2 wins away: Flyers even up Finals

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Once again, the Flyers have proven no deficit is too great. After the Blackhawks won the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals, several national media members were ready to hand the Cup over to Chicago. The Flyers and their fans knew better, of course; they knew that Team Resilient was going to make some noise before all was said and done.

And make noise they certainly did in a crucial Game 4, knocking off the Blackhawks 5-3 to erase their two game deficit and make it a 3 game series for the Cup. While a late charge from Chicago made for some nervous moments in the final minutes of the game, the Flyers controlled play for most of the night, carrying two and three goal cushions from late in the first all the way until midway through the third. Heroes for the Flyers abounded, from the Captain Mike Richards leading off the scoring to the unsung Ville Leino netting the game winner in the third. Oh, and don't forget about Chris Pronger; he was all over Chicago in this one and earned a +4 in nearly 28 minutes of ice time.

Two interesting stats jumped out to me after the game. First, the Flyers have yet to lose a game in the playoffs after their series reached a Game 4. That's right, the Flyers are now 9-0 in Games 4, 5, 6 and 7 in all of the 2010 playoff series' combined. I'd say that's a team that gets better the later a series gets. The other interesting stat is the Blackhawks have now lost two straight games for the first time this postseason. The Flyers seem to be getting into Chicago's heads as their remarkable 7 game winning streak is now a distant memory.

While the Blackhawks are now the team that is facing some adversity, they still have home ice advantage with 2 of the last 3 being played in Chicago. All the Flyers have done to this point is protect their home ice; they will need to steal one in Chicago if they want to bring home the Cup. With all of the momentum in the Flyers favor right now, Game 5 might be their best chance to get that elusive road win.

Just 2 more wins separate the Flyers from the Stanley Cup. How surreal is that?