Chicago: Chicago built a three-goal lead in the first period and held on to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 7-4 on Sunday, putting the Blackhawks one game away from clinching the team's first Stanley Cup since 1961.
The Blackhawks now lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 and could clinch the Stanley Cup with a victory in Game Six tomorrow.
The young Blackhawks, who appeared to suffer jitters in two losses to the Flyers in Philadelphia, came out much sharper on Sunday, and forced Philadelphia goalie Michael Leighton to be replaced by Brian Boucher after the first period.
After two disappointing losses in which Chicago's top scoring line of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Dustin Byfuglien had been shut down, Chicago coach Joel Quenneville broke up the line for Sunday's Game Five.
The tactic worked, with Byfuglien scoring twice and adding two assists, while Kane scored and assisted on another goal and captain Toews had one assist.
"I think it was a good start, and I think we kept going and we made it a little interesting, more than we would have liked, but I like the speed in our game," Quenneville said.
Flyers defence-man Chris Pronger, who had been effective in stopping many of the league's top scorers throughout the playoffs had a tough game — Chicago's first goal deflected off him past Leighton, he later took a hooking penalty that led to a Chicago goal and he took a high stick to the face.
"They came out hard and we didn't answer their intensity or their physicality," said Pronger, who was on the ice for six of Chicago's seven goals.
Brent Seabrook, Dave Bolland and Kris Versteeg scored in the first period to build Chicago's lead before the teams then went about trading goals for the rest of the game. "Getting down there two games in their building, you know, we had to come back with some fire and just get on them and show them that we weren't going to quit," Byfuglien said.
Scott Hartnell scored 32 seconds into the second period for the Flyers, but Kane scored to restore the lead. Kimmo Timonen later scored for Philadelphia, before Byfluglien responded with first goal.
James van Riemsdyk and Simon Gagne scored for Philadelphia in the third period, while Patrick Sharp scored on a three-on-two break and Byfuglien added a goal.
"I think we were ready," said Flyers winger Ville Leino, who had three assists. "We were a little too ready. I think we were a little nervous."
The home team has won each of the five games of the series and Pronger felt it could be a factor in Game Six tomorrow.
"We seem to play really well at home and obviously the crowd will be behind us," Pronger said. "We seem to like to make things difficult on ourselves and this is no different."
