow?



Hmm, I think I would like to see the feet of these two as they sit next to each other. I imagine the two like kids, trading kicks to each other's shins, safely hidden behind the pew in front of them. (I like to imagine some competitive confrontation.)

Note to Mr. MacLean: It would be good to have a winger who can speak the bizbabble that any corporate executive might present. I'm not saying Mr. Bettman is lying, but he's using terms that you, whom I would never accuse of being stupid, did not seem to pick up on right away.

Note to Mr. Bettman: The fans of franchises who are reported to be having business issues, if you will, DO CARE about the status of their team, even amid some of the best hockey we have seen in years. Maybe you are right, but does have to take that nah-nah-nah-nah tone?

Now stop kicking each other while I mention that here is Puck Daddy's scorecard on the bout and that next up is the spreadsheet bookwork, followed by a few words from Don Cherry on the CBC's "Coach's Corner."

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
Best of 7
At Philadelphia 4, Chicago 3 OT
(Chicago leads, 2-1)
Recap is here.
Three stars by Puck Daddy.

Love Your Hockey, Love Your Cheesesteak

A side treat to this great series is enjoying a good cheesesteak as a tribute to the Philadelphia Flyers. (Any excuse to eat a cheesesteak is no excuse. It's a good reason.)

In another life, I lived in Southern California, where I would sneak out of the newsroom with my good friend Steve, the Anti-Puck, and go to Philly's Best in Fountain Valley for a sandwich. (Sneak? Hah! We marched proudly out to the car and and then, with a smug face of satisfaction, lumbered to get back through the sliding doors of the office.)

Anybody who had ever lived in Philadelphia, including the Anti-Puck, had a pushpin placed in the wall-mounted map of the city to identify their old neighborhood. To complete the experience, there was an assortment of Flyers, Eagles, 76ers and Phillies posters and pennants, along with photos of customers and a few articles clipped from The Philadelphia Bulletin. Among the first to alert the Anti-Puck and me to the place was our good friend and scribe Elliott T., whose father once worked for The Bulletin.

The feast inside almost made you forget you were going to get cheesesteaks in January, in shorts and flip-flops, with palm trees shading your car outside. (Why did I leave Southern California again?)

Now about the video above. It's the little face-off going on in South Philly (footage is from 2008) involving Geno's and Pat's King of Steaks. I've been to both, and I have to side with Pat's in this little battle. But there are others who say there are better stands elsewhere in Philadelphia.

If you have any suggestions, pass them on here.

If you are in New York, I say get yourself to Shorty's on Ninth Avenue (between 42nd and 41st streets). In it's first incarnation, as Tony Luke's, it used to look more like a check cashing facility, only a little less charming. But the food was tight and priced to move. The New Yorker's little review noted that the preferred style of consumption resembled the way you would position and push wood into a chipper.

So true.

Now the joint is called Shorty's, it has a bar, and the clientele is a bit better for wear. But the style of consumption remains the same. Tilt head and grind away. Sounds like a hockey game. Sounds like dinner.

Who's with me?

Pierre LeBrun Sighting ... On the Web

Pierre LeBrun, the hockey writer who never seems to find his way on ESPN, the network, gives his thoughts on Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers.

He and his ESPN.com colleague Scott Burnside cover a lot of ground quickly, so be prepared to write fast. LeBrun's column for the day is here.

The Puck Daddy blog has given us the five ways the Flyers can get back in this series tonight. If you are Antti Niemi, you do not want the Flyers reading the first item on the list.

Mike Brophy of Sportsnet.ca has a similar opinion, basing his argument on the widely-believed notion that the Flyers have the ability to change the course of the series. They just need to exercise that ability. Do that, Brophy says, and the Flyers can achieve what the Penguins did last year in the Cup finals. Erase a two-game deficit and go on to win the Cup.

And where would we be without a word or two from Jeremy Roenick, who had the pleasure of playing for both the Blackhawks and Flyers in his career. His word on Chris Pronger's puck collection: Bush.

