Daily News Stanley Cup Finals Preview

The Daily News previews the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals series between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks.

Ed Snider has been running the Flyers since before they last won a Stanley Cup in 1975. (David Maialetti/Staff Photographer)

Over the years, Snider has seen it all

As the Flyers attempt to win their first Stanley Cup since the 1974 and '75 back-to-back championships, Snider says he's pretty much the same person now as then: He's still driven to win.

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Photos: Past Flyers Stanley Cup teams
Stanley Cup Finals schedule

Flyers champions see similarities with this year's version: by Chuck Bausman

The 1974 and '75 Flyers won back-to-back Stanley Cups and captivated the city. The Broad Street Bullies will live forever in Philadelphia, much as coach Fred Shero promised the players that if they won the deciding Game 6 over Boston in '74, they would walk together forever.
MacLeish on Richards: by Marcus Hayes

ON THE SURFACE, the comparison seems valid. Rick MacLeish was an anchor on the Flyers' two Stanley Cup title teams, often overlooked as other, more loquacious teammates shined and accepted the spotlight.
Parent on Leighton: by Marcus Hayes

IT'S FOOLISH TO compare a Hall of Fame goaltender with the likes of Michael Leighton. Even if Leighton did something that Bernie Parent never could - log three shutouts in a single playoff series.
Schultz on Carcillo: by Bernard Fernandez

Anyone who saw the recent HBO Sports special, "Broad Street Bullies," came away with the understanding that the toughest of the tough, NHL subdivision, are revered in a town where guys who frequently drop their gloves, ball their fists and rack up high penalty minutes aren't necessarily viewed as "goons," but as imtimidating defenders of the Flyers' honor.
Barber on Carter: by Marcus Hayes

THIS CAN BE great for Jeff Carter. This Stanley Cup run can raise his star higher. It can enhance his versatility. It can prove his toughness.
Van Impe on Pronger: by Bernard Fernandez

ASK RETIRED Flyers defenseman Ed Van Impe if he sees any of himself in the team's current standout backliner, Chris Pronger, and he offers a qualified yes.
Clement on Betts: by Mike Mazzeo

BILL CLEMENT, a gritty center for the Broad Street Bullies' 1974 and '75 Stanley Cup-winning teams, paused for a moment when asked to ponder which current Flyer he resembled when he played.
The trophy since 1975: by Mike Mazzeo

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS seems like a long time, doesn't it? Since the Flyers last won a Stanley Cup in 1975, the famed trophy has been awarded 33 times to 13 franchises in 12 cities. (There was no champion in 2005, because of the lockout.)
Memories from the press box: by Bill Fleischman

BARRY ASHBEE was standing in the Spectrum locker room after the Flyers upset the Bobby Orr-led Boston Bruins to win their first Stanley Cup in 1974. Ashbee, a ramrod straight defenseman, wore sunglasses to protect his right eye, damaged when a puck shot by Dale Rolfe of the New York Rangers struck him in a semifinal game.

Pronger makes Flyers stronger: By FRANK SERAVALLI, seravaf@phillynews.com

Even at 35, Chris Pronger wants it more than anyone else. Tomorrow night, the puck will be dropped on his third Stanley Cup finals in five seasons, all three with different teams. All three came in the first year with that team.
Laviolette's principles have been perfect for Flyers: Rich Hofmann: "Even when I wasn't here, for all of those years I was around, it was always 'the big, bad Flyers,' " Peter Laviolette said, laughing. "I don't think that's such a bad thing."
Better Leighton than never: Sam Donnellon: Imagine, if you can, the ride that has taken Flyers goalie Michael Leighton to this point. Imagine being traded by the team that drafted you before you got much of a chance, or the team that traded for you then dispatching you immediately to the minors, then releasing you.
Flyers dress for championship success: By FRANK SERAVALLI, seravaf@phillynews.com

CHICAGO - All 24 of the Flyers' players sauntered into the United Center yesterday in dress pants and matching, loud orange sweat shirts. Just below their right shoulder, each player's number was pressed onto the sweat shirt.
Daily News Stanley Cup predictions: by the Daily News

Most of our Daily News team picks Flyers, and you'll note that all those who do see them taking it in 6, while the dissenters are looking for "Blackhawks in 7." That's gotta be a good sign right there, right? In particular, Ed Barkowitz and Frank Seravalli agree that a Blackhawks win would be the logical development but there's been nothing logical about the Flyers' postseason this year.
Flyers-Blackhawks: Game 1 preview: by the Daily News

All games in this best-of-seven series begin at 8 p.m. Game 1: Tomorrow: Flyers at Chicago, NBC10 Game 2: Monday: Flyers at Chicago, NBC10
Flyers-Blackhawks scouting report: by Frank Seravalli

THE FLYERS AND Chicago Blackhawks - unlike each of the Flyers' first three matchups of this 2010 Stanley Cup playoff run - do not have a long and storied rivalry.
From Kate to Gretzky, Wings to bats, Hextall to Stickle: By JON MARSHALL, marshaj@phillynews.com

THIS WILL BE the Flyers' eighth trip to the Stanley Cup finals. They won their first two appearances but have lost the last five times.
Former Flyer Sharp is a big part of Chicago's turnaround: By JACK McCARTHY, For the Daily News

CHICAGO - Patrick Sharp says there are no hard feelings. A December 2005 trade that sent the onetime Flyers prospect to Chicago shocked him at the time, but Sharp said it also opened up fresh opportunities and ultimately a shot at a Stanley Cup.

Last regular-season meeting between Flyers-Blackhawks: If the regular-season game is any indication, this series is going to be a good one. The Flyers used a furious rally and beat the Blackhawks in their only meeting this season, 3-2, on March 13.
Flyers, Blackhawks met in 1971 playoffs: The Flyers and Blackhawks have met only once in the playoffs and the series didn't last very long. Hall of Famers Bobby Hull had six goals and two assists and Stan Mikita scored twice and helped on five others as the Blackhawks swept the Flyers in a 1971 West Division quarterfinal.
How this Flyers team was built for Stanley Cup finals: By JON MARSHALL, marshaj@phillynews.com

It took a lot for the Flyers to get to the Stanley Cup finals. Here is how the team was built, player by player:
Flyers-Blackhawks: Broad Street vs. City of Broad Shoulders: by Ed Barkowitz

Best sports city: Philadelphia, No. 2. Chicago, No. 4: Don't take our word for it. Those are the 2009 Sporting News rankings. Pittsburgh's No. 1 ranking might have been clubbed away by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Superstitious? Sew what!: By BROAD STREET BULLY as told to DAN GERINGER, bully@phillynews.com 215-854-5961

I'M BROAD STREET BULLY, inviting all diehards to keep our Flyers spirit soaring by e-mailing your family stories/photos to: bully@phillynews.com
Clement offers different view of game for those watching on TV: By MIKE MAZZEO, mazzeom@phillynews.com

Bill Clement is an encyclopedia of hockey knowledge. Having played in the NHL for 11 seasons and having served as a television analyst since 1986, Clement knows the game.
Plenty of coverage on CSN: Comcast SportsNet will air pregame and postgame shows for each game during the Stanley Cup finals and also provide extensive Flyers reports during "Daily News Live" along with "SportsNite" and "SportsRise."
Stanley Cup tickets more expensive in Philly: By KERITH GABRIEL, gabrielk@phillynews.com

Plenty of tickets are still available to see the Flyers and their quest for Lord Stanley's Cup, but just know - it's gonna cost you.

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