Cup Finals – Chicago at Philadelphia, Game 6

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Last Updated on Thursday, 10th Jun 2010, 

Written by BetRepublic

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The Chicago Blackhawks have waited 49 long years since the last hoisting the Cup in victory. Tonight Philadelphia will try and add a couple more days to the list.

CHICAGO AT PHILADELPHIA
Line: Flyers -115
Over/Under: 5.5 OV -135

Blackhawks lead series 3-2

For the third straight time the Flyers are faced with elimination tonight as they take the ice vs. the Hawks. The NHL record for ‘Most games played by a team in one playoff year’ is tied between the 1987 Flyers and 2004 Calgary Flames at 26. It makes for a long grind but including the preseason, regular season, Olympics and playoffs there are three players on Philadelphia that have surpassed that total.

For Chris Pronger (116), Mike Richards (116) and Kimmo Timonen (112) these have not exactly been ‘easy’ minutes, either, and one of the factors to consider in tonight’s game is if the home side has one more win left in the tank.

Patrick Kane (112), Duncan Keith (112), Brent Seabrook (108) and points-leader Jonathan Toews (107) have also crossed the century mark but average age is only one thing to consider. Chicago disposed of Nashville and Vancouver in six games apiece before sweeping the San Jose Sharks.

The wear and tear that comes with playoffs games has not been as big a factor and perhaps it was no more evident than in game 5, when Chicago outscored the Flyers 3-0 in the first period, what an extra gear can do for a team at this time of year.

Michael Leighton was pulled after one but HC Laviolette has gone back to the NHL’s goals-against leader for tonight, probably thanks in part to how Leighton performed in game 5. Philadelphia needed their goaltender to ‘steal’ a win in order to even the series and though the scoreboard read 5-3, Leighton’s one goal allowed through the first 52 minutes showed his ability to get up for the big game.

Leighton is 6-0 at home with a 1.48 GAA and .952 save percentage including two shutouts while Antti Niemi boasts a 15-6 record with a 2.62 GAA and .911 save percentage.

Oh and by the way, both the `87 Flyers and `04 Flames lost the Stanley Cup after those playoff endurance tests, but not before forcing a game 7.

DOUBLE-DIGIT STREAK
Chicago (1-10) has not won in Philadelphia since November 9, 1996. Of Philly’s 10-straight home wins in that span, six were by a margin of 2-plus goals.

IT’S NOT OVER `TIL IT’S OVER
After the 11-goal scoring blitz in game 1 settled down to a three-goal night in game 2, it was hard to see the mayhem that has added up to 40 total goals in this series through the first five games. The last time we witnessed so much scoring in the Finals was in 1981 when the New York Islanders dynasty combined with the Minnesota North Stars for 42 goals in the first five games.

We’ve hit with the correct total three-straight games and also had a winning system "live" for game 2. For tonight we don’t have an official play but offer a system that suggests this game will go "Over" the mark.

70% NHL SYSTEM "LIVE"
Play home teams over the total after playing a game where 7 or more combined goals were scored when playing against an opponent that played two straight games where 8 or more total goals were scored.

This system is 68-29 (70-percent) when wagering on the over the past five seasons including 11 overs and 3 unders in 14 games during the 2009-10 season.

COMEBACK KIDS
Philadelphia has been nearly unbeatable on home ice this postseason but the ‘Road Warrior’ Blackhawks were on a 7-0 run prior to game’s 3-4. As convincing as a win that was for Chicago in game 5, one only has to look back to last season to see what a change of scenery can do for a team.

In 2009, Detroit won game 5 at home 5-0 to go up 3-2 in series. Pittsburgh then won game 6 by a score of 2-1 before taking game 7 at the Joe by the same score (2-1).

Our series pick when the Cup Finals began was Philadelphia (+205) to win in seven games and tonight we’re standing by to see if we can keep that play alive.