Blackhawks go up 2-0 on Flyers

CHICAGO - Antti Niemi was unflappable as the Stanley Cup Finals turned defensive in Game 2. Different style of game from the opener, yet another victory for the Blackhawks.

Niemi made 14 of his 32 saves in the final period last night as Chicago beat the Philadelphia Flyers, 2-1, to take a 2-0 series lead.

"It's an unbelievable feeling how the people react," Niemi said as the crowd cheered him and chanted his name after the game. "Defense was the key."

After a 6-5 Chicago victory in the opener, both teams tightened up their defense. The tone was more physical and chippy from the outset.

The Blackhawks, who for the second straight game got no points from stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, broke through against Michael Leighton when Marian Hossa and Ben Eager scored 28 seconds apart late in the second period.

And after the Flyers got a power-play goal from Simon Gagne early in the third, Niemi withstood a late flurry from the Flyers to preserve Chicago's seventh straight win.

"I thought their goaltender played extremely well in the third period. We had more than enough looks to tie up that game," Philadelphia coach Peter Laviolette said.

Games 3 and 4 will be played in Philadelphia tomorrow and Friday.

Hossa, in his third straight Stanley Cup Finals with a different team, got his third goal of the playoffs and first since May 5 against Vancouver in the conference semifinals.