Updated notes for Game 3 from Kukla's Korner are here.

Stanley Cup Watch After Game 2

What more can one say about Antti Niemi and his game after the Chicago Blackhawks turned back a strong challenge by the Philadelphia Flyers, 2-1, last night in Chicago.

His shortcomings were few, and the way he weathered the surge at the end should give Flyers reason to wonder what more they can do on offense to win this series.



Placing Ben Eager in the spot of Patrick Kane was a brilliant move by Joel Quenneville, who told reporters after the game that he wanted to insert some energy at that moment. Energy, a funny but perfectly employable word when you want to say that you need somebody who will take a straight path to the net rather than fancy Dan to one side and pull a fadeaway when presented with a challenge.

Mr. Kane, take a seat. Chicago Blackhawks, advance one step closer to the Stanley Cup.



This puts the next move in the Flyers' hands. These two teams are not that far apart, and yet a two-game lead in the Cup finals can loom large in the eyes of teams that do not understand what it takes to come back.

The Flyers are not that team. It is up to Coach Peter Laviolette to fine tune his plan to get his team ready for two dates at home. After a few words from him, you will find the spreadsheet bookwork for Game 2 and another "Coach's Corner" with Don Cherry from the CBC.



NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Stanley Cup Finals
Best of 7
At Chicago 2, Philadelphia 1
(Chicago leads, 2-0)
Recap is here.
Three stars by Puck Daddy.

Hawks' Ladd to Miss Game 2

OK, hit the pause button on Barry Melrose before you did into the report from Scott Burnside of ESPN.com, who says the Blackhawks' Andrew Ladd will remain out of the lineup with the undisclosed, super secret injury.

On the Flyers' side of the coin, Daniel Carcillo will replace James van Riemsdyk in the lineup, according to Carcillo. No confirmation by Flyers Coach Peter Laviolette, so for now, that's where it stands heading into Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Now just for fun, hit play and listen to Melrose get off a lame joke before talking as fast as that old FedEx commercial. The topic, Flyers goaltender Michael Leighton and whether this is a must-win game for Philadelphia.

Looking at the Cup, Back and Forward

The bookwork for Game 1 is below, as is "Coach's Corner" from the CBC for Game 1.

But before that, a few thoughts culled from the notebook of a man who had a few snacks, beverages and angry moments during Game 1. (I have the notes and stains to prove it.)

Did you see what you wanted in Game 1? Either my standars are way too high or my compass is pointing south when I should be heading north. Patrick Kane's game left me as cold as the adult beverages I was consuming in the first period.

A few good chances lost in what appeared to me as uninspired or confused play. I was looking for leadership and determined rushes, taking the play to the Flyers. Did not see that. Again, maybe I'm wrong, or maybe I was as confused as Mike Emrick, who kept saying Kane (a minus-3) when he meant Marian Hossa. (I wasn't confused about the two players; good glasses and an HD set helped me note the difference.)

I projected Kane as my game-breaker. If he doesn't change his ways, I'm going to have to downgrade my projection.



No projection change neccessary for Flyers defensman Chris Pronger, who did just about everything to thwart the line of Kane, Dustin Byfuglien and Jonathan Toews. Later, the Blackhawks recalibrated the lines, moving Hossa up to the big line and putting Kane with Patrick Sharp and Troy Brouwer.

On the NHL Network's "On the Fly," Pronger was his amusing and feisty self during the off-day interview session. When a reporter offered a murky question about the style of play the Flyers needed to play, Pronger came back with a polite, playful shove.

"What do you want me to say?" he said. "There are two parts to your queston." The reporter offered a clarification about being agressive versus being disciplined, and another offered some help. Pronger, satisified that he had not surrendered any information until he had played out this particular shift well, gave a clear response and managed to wink and tell the reporter "good question."



