Stanley Cup Finals: Game 4 thoughts

Well, it's even now. It's fitting, as it's been a close series. Here's a few brief thoughts.

* the Canadian media is fawning over Chris Pronger like he's the Second Coming. If Philadelphia wins the Cup, he's a sure bet for the Conn Smythe. There's no way he's playing half as well as you'd think listening to, say, Hockey Night in Canada, and if he does get the Conn Smythe, I don't think he's going to deserve it. All this noise about how he's supposedly kept Chicago's top line off the scoresheet is just that, noise. Chicago's scoring troubles begin and end with their own game, not Pronger. It's beyond ridiculous to suggest that his 90's vintage crosschecks are the difference in this series.

* speaking of crosschecks, how's this for an uneven ice surface? Minor penalties are 19-12 to Philadelphia's advantage. Some of the calls being made, and not made, are ridiculous. Brent Seabrook's third period penalty was a great example, as was the interference call that got Game 4 started. They're not calling anything like that on Philadelphia. The crosscheck Seabrook was sent off for is one that every Flyers defenseman does on every shift. If they called Pronger for plays like that, he'd be in the box every shift. As it is, though, apparently Pronger can do anything on the ice.

* like I said in my preview, the goaltenders are coming back down to earth. Neither Niemi or Leighton is superhuman, and it's starting to show.

The biggest problem for Chicago right now is defensive play, and to a lesser extent they seem to have some kind of mental issue. When the top line really started playing, they were excellent. Especially Toews was awesome on the faceoffs. The trouble is, that only happened in the last ten minutes, and it was too little, too late. They have to get their defensive game and their heads in gear for Sunday.

If Chicago can solve their defensive problem and come out swinging on Sunday, this is looking like a seven-game series, and I'm sticking with my prediction. If not, it'll be 4-2 Flyers.