This is for the hockey geeks tonight watching game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers. Here are the numbers, records, trends and just overall factoids you’ll want to pay attention to.
FLYERS, LEIGHTON TOUGH AT HOME
The Flyers enter Game 6 with a seven-game winning streak at Wachovia Center and a League-best 9-1 home record in the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They went 2-0 against New Jersey in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal, 2-1 vs. Boston in the Conference Semifinal, 3-0 vs. Montreal in the Conference Final and are 2-0 against Chicago in the Stanley Cup Final, outscoring opponents 37-20.
In six home starts, Flyers goaltender Michael Leighton is 6-0 with two shutouts, a 1.48 goals-against average and .949 save percentage, stopping 169 of 178 shots.
Home clubs are 5-0 in the Stanley Cup Final for the second consecutive season. In 2009, the home teams won the first six games before the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Detroit Red Wings in Game 7. In the 20 years prior to 2009, the home team won the first five games just once, in 2003 (New Jersey Devils, Anaheim Ducks). Since the best-of-seven format was implemented in 1939, home clubs have won all seven games in the Stanley Cup Final on three occasions, in 1955, 1965 and 2003.
Most Home Victories, Both Teams, Stanley Cup Final
7 Detroit Red Wings (four), Montreal Canadiens (three), in 1955.
Montreal Canadiens (four), Chicago Blackhawks (three), in 1965.
New Jersey Devils (four), Anaheim Ducks (three), in 2003.
6 Montreal Canadiens (three), Chicago Blackhawks (three), in 1971.
Pittsburgh Penguins (three), Detroit Red Wings (three), in 2009.
TEAMS WINNING GAME 5 OF THE STANLEY CUP FINAL WITH SERIES TIED 2-2
In the 20 previous Stanley Cup Final series tied 2-2, the club winning Game 5 has won the Stanley Cup 14 times (70%). The six clubs that successfully overcame a Game 5 loss: the 1950 Detroit Red Wings, 1964 Toronto Maple Leafs, 1971 Montreal Canadiens, 2001 Colorado Avalanche, 2004 Tampa Bay Lightning and 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins.
Year Stanley Cup Champions After Losing Game 5 (tied 2-2)
1950 Detroit Red Wings * (vs. NY Rangers)
1964 Toronto Maple Leafs * (vs. Detroit)
1971 Montreal Canadiens (vs. Chicago)
2001 Colorado Avalanche * (vs. New Jersey)
2004 Tampa Bay Lightning * (vs. Calgary)
2009 Pittsburgh Penguins (vs. Detroit)
* lost Game 5 at home
FROM CONFERENCE FINALS ON, ‘HOME SWEET HOME’
Road clubs posted a winning record through the Conference Semifinals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs but home clubs have reversed the trend since the start of the Conference Finals.
Home Team Statistics W-L Pct GF GA
Through Conference Semifinals: 35-39 .473 207 234
Conference Finals and SC Final: 11-3 .786 52 32
HIGHEST SCORING STANLEY CUP FINAL SERIES SINCE 1981
There have been 40 goals scored in this series (Chicago 21, Philadelphia 19), the most through the first five games of the Stanley Cup Final since 1981 when the New York Islanders and Minnesota North Stars combined for 42 in a five-game series win for the Islanders. The five-game total this year is more than the total of any Final, of any length, since the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks scored 40 times in the Rangers’ seven-game victory in 1994.
The goals have been scored by 25 players (13 Blackhawks, 12 Flyers). No player has
more than three goals.
PRONGER, BRIERE NEAR FLYERS’ PLAYOFF RECORDS
Chris Pronger enters Game 6 as the scoring leader among defensemen in the 2010 playoffs with 17 points (four goals, 13 assists). He is one point from tying the Flyers’ playoff record for a defenseman set by Doug Crossman in 1987 (4-14–18 in 26 games).
Daniel Briere enters Game 6 ranked first on the Flyers and second in the League in playoff scoring with 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists). Briere is one point from tying the franchise record for postseason scoring set by Brian Propp in 1987 (12-16–28). Briere already has collected nine points in the Stanley Cup Final (two goals, seven assists)
— the most since Tampa Bay’s Brad Richards recorded 4-5–9 for the Tampa Bay Lightning in their seven-game series victory over the Calgary Flames in 2004. The last player to reach double figures in scoring during the Stanley Cup Final was New York Rangers defenseman Brian Leetch, who notched 11 points (five goals, six assists) in seven games against the Vancouver Canucks in 1994.
TOEWS SETS BLACKHAWKS PLAYOFF RECORD, EYES ANOTHER
Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews set a franchise record in Game 5 by earning his 21st assist of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Dustin Byfuglien’s game-winning goal in the second period. Toews moved past Denis Savard, who notched 20 assists in 1985. Toews leads the NHL in 2010 playoff scoring with 28 points (seven goals, 21 assists), one shy of the single-season franchise record set by Savard in 1985 (9-20–29).
LEINO CONTINUES TO CLIMB PLAYOFF ROOKIE SCORING LADDER
Flyers forward Ville Leino recorded three assists in Game 5 to increase his playoff points total to 19 (seven goals, 12 assists). Leino climbed to third place on the list for most points by a rookie in one playoff year, just two shy of the mark set by Dino Ciccarelli with Minnesota in 1981.
