Flyers vs. Blackhawks

Despite their supposedly downtrodden status as a sports city, Philadelphia's teams have had decent success. Maybe the Eagles haven't won a Super Bowl for awhile, but under the departed-to-the-Redskins Donovan McNabb, they regularly made the playoffs. The long-lamented Phillies finally won a World Series last year. The 76ers -- well, they did win one under Dr. J, and they've been competitive somewhat, but they need a comeback.

Which brings us to the improbable (but maybe not quite so improbable) Flyers of 2009-2010. After just barely getting into the playoffs on a shootout win, they've now made it to the Stanley Cup finals. They disposed of the Canadiens, after the Amazing Habs disposed of the Capitals (helped by a goaltender interference call) and then the Penguins.

How? Good coaching, aggressive play, and healthy players. That last can't be understated; just about everybody is healthy. That means a lot this late in the season.

So now they face the Blackhawks. And this is history; the last time the Blackhawks were in the Stanley Cup finals, they got blanked by the Lemieux-led Penguins, 4-0. Before that, the last Hurrah for Hull/Mikita/Esposito, they lost to the Ken Dryden-backstopped Canadiens in a 4-3 final series, in 1971. Before THAT, they won it in 1961. Longest no-Cup stretch of any of the original 6 NHL teams.

The Blackhawks are good, and they're due. Two factors totally unrelated to their success in this finals now come into play. One is the star factor. Chicago teams need bona fide superstars to win anything. Bulls: Jordan. Bears: Payton. White Sox: Lisa Dergan (Scott Podsednik's wife). Actually, I'd go with the ascendant Mark Buehrle).

Have the Blackhawks got a superstar? Maybe: Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane both qualify as potential superstars. They need to show up. The X-Factor is the Big Buff, Dustin Byfuglien, who's pretty effective clearing out in front of the crease and getting those gritty goals that win games in the playoffs.

The other factor is Marian Hossa, who just might also be a superstar. His factor is the fact that the last two Stanley Cup finals teams he's been on, the Penguins (against the Red Wings) two years ago and the Red Wings last year (against the Penguins) lost. Not his fault, but
this year he's on the Blackhawks. I don't think he wants this trend to continue. Neither does Chicago.


However, Hossa just might have a superstar WAG factor going for him now, too. Jana Ferova.