It was a good one. The Flyers were pulled out of their game, Pronger said, and that, more than anything else, meant that when it turned into a shooting gallery out there, there was little they could do but try to catch up or stay even.

He said it was just one game and that there was no need to get caught up in doomsday thoughts. That's what playing, winning and losing in Stanley Cup finals will do for you.

That little playful bit has me ready for tonight, when the teams resume the fight at 8 Eastern on NBC, CBC and RDS.

Enough for now. Like I promised, here's the usual Spreadsheet bookwork for Saturday's game and a moment with Don Cherry.

STANLEY CUP FINALS
Game 1
Best of 7
At Chicago 6, Philadelphia 5
(Chicago leads, 1-0)
Recap is here.
Three stars by Puck Daddy.

Just Waiting for the Puck to Drop

It's less than an hour to go. I've done all of my chores (a short list, but they are done) and I have finished dinner.

I got through the Winnipeg/Quebec City expansion stories rather quickly and am now looking for someone from Hartford to ask when it gets a prime spot in the expansion queue.

Here's a thought. When someone says expand, you slap them. When someone says move a team, you give them a pop in the nose. And when someone says everything is on the table, ask them why their wallet, bank book and stock portfolio isn't.

Enough with these state of the union/state of the league/state of the business talkfests. Reminds me of a few cousins of mine when we were taking stock of our annual Halloween haul of candy.

"Hey, you should really have some of these," one would say. He meant, "These make me want to puke, but I really would like to see you do it rather than throw these pieces in the trash."

Another gem: "There is more chocolate in this bar than in that small one you have. Let's trade." He meant, "I remember finding this piece of candy in the gutter and the wrapper is torn. Your candy bar appears untainted. Give it to me, now."

And finally: "The next Pixie Stik I find is yours. I know how much I like them." Actual message: "I've already eaten 30 of them, and I can see in my bag there are no more. But if you would like to give me something for the promise of me some day handing one over to you, I can be bought. Give me something good."

Less than 30 minutes to go. No Andrew Ladd in the lineup tonight. Brian Boucher will be in uniform as the backup tonight. Let's get ready for some action.

The Votes Are Trickling In

TSN.ca has picks from Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger available for viewing. At Puck Daddy, the theme is which team has the better captain.

The Canwest News Service, through the portal of the National Post, submits its scorecard for debate. Here's the verdict from USA Today, and I give Jacques Demers the last word on the series. At least, that is, until some more move on the high-speed sports wire.

Chicago Is the Pick to Click

A smart bettor/picker/forecaster/loudmouth takes in all factors before putting down the name and the money on the counter.

You look at players you trust (Jonathan Toews, Chris Pronger, Dave Bolland, Duncan Keith, Simon Gagne) and those you hold as suspect (Patrick Kane, Daniel Briere, Brian Campbell, Brent Sopel, Scott Hartnell).

If that doesn't make things more lucid, then you go to the off-the-wall stuff, like predictions from other journalists. Then if you are truly scratching your head, you look for stray thoughts and try to string them together.

I admire the spirit of the Flyers, their franchise, the fans and the felonious on-ice acts to which they still cling. The logo has always attracted my eye. In junior high, when the Broad Street Bullies were punching out victories like license plates, one Tracy Larson wore an orange Flyers T-shirt to school. The shirt looked good; she looked good in the shirt. Win, win situation for a teenage boy.

Again all this is just clutter that I wade through whenever I make my picks. And here is what I believe will happen.

Chicago Blackhawks over Philadelphia Flyers in 5 games: I see these two teams as twins. In the classroom, one had a better daily report; the other struggled with its focus and did not reach the level that was expected. But that was the daily classwork. They're on equal terms now. At forward, defense, in goal and behind the bench.

For me, it comes down to Patrick Kane. He is third in playoff points with 20, 13 of them being assists. So why do I struggle to see him on the ice? I expect goals off the rush, goals in tight and plenty of speed. I haven't really seen all of that through three playoff rounds. I expect I shall see all that in this round.

