As the hockey world awaits the start of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final, many experts and fans are expressing their opinions on which team has the better chance to win. In today's article, the focus is on the Philadelphia Flyers, examining four reasons they could win.
1. The Flyers have Overcome Adversity.
Nothing brings a team closer together than overcoming difficulties and problems, and coming out successful on the other side. The 2009-10 Flyers have had their share of adversity, and it allows players to show each other what they're really made of. Before the season started, the Flyers looked to be one of the Stanley Cup favorites, but not long into the season, they fired their head coach and their number one goalie went down with injury. On the ice, the team was struggling. Off the ice there was said to be dressing room concerns and in-fighting. There were rumors the older players and younger players were split, and there was more partying happening than training. But after using six different goalies throughout the season, and sorting out whatever issues were going on in the dressing room, the Flyers squeaked into the playoffs thanks to a shoot-out win in the final game of the season. They proceeded to knock off the higher seeded New Jersey Devils with ease in five games. But in the second round, they quickly fell three games to none to the Boston Bruins and it looked like their season was over. Slowly but surely, the resilient Flyers climbed there way back to win the series and make NHL history. They then disposed of the pesky Montreal Canadiens in five games to advance to the Stanley Cup final. This team has learned how to win together, something the Blackhawks have yet to experience.
2. The Flyers have Stanley Cup Experience.
While only one player on each team owns a Stanley Cup ring, the Flyers cup winner is one of the biggest parts of their team. Defenseman Chris Pronger won the Cup in 2007 with the Anaheim Ducks, after going to the final the year before with Edmonton. He has been said to be the reason the young Flyers were able to focus and mature, and he is one of their best players at the moment. His leadership on and off the ice is a huge reason the Flyers are where they are. The other guy on the Flyers with a Stanley Cup ring? Head coach Peter Laviolette. He won in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes. The Blackhawks have two guys in the room with a ring, Andrew Ladd and forth liner John Madden. While they're great role players, it's not the same kind of voice as Pronger. The Flyers will be able to rely heavily on two Stanley Cup champions, one on the ice and one behind the bench.
3. The Flyers have a Big, Strong Defense.
With all due to respect to Nashville, Vancouver and San Jose, Chicago has yet to see a defense corp like the Flyers have. The top four of Pronger, Matt Carle, Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Cobourn are one the best of the league. They're bigger and stronger than any defenseman the quick Chicago forwards have faced and the Hawks might have a harder time gaining the zone against Philly than they're used to. The Flyers completely boxed out the Montreal offense, shutting them out three times in five games. They also held the skilled New Jersey Devil forwards to a total of nine goals in five games.
4. The Flyers have a Ton of Skill and Grit Throughout the Lineup.
Philadelphia is no one line team. They have three very skilled lines that can score, something most teams in the league don't have the luxury of. Mike Richards (6 goals), Daniel Briere (9 goals), Claude Giroux (8 goals), Simon Gagne (7 goals) Ville Leino (4 goals) and Jeff Carter (4 goals), will be difficult to contain for a Chicago defense that isn't used to facing this kind of depth in the playoffs so far. But not only do the Flyers have skill, they also have a ton of grit, starting with Ian Laperierre, who returned from a brain contusion after getting hit in the face with a puck, and still sacrificed his body to block a shot. Captain Mike Richards isn't afraid of delivering a big hit, and is extremely effective playing a physical game. Again, something the Blackhawks simply have not faced in the playoffs so far. While Chicago appears to be the favorite, they should not look past the determined Philadelphia Flyers, who have everything needed to pull an upset, and win the Stanley Cup.
Marcia Di Michele - In addition to Suite101, Marcy is also a writer for TheHockeyWriters.com and blogs for Sports Illustrated's Fannation page. Marcy has been ...
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