The Battle for Lord Stanley's Cup 2010

After an 82 game regular season, and three rounds of playoffs so far, the participants for the final round of the NHL season have been chosen. The Philadelphia Flyers (who have not won the Stanley Cup since 1974 and 1975) are facing off against the Chicago Blackhawks (who haven't won the Stanley Cup since there were only six teams in the NHL, back in 1961) this Saturday. Fans of both teams offer a lot of opinions as to which team will win. However, destiny has already decided on a winner.

The Blackhawks this season have won seven out eight away from home this post season and five out of eight at home. The Flyers are seven out of eight at home and five out of nine on the road. The Blackhawks have home ice advantage for this round. And although in the post season their home record is not the best, for the regular season, the Blackhawks are 29-8-4. The Flyers on the other hand are 17-21-3 on the road. The Blackhawks came in second in their conference. The Flyers, however, came in seventh, edging their way into the playoffs on the last day of the regular season. Number-wise, the Blackhawks are the favorites.

However, the Flyers have shown a large of heart and determination this year. The desire that they have shown has not been seen since the days of the 'Broad Street Bullies', the Flyers teams from the 1970's nickname. They were originally picked as the winners of the Eastern Conference before the start of the season. However, after a string of losses that put them in the basement of the league, that talk was quickly dropped. But, a change of a coach and a long string of hard earned wins through to the end of the season have brought the talk back. Their surge didn't just stop with the regular season.

Being down three games to none against the Boston Bruins, hope looked faint for Philadelphia. Stealing a page from Beantown's own history, the Flyers mounted a historic comeback, winning the next four games, including a come from behind win in game seven. A team that has fought this long throughout the season and mounted this magical comeback cannot be just a fluke.

Destiny has touched this team as they are bound for playoff glory. The fates are looking to make up for the painful loss the Phillies suffered at the hands of the evil Yankees. They have tapped into the heart of Bobby Clarke and the fighting Flyers of the past. Although it has been forever since the Blackhawks won, heart, determination and fate have decided that orange and black will be hoisting the Stanley Cup this year.

Sorry Chicago. At least ya'll have the Cubs to root for. Oh yeah, that's right. Maybe the Bears?