CHICAGO — When they won the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals, the Blackhawks were soaring. A trip to Philadelphia brought them back to reality in a hurry.
After two wins by the gritty Flyers on their home ice tied the series, the championship round is a best-of-three set.
Entering tonight’s Game 5 at the United Center, the Blackhawks know they have to adjust — to the Flyers’ speed, to Philly’s rugged defense led by Chris Pronger, to their own inability to get scoring from their top players — or risk losing what they have come this far to achieve.
Coach Joel Quenneville is expected to mix some lines and Chicago’s defense hopes to give goalie Antti Niemi more support against a balanced Flyers attack that has shown to be the Blackhawks’ equal.
To establish themselves again, the Blackhawks know they can’t repeat their mistakes from Game 3 and Game 4. Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson’s poor puck handling near the net led to two first-period goals by the Flyers en route to a 5-3 victory.
And Chicago was too slow with a line change in Game 3, helping set up Philly’s winning goal in overtime that produced a 4-3 victory.
Niemi, whose stellar play in the final period of Game 2 preserved a Chicago victory, gave up eight goals in the two games played at the Flyers’ Wachovia Center.
“He’s played well for us all season. We’re not worried at all,” Chicago’s Brent Sopel said Saturday. “We left him high and dry as defensemen.”
Philadelphia’s Michael Leighton, meanwhile, ran his record to 8-2 with the victory Friday night. The former Blackhawk has a .924 save percentage and a 2.14 goals-against average.
One of the Flyers’ big advantages in the title series has been on special teams. Chicago’s power play is just 1-for-9 after converting a 5-on-3 break Friday night, while Philadelphia is 5-for-16.
Stanley Cup finals
Blackhawks vs. Flyers
Series tied 2-2
Best-of-seven series; * — if necessary
Chicago 6, Philadelphia 5
Chicago 2, Philadelphia 1
Philadelphia 4, Chicago 3 (OT)
Philadelphia 5, Chicago 3
Today: at Chicago, 6 p.m., KUSA-9
Wednesday: at Philadelphia, 6 p.m., KUSA-9
Friday: at Chicago, 6 p.m., KUSA-9*
