Tuesday Timeout

Stanley Cup Update:

Both teams were given a rare day off on Monday due to the series not resuming until Wednesday night. All indications are that Chicago coach, Joel Quenneville is unlikely to shuffle his successful line combinations from Game 5. The Bolland-Versteeg-Byfuglien line that was so efficacious on Sunday night will stay in tact. Chicago seems to be saying all the right things and are approaching this game as if it were a game seven situation. As for Philadelphia, head coach Peter Laviolette is still not divulging who his starting goaltender will be in Game 6. In our opinion, although Michael Leighton struggled mightily in Game 5, he is the better choice to start Wednesday night. Leighton has been brilliant at Wachovia Center, and usually responds well after a poor outing. Plus, it's not as if Boucher looked stellar in goal after replacing Leighton the other night. However, we have all learned by now not to write the Flyers off, as they seem to thrive under adversity and when their backs are against the wall.

Interesting trends going into tomorrow nights game:

Philadelphia Flyers record when facing elimination this postseason is 4-0. Head coach Peter Laviolette is in the same situation that faced him as coach of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 when they were down 3-2 in the Stanley Cup Finals and ultimately won the Stanley Cup.

Chicago Blackhawks this postseason have won twice in a Game six on the road. Winning at Nashville 5-3 to close out Round One, and also winning at Vancouver 5-1 to close out Round Two. Don't forget they also won both road games in San Jose.

The fact that Chicago has won big games on the road before is the reason why we think that the series ends on Wednesday night. We are expecting a very close game, perhaps even tied with five minutes left. But in the end the Blackhawks will ultimately prevail and hoist the Cup in Philadelphia. Chicago appears to be hitting their stride offensively, and the fact that the Flyers are having goaltending questions in a Game 6 of the Stanley Cup is alarming.

Chicago (even) over Philadelphia