The Comeback, Cammalleri, and Original Six Finals

  • I would be remiss if I didn't discuss the Flyers comeback against Boston. In beating Boston in four straight elimination games by a combined score of 15-8, they truly used a team effort. Seven Flyers averaged at least a point per game over the last four, Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell tallied four, Matt Carle and Ville Leino chipped in five and Mike Richards, Simon Gagne and Danny Briere had six points each. As well, both Brian Boucher and Micheal Leighton won two of the games. All this, plus they have Conn Smythe candidate, Chris Pronger, who has 11 points in 12 games. A true team effort.

  • In Montreal, Mike Cammalleri has 12 goals through two rounds, the most goals a Hab has scored in the post-season since Guy Lafleur also had 12 in 1975. During their improbable 1993 Cup run, the Habs top goal scorers were Vinny Damphousse with 11 and Kirk Muller with 10 over the 20 games played. Cammalleri has a great shot at the all-time Montreal record of 15 set by Yvan Cournoyer in 1973. The only other Habs to tally at least 12 playoff goals in a year are Frank Mahovlich with 14 in 1971, Maurice Richard with 12 in 1944 (in only 9 games), and Jean Beliveau with 12 in 1956. Nice company Mr. Cammalleri.

  • On the topic of Montreal, the is a chance we will see an Original Six Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1979 when Montreal beat the Rangers four games to one. Throughout the '70s there were six different Original Six Finals, and none since. Of course if Chicago makes the final and wins a Cup, they will erase the longest current drought of 49 years. This would vault the Maple Leafs to the top of the Cup-less charts which will hit 44 years next season.

  • In junior hockey, the Windsor Spitfires have now won nine consecutive games after coming back from down three games against Kitchener, sweeping Barrie in the OHL final, and destroying Brandon in the first game of the Memorial Cup. Over the nine games, Taylor Hall and Scott Timmins have 16 points, Adam Henrique 15 points, and Ryan Ellis has 13. Windsor has outscored three of the best teams in Junior hockey by a count of 50 to 24.

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