Blackhawks take 2-0 lead over Flyers in Stanley Cup finals

Reporting from Chicago -- With the Blackhawks up 1-0 in the series following the 11-goal bonanza in the opener of the Stanley Cup finals on Saturday, they delivered on their promise to tighten their defense and lend some help to their beleagured goalkeeper.

The Hawks did just that to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series on Monday night at the United Center with a 2-1 victory against the Flyers.

After an avalanche of Game 1 scoring, the Blackhawks condensed it to a blink in Game 2.

In a 28-second span Flyers goalkeeper Michael Leighton, who had been pulled in Game 1, transformed from a pitcher tossing a perfect game to one giving up back-to-back grand slams.

The Blackhawks took a 2-0 lead late in the second period on consecutive goals by Marian Hossa and Ben Eager.

Hossa threw his arms up in celebration – or relief – after scoring in front of the net off an assist from Troy Brouwer and Patrick Sharp with 2:51 remaining in the second period. He had not scored a goal for eight games, dating to May 5 in Game 3 against Vancouver.

With 2:23 left Eager knocked one in on an assist from Dustin Byfuglien with 2:32 remaining in the period for the two-goal lead.

Flyers center Simon Gagne scored on a power-play goal less than six minutes into the third period to cut the Blackhawks’ lead in half. Otherwise, goalie Antti Niemi was outstanding with several key saves down the stretch.

In a reversed-theme from Game 1, the teams exchanged scoring for hits in Game 2 – which seemed fine by the 22,275 fans who cheered for all of the rough-and-tumble action.

One of the reasons was Flyers Coach Peter Laviolette’s decision to reinsert agitator Daniel Carcillo into the lineup to help the team return to its typical physical style.

“Danny Carcillo has done an excellent job with his discipline in the lineup,” Laviolette said before the game. “He can agitate a little bit. He’s physical. He does an excellent job of controlling his game.”

Carcillo had been a healthy scratch since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals when Jeff Carter returned from injury. James Van Riemsdyk, who was a minus-2 in Game 1, subsequently did not play Monday night.

Players admitted to some initial opening-game jitters but those have now been buried.

“It’s a big stage,” Toews said before the game. “(We had) a long week just to sit there and think about it. … But, you know, now I think as a team we feel we’re back in the routine, back in the swing of things. We can go out there and play hockey and focus on the smaller details of our game.”

The Hawks stressed the importance of trying to win their two initial home games before heading to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Wednesday.

They have history on their side after sweeping the home games. Teams that began 2-0 at home in the finals are 31-2.

sryan@tribune.com