Chicago, Philadelphia clash in Stanley Cup Final
NHL Odds at betED.com have the Blackhawks as a -200 moneyline favorite while the over/under total is at 5.5 for Game 1 of the NHL championship series at the United Center on Saturday (8:05 pm ET, NBC).
On Monday, the Flyers advanced to the final for the first time since 1997 by beating the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 in Game 5 of this Eastern Conference final. Philadelphia won the best-of-seven series 4-1.
On Sunday, the Blackhawks reached the championship round for the first time since 1992 with a 4-2 win over the San Jose Sharks in Game 4 of the Western Conference final, sweeping the best-of-seven series 4-0.
The Flyers last won the cup 35 years ago, when they were infamously known as the Broad Street Bullies. Philadelphia beat the Buffalo Sabres four games to two to win their second-straight championship in 1975.
It has been nearly a half-century since Chicago won the cup. The Blackhawks last won Lord Stanley's mug in 1961 when they beat the Detroit Red Wings in six games. Chicago's Stanley Cup drought is the longest in the NHL.
The Flyers and Blackhawks haven't met in the postseason since 1971, when Chicago swept them in four games.
In the only meeting between the teams this season, Philadelphia goalie Michael Leighton, who has been excellent in the postseason, stopped 39 of 41 shots in a 3-2 Flyers' win on March 13.
