Hawks Crush Flyers, Head To Philadelphia For Game Six

The last time I saw someone get hammered as badly as the Flyers did last night I was trying to explain to my parents why I had a tattoo that read: "Death to Infidels" burnt across my lower back. The first period of last night's game was the single greatest thing I've ever watched. It belonged more on a rape fetish website than an NBC broadcast (please don't laugh at that joke, it's in more than poor taste). Firstly, Jon Toews got his swagger back, and was tearing apart Philly's D in the neutral zone and through the blue line. Though he only had one assist on the ice, his speed and vision created numerous chances, pushed momentum in his team's favor, and rattled Philly's defensive corps. Secondly, the line juggling actually succeeded. Byfuglien got to be on the ice without Chris Pronger battling him for position in front of the crease, allowing him to score 2-2-4 for the night. Patrick Kane, who had also been struggling to produce, also added a goal to the spread. Not only did the members of the team's original top line produce and look better than they had all season, the 'Hawks managed to also create a new top line that played phenomenally. In fact, Marian Hossa has arguably been Chicago's best forward in the series- who saw that happening? But he's been an outstanding back-checker, has produced offensively, and has been the kind of veteran presence that every team he's ever been on has asked him to step up and be in the post season.
Additionally, they beat the crap out of Chris Pronger. He's been playing more than a half hour a night, as a thirty five year old. He shouldn't be playing easy enough minutes that he can go for more than half the game, and the 'Hawks made sure of that. Every second he was on the ice Pronger was forced to move or got the crap kicked out of him. A tired Pronger who was not used to the level of physicality being dished out on him allowed Chicago to unleash on offensive armageddon on Philadelphia. A tired Pronger also let Chicago get in Leighton's face, and establish effective screens. A favorable match up for Dustin Byfuglien also helped with that. I think they'll close it out next game, they're not going to want to let Philly get a chance to beat them out for the Cup in a game seven.