The Energon Pub

News Credits: 2 · by **First-Aid** » Sat Jun 05, 2010 1:45 am

In this case, actually you can. Here are the numbers:

Chicago PIM 38, Philly PIM 20. A 2:1 ratio. Why is this unusual? Because Chicago ranked 5th in fewest penalty minutes this season. Philly ranked TWENTY NINTH. Pholly's other series continued that pattern. Why did it suddenly change in the Finals? It hasn't, but the refs are missing a huge number of calls against Philly, but at the same time hitting them with a very unusual number of icing penalties. Now, I've worked with pro hockey players and refs for 7 years now and I know that refs will often give questionable icings, offsides, and other "minor" penalties to a team if they feel they have blown a call that would have helped that team at some point as a way of "making up" for it. I wonder if that is what's happening here. Or is it simply a case of Chicago trying to play more physical to counter Philly; the refs expect the physical play from Philly but not Chicago and it throws them off mentally. I don't know the reason, but I do know that if my WIFE- who knows next to nothing about hockey (but a TON about football) is picking out calls that the refs aren't, then something is screwy. Is this similar to the phantom foulsin the Lakers-Celtics series a few years back that forced a game 7 and more TV money for the NBA? WHo knows...

News Credits: 2 · by **First-Aid** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 11:38 pm

In 60 minutes of hockey time, the Blackhawks could end the longest streak ever of not winning the Stanley Cup. Wow. Is this really happening? I was at Game 5 in Chicago...I had dreams with the Chelsea Dagger song that night I heard it so much...GO HAWKS!

by **King Slick** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 9:16 pm

BLACKHAWKS WIN THE CUP! BLACKHAWKS WIN THE CUP!!!

by **Iron Prime** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 9:31 pm

And the Fat Lady has sung!

News Credits: 2 · by **First-Aid** » Wed Jun 09, 2010 9:32 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s-I4OZB ... re=related

Nuff said. What a great game.

News Credits: 9 · by **Editor** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 12:35 am

Congrats FA.

News Credits: 2 · by **First-Aid** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 1:31 am

I think the coolest thing about this win is the fact that, since I've worked with the AHL team the last three seasons, I literally KNOW half the current Hawks roster...aka been out drinking with them, hung out with them, went to team parties, etc. Versteeg, Bolland, Hendry, Boynton, Niemi, Brauwer, Fraser, Bickell, Hjarlmarssen..what a classy, friendly bunch of individuals. I am proud to have worked with them in their careers and excited to see them as they reach the pinnacle of the sport. Kinda makes me feel like that weird uncle everyone has...the one who always insists you pull his finger and has weird jokes. I have had more than a fan's stake in this series: this has been very personal for me...and honestly I cried tears of joy when I saw my guys hoisting that prized trophy. I am very proud to have known them. And I am very proud to have been a part of the Blackhawks family for these past three years. What a wonderful feeling this is!

TO you Flyers fans out there, I want to offer this: your team played a tough series and were fantastic competitors. I offer a truly heartfelt salute to you all (except Chris Pronger...go rot!) and wish you nothing but the best of luck. I really enjoyed the competitive level the Flyers brought to the series. I also believe that this series will help to propel the NHL back into the heights of professional sports in the US...the entire series was tremendously exciting, even for the unfamiliar viewers. It was physical, fast paced, hard hitting, and showed off the talents of a lot of great players on both sides of the puck. Philly, you have a great base to build on. Maybe we'll meet in the Finals again next year. I salute you all!

Have to go...I'm actually tearing up again thinking of how proud I am of these guys. God, I'm such a sap.