He and Marian Hossa (2 goals, 9 assists, 11 points) are at the point where they steal the show or they become the bit players they were not billed to be. If Pronger manages to hinder Dustin Byfuglien's ability to get his stick on the puck, then the goals have to come from somewhere else. Toews, who leads in playoff scoring with 26 points (7 goals, 19 assists), is doing his part. That leads us back to Mr. Kane. You are X in the equation of Y Chicago will win. Elevate your game, and it should be a runaway.

Punch up 5G on the jukebox. It's time for some Del.

Wait to Make Picks to Click

Today started off just fine. A nice breeze through the living room just in time for the morning bowl of cereal, the loving cup of Joe and Stanley Cup highlight films on the big screen in the living room.

Bad news, Blackhawks fans, or should I say Black Hawks fans. The 1965 and 1971 Cup finals were being shown on the NHL Network. In both cases, the Hawks still lost. Glenn Hall with no mask. You gotta like that.

Anyhow, moving to the rest of my day, which required a little work be completed throughout the day, the 2010 Cup previews are coming through and they are entertaining. Sportsnet has a report on the Flyers and the Blackhawks, and there is a prize to be won for one of the writers.

ESPN, the network that does not show hockey and when it shows highlights, it's with a large dose of Barry Melrose or Matthew Barnaby? Pierre LeBrun, who can be seen on the Web or on CBC (speaking of the CBC, check out this preview from the CBC and compare it with any ESPN preview involving Melrose), but not ESPN, the TV, has a view on the finals, which is right here. The picks of the ESPN hockey crew, all six, are here, along with a look back at who they said would win in each round.

The Hockey News, the Web site, has a preview and it has a video roundtable. No Barry Melrose here, so I'd click in just for the fun of it.

Wes Goldstein at CBSSports.com makes his call for Chicago, and it's here.

Sports Illustrated? Yeah, I remember when I cared about that magazine, even when Mark Mulvoy was doing all he could to ignore the sport. I believed in hallowed news media institutions like Sports Illustrated back then. I was young and a sucker. I am not subsidizing Golf Plus, Golf Extra or whatever they were trying to sell me. But online, Allan Muir and his colleagues do a lot with whatever small commitment the SI franchise gives them. Here's that preview.

Over at Puck Daddy, there are several good views of both teams heading into the finals, which start Saturday night. Here's one from Justin Bourne looking at the difference in forwards on the two teams. Greg Wyshynski also has an opinion on the forward lines. Compare and contrast, if you will.

As for me, the Lounge's picks to click come tomorrow, after I've consumed a few more previews, a few adult beverages and at least one more bowl of cereal.

And now, I urge you to make your picks smartly, or you'll be singing a song similar to this fine gem by The Deep Dark Woods. Enjoy.

Hawks and Flyers Rewind Tonight

The NHL Network is showing the one meeting of the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers this season. The Flyers, 3-2 winners at home on March 13, erased a one-goal lead late in the third period to down the Blackhawks, who did not look like world beaters in this one, which I saw live on the Center Ice package. (High winds and heavy rain? No problem. Just sat in the Lounge that day watching hockey.)

According to NHL.com, the March 13 game will be shown tonight at 8 Eastern. It will be shown again at midnight and Thursday at 4 a.m. 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. All times Eastern.

In case you don't get the NHL Network, the video highlights of the game is above. Here is the box and the recap of the game.

Stanley Cup Finals Schedule Set

P.K. Subban's season may continue, but it will have to be in the American Hockey League, where the Hamilton Bulldogs are trying to reach the Calder Cup finals.

In the National Hockey League, Subban's Montreal Canadiens have been eliminated in six games by the Philadelphia Flyers, which sets up the Stanley Cup finals with the Flyers taking on the Chicago Blackhawks, who dispatched the San Jose Sharks in four games.

