When it's all said and done and the Chicago Blackhawks drink from Lord Stanley's Cup for the first time in 49 years, e guys who should get the first sip is goaltender Antti Niemi. The former Zamboni driver was stellar in net last night after a sub par effort Saturday night in game one.

The Blackhawks nursed a two goal lead heading into the third period, and with Niemi playing the part of a duck in the shooting gallery, turned back what could be the Flyers best effort.  With one exception, Niemi turned aside shot after shot, giving his team a two games to none lead in the finals.

Now, before we get too far ahead of ourselves, remember 1971 when the Hawks went up two games to none over Montreal and still lost in seven games.  I bring that up because I am not about to get excited until it's all over.

Here are a couple of other observations:

• I don't know if the ice in Philly is going to be any better than the ice in Chicago, but the warm summer weather is playing a part in the finals.  Lots of bouncing pucks and players having problems corralling them especially on breakaway opportunities.  This is another reason that hockey season needs to end in April.
• Somebody promise me that in the last few minutes of the last game when victory is imminent, that Ben Egar, Adam Burish or Dustin Byfuglien go over and just clean Daniel Carcillo's clock.  Pronger is Pronger, but this guy Carcillo is nothing more than a hyena who needs to get his ass kicked.  This is where having a guy like Todd Bertuzzi on your roster is a good thing.
• Speaking of Carcillo, was it not funnier than hell when he tried to take out a Blackhawks player and instead ran into his own man.  It looked like a Keystone Cops movie.
• Chris Pronger is winning the battle in front of the net with Dustin Byfuglien.  No matter what you think about Pronger, he's a future hall of famer and he is very good at what he does, keeping people like Byfuglien away from the goalie.
• Perhaps Marion Hossa's goal will relax him and get him to score a few more.  Jonathan Towes and Patrick Kane could use the help.
• There was a point in the second period I thought I was going to get neck strain watching both teams go back and fourth and back and fourth.  That was some kind of hockey.
• I'm hoping the Hawks can split in Philly and win the series in five to honor their fans with the cup ceremony in Chicago.  I will however take a sweep if that's what it takes.
• It's fun to listen to all of these people on the radio talking hockey.  Now, if some of them actually knew what the hell they were talking about.  And here's WGN on a day where the Cubs cleared out after 4:30, putting on that assclown Gary Meir until 6:50pm.  No wonder their ratings are in the crapper.
• NBC is doing an outstanding job with the broadcasts.  Doc Emrick is the Vin Scully of the NHL.