Big Ben nets very big goal

Patrick Sharp from Philadelphia for Matt Ellison.

Kris Versteeg from Boston for Brandon Bochenski.

Ben Eager from Philadelphia for Jim Vandermeer.

The rise of the Blackhawks, who are 2 wins away from the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship in nearly half a century, has entailed more than just shrewd drafting (Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Dustin Byfuglien, Dave Bolland, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook) and free-agent signings (Marian Hossa, Tomas Kopecky, Antti Niemi). It was on Dec. 18, 2007 when then-general manager Dale Tallon moved Vandermeer, a physical defenseman who wasn't always physical, to Philly for Eager, a one-time first-round draft choice of the Flyers (23rd overall in 2002).

Maybe the Flyers regret giving up on the physical winger, who was a fan favorite in Philadelphia.

Eager's first goal of the playoffs, against his former team no less, proved to be the game-winner Monday night in the Blackhawks' 2-1 win in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs at the United Center.

Now, Eager returns to the City of Brotherly Love, where the Blackhawks can close out the series with wins in Games 3 (Wednesday) and 4 (Friday).

"It's going to be fun," Eager said. "I had a lot of great times in Philadelphia. They gave me a chance to play in the NHL, and I'm thankful for that. It's one thing to be playing in the NHL, but to be playing against the Flyers is pretty cool."

Cooler for Eager was his goal in front of 22,275 screaming fans at the UC.

Just 28 seconds after Hossa's goal snapped a scoreless tie late in the second period, Eager sped across the Philadelphia blue line on the right wing after receiving a touch pass from Byfuglien in the neutral zone. Using Flyers defenseman Matt Carle as a screen, Eager snapped a wrist shot from the top of the right circle over the glove of goalie Michael Leighton, making it 2-0.

A big goal from a big guy.

"Benny's got one of those shots that's deceiving," coach Joel Quenneville said. "It has a better pace than you would know."

While he's a fourth-line energy guy, Eager has scored 18 regular-season goals the last two years. He had 1 in 17 playoff games last season.

"It was pretty exciting," the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Eager said of his first goal in the 2010 playoffs. "I've been working pretty hard this postseason. It was definitely a nice feeling to see that one go in."

After Hossa's goal, Quenneville rewarded Eager by putting him on the ice with Toews and Byfuglien, and it paid off.

In the third period, an Eager body check sent a Flyer, defenseman Lukas Krajicek, flying.

At game's end, Eager and Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger engaged in what Eager called "a little postgame chat." Call it much ado about nothing.

"He's just been picking the pucks up after the game," Eager said. "I just told him he can keep it."

Eager has the memory of his Stanley Cup Finals game-winner as his memento.

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