Hawks bombard Flyers and take a wild opener

All week the Philadelphia Flyers were saying they couldn't afford to get into a track meet with the Blackhawks.

This is why.

On a wild night at the United Center in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals, the Hawks used their offensive depth to overcame three 1-goal deficits in their 6-5 win over the Flyers.

"We were a little too loose in front of our net," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said. "We left too many point-blank opportunities." Tomas Kopecky's goal with 11:35 play was one of them, snapping the fifth tie of the game and giving the Hawks the early edge in the best-of-seven series.

"I don't think we played our best game," Kopecky said. "It was one of those games where we had to find a way to win and good teams do that." Kopecky had a goal and assist and was plus-2, filling in for the injured Andrew Ladd on the Hawks' checking line with Dave Bolland and Kris Versteeg.

The Bolland line was outstanding, combing for 3 goals and 3 assists. Bolland was plus-3 with a goal and assist while Versteeg also scored and set up Kopecky's game winner with Bolland.

The line of Patrick Sharp, Troy Brouwer and Marian Hossa also had a big night with 3 goals and 6 points - 2 of the goals coming from Brouwer.

"That's how we've been winning games all year," Sharp said. "We're not relying on one person or one line. We've got threats everywhere.

"You can say the same thing about the Flyers. They've got a deep team and a lot of different guys helped them over there, too. It's going to be a good series and we're lucky we got the first win." The Hawks played their best when it truly mattered - in the third period. Not only did they get the only goal from Kopecky, they held the Flyers to just 6 shots after allowing 26 through two periods.

"It wasn't our best game, but I thought we played really good in the third there and deserved the win," Hawks defenseman Duncan Keith said. "We did a lot of good things there in the third. We got our legs back going and now it's important we start off that way in the next one.

"It was anybody's game going to the third and I thought we did a good job." The Hawks won despite going without a power play (to Philadelphia's 4) and the first line of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien getting no points, just 5 shots and combining to go minus-9.

"It gives us confidence we can score 5-on-5, but we're not a team based on our power play," Brouwer said.

Flyers starting goalie Michael Leighton didn't even make it out of the second period, pulled at 15:18 after Brouwer's second goal gave the Hawks a 5-4 lead.

Leighton, who allowed 5 goals on 20 shots, was replaced Brian Boucher, another ex-Hawk.

Boucher, the Flyers' No. 1 goalie entering the playoffs, made his first appearance since suffering a knee sprain in Game 5 of the second round.

"Everybody's got to be better," Laviolette said. "We win as a team and we lose as a team." Hawks goalie Antti Niemi wasn't as sharp as he has been, but neither were some of his teammates.

A turnover by Brian Campbell resulted in Philadelphia's first goal at 6:38 of the first period and a giveaway by Patrick Kane led to Danny Briere's goal with 27 seconds left in the opening period for a 3-2 Flyers lead.

There were five lead changes in the first two periods.

"They came really hard at us," Niemi said. "I never felt good." Sharp scored at 1:11 of the second period to make it 3-3, but the Flyers took advantage of sloppy play by the Hawks in their own end to go back ahead at 7:20 on agoal by Blair Betts over Niemi's blocker.

The Hawks looked as if they were going to seize the game when Kris Versteeg scored at 9:31 then Brouwer again at 15:18 to chase Leighton.

But the Hawks couldn't get out of the period with the lead as Arron Asham scored with 1:11 left before intermission.