As someone who had not watched a full stanley cup playoff series before this year, I can honestly say that hockey has become one of my favorite sports to watch. Im not sure what the draw is specifically, but I will say that the fast paced action that it delivers is unlike anything you see in other sports. As someone who considers them self a Buffalo Sabres fan I had no real bone to pick with either team in the championship, and just wanted to watch some solid hockey, and both teams delivered. I will say that after watching the HBO documentary, “Broad Street Bullies” not to long ago, a small part of me wanted to see the Flyers hoist the cup, although its hard to root against Team USA stand out, Patrick Kane for the Hawks.

As the game started in Philly, my buddy and I quickly realized that the tape of Kate Smith singing God Bless America was not being played over the loud speakers. This came as a bit of a shock to both of us, as I had assumed that before every big/must win game the song would be sang, so theres something for you conspiracy theorists to chew on for a bit.  In any event, I wont blame the loss on a song, though it is a bit odd.

Once the pre game festivities were over with, the opening face off took place, and although the scoreboard tells a bit of a different story, I think you really felt as if the Hawks were simply destined to win this game. Im not a huge statistic guy, but when you look at some of the numbers from this game, its hard to believe how close of a game it truly was, and I think you have to give a lot of credit to Michael Leighton for how he performed in many of these situations. For starters the shots on goal wasn’t even close, Chicago 41 and Philly 24, Philly gave away 16 pucks as opposed to the Hawks 13, and the Hawks would take away 12 pucks as opposed to Philly only taking 9.  Philly would end up with the slight edge in face offs (32-30) and hits (27-19) but in the end it would not be enough.

Philadelphia’s story book playoff run could only be called Cinderella if they had managed to win, but for whatever reason they could not seem to muster up the puck play to do so. I do not feel bad for Philly or its fans and I suppose I owe that to the fact that they went ahead and Booed the Hawks and the man presenting Lord Stanley’s cup to them. If your going to win do it with class, and if your going to lose do it with class. Though I dont think the term class will ever be associated with the Flyers, Phillies, or Eagles so I guess we will let them go on their marry way.

As for the Hawks its been 49 long years for their hockey team, and in a place where championships are few and far between I think you need to be happy for them. I suppose now fans will assume that the cubs have a shot sometime in the near future, but theirs nothing wrong with dreaming right?

In the end I am proud to call myself a newly minted hockey fan and look forward to watching many more Stanley cup series in the future, especially ones where the Sabres are included!

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