TODAY IN FLYERS HISTORY: May 29
Goals Galore in Game One of 2010 Cup Final: May 29, 2010
by PhiladelphiaFlyers.com @NHLFlyers
There has only been a single game in Flyers' franchise history that was played on May 29: Game One of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final.
The pundits' pre-series predictions of the Final being a cakewalk for the favored Chicago Blackhawks quickly flew out the window. It turned out to be a highly competitive series in five of the six games could have gone either way, and the Philadelphia Flyers prevailed in two of them.
The series opened with a high-scoring battle in Chicago in Game One. Through 40 seesaw minutes, the Flyers led 1-0, trailed 2-1, led 3-2, led 4-3, trailed 5-4, and went to the second intermission tied at 5-5. Beleaguered goaltenders Antti Niemi (27 saves on 32 shots) and Michael Leighton (15 saves on 20 shots) were sometimes left helpless and, other times, beaten on seemingly stoppable shots.
After the Blackhawks took a 5-4 lead at 15:13 of the second period on a Troy Brouwer goal, Leighton was replaced in goal by Brian Boucher. The relief netminder faired better, turning aside 11 of 12 shots but was charged with a hard-luck loss after Tomas Kopecy broke the 5-5 deadlock at 8:25 of the third period. The Flyers, who earlier got goals from Ville Leino, Scott Hartnell (power play), Danny Briere, Blair Betts and Arron Asham, could not find another equalizer in the 6-5 loss.
The stage was set for a highly entertaining - but ultimately heartbreaking for the Flyers - series.
May 29: Flyers Birthdays
Defenseman Willie Brossart was born May 29, 1949.
Goaltender Marc D'Amour was born May 29, 1961.