The Stanley Cup Finals will begin Saturday night. All games will be shown in Canada on CBC and RDS. In the United States, NBC will have Games 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7. Versus will have Games 3 and 4. All games start at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Saturday: Philadelphia at Chicago
May 31: Phiadelphia at Chicago
June 2: Chicago at Philadelphia
June 4: Chicago at Philadelphia
June 6: Philadelphia at Chicago, if needed
June 9: Chicago at Philadelphia, if needed
June 11: Philadelphia at Chicago, if needed

Devils Pregame Show Sends a Message

Ken Daneyko, the former New Jersey Devil, is comfortable in his role as a commentator on the Devils' television broadcasts on MSG-Plus.

At 6:50 pm Eastern, Daneyko told the Maven, Stan Fischler, that if he or Scott Stevens were still in the Devils' locker room, the names of Jeff Carter and Mike Richards would be on the list.

Here, again, is the hit in question. The hit on the Devils' Anssi Salmela came Monday night in the Flyers' 3-2 victory at home.



Scott Stevens, Daneyko assured viewers, would have been in the room right now saying that Carter and Richards would have to answer for their actions. Daneyko ruled Carter's hit as dirty, and the Maven agreed.

We shall see tonight how the current Devils respond to the Carter hit. (Zach Parise is not in the lineup, by the way. Another Olympian forced to sit out the Games? We shall see.) Flyers at Devils. Philly meets Newark. Omegas visit Delta. The puck has been dropped.

Tortorella and Brooks Put the Act Back Together

I love the feisty approach that the New York Post brings to its sports coverage. It gets to the point, comes out swinging and isn't afraid to take a punch or two. On the hockey beat, Larry Brooks gets in there. Gets in deep. Irritatingly deep, a team might say.

But as a reader, you know Brooks was at the game or practice. And the coaches and players do, too.

So the little set-to he had with Rangers Coach John Tortorella after the Rangers took a 2-0 beating in Philadelphia was no surprise. In fact, I'm pretty sure there would be video of the two every night, if possible.

The next clip comes from the 2007 playoffs. Tortorella is running the Tampa Bay Lightning, which lost to the New Jersey Devils on this night to fall behind, 3-2, that playoff series.

Brooks has a question. Tortorella is sticking his chin out in full knowledge that most of the reporters in the scrum aren't going to take a poke. Guess who takes a poke?



The two are made for each other. It's a win-win situation for New York readers. Here is Brooks' game story in The Post this morning. Some background: Brooks and others in the reporter scrum want to know why no other Ranger stepped in when Marian Gaborik, the team's scorer, was getting a thorough pat down from the Flyers' Daniel Carcillo. For more of the story line, here is Puck Daddy's breakdown of the disconnect between the two.



Spot anyone who could have helped out Gaborik? It was old-time hockey in Philadelphia last night, from the drop of the puck until well after the last word was set in type or committed to pixels on your screen. Good stuff. Can't wait for the next round.

THE SCOREBOARD
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Columbus 3, at Boston 2
At Ottawa 3, St. Louis 2
At N.Y. Islanders 2, Florida 1 SO
At Philadelphia 2, N.Y. Rangers 0
Carolina 5, at Atlanta 2
At Tampa Bay 3, Toronto 2 OT
Washington 6, at Pittsburgh 3
Detroit 4, at Minnesota 3 SO
At Phoenix 4, Nashville 2
Chicago 3, at Calgary 1
At Vancouver 4, Dallas 3
At Los Angeles 4, Buffalo 3 SO
At San Jose 3, Anaheim 1
The standings are here.
Recap by Sportsnet.
Three stars by Puck Daddy.

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Acadie-Bathurst 6, Shawinigan 3
The standings are here.
The recap is here.

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
At London 3, Kitchener 2
Owen Sound 4, at Peterborough 3
At Windsor 2, Brampton 1 SO
At Barrie 5, Kingston 2
At Niagara 2, Mississauga 1
Guelph 5, at Sarnia 2
The standings are here.
The roundup is here and the Kingston/Barre recap is here.