Flyers at Blackhawks, Game 2

Here is a look back at Game 1 and ahead to Monday's Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks.

The Pittsburgh Plan

The Flyers are trying to copy the hated Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Penguins made an in-season coaching change last year then won the Stanley Cup after losing Game 1 of the Finals.

The Flyers hope to repeat both scenarios.

Only 16 of the 70 Cup champs (23 percent) since 1939 have won the tile after losing Game 1.

One of those teams was the '74 Flyers.

Carcillo returning?

Flyers coach Peter Laviolette would not comment on any personnel moves he plans to make in Game 2, but it wouldn't be surprising if he benched defenseman Ryan Parent, dressed only five blue-liners, and added energetic winger Dan Carcillo to the lineup.

Parent played just 41 seconds in Game 1. He committed a turnover that led to a Chicago goal on his first shift, and he did not return.

In the last three playoff games, Carcillo was a healthy scratch. He was a combined plus-three in the previous three series and scored the overtime goal to beat New Jersey in Game 3 of the conference quarterfinals.

Cherry picking

Hockey analyst Don Cherry, whose suit coats are the only thing louder than his comments, was highly critical of the Game 1 performances by goalies Michael Leighton and Antti Niemi.

"I hate to say it, but the goaltending is not up to par," he said. "It looked like an industrial-league hockey game out there.

"A game like that drives coaches nuts. I'm sure the next one will be better. Both teams have to be better. That was lousy hockey to watch."

Stand-up comedian, uh, defenseman

Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger, one-line king, had the media roaring with laughter Sunday during a news conference that, at times, seemed more like it belonged at Second City, the famous Chicago comedy club that is something of a feeder system for Saturday Night Live.

As the interview session ended, a reporter got out of his seat and knocked over a camera crew's tall light standard - and it came dangerously close to falling atop many reporters.

Pronger, who was walking out of the room and standing next to the wobbling light when someone grabbed its base, glanced at the reporter who banged into it.

"See," he deadpanned without skipping a beat. "I rattled him."

OT pays on road

If Monday night's game in Chicago goes into overtime, history is on the Flyers' side.

Road teams have won 10 of the last 12 Finals games that have gone into overtime - and they are 15-4 since 1990.

Hawks respond

Three times the Flyers took the lead in Game 1. Three times, they gave it up. Quickly.

In other words, they didn't give the Blackhawks much chance to feel the pressure that builds when you are facing a deficit.

Each time the Flyers took the lead, Chicago responded with game-tying goals in 68 seconds, 98 seconds and 2 minutes, 11 seconds, respectively. That's a combined 4:57 - and it may come back to haunt them.

- Sam Carchidi

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