The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced the signing of three unrestricted free agents. The players are defenseman Danny Richmond, right winger Joey Crabb, and Center Mike Zigomanis.

A statement released by Vice President of hockey operations, Dave Poulin, said that the Maple Leafs have added depth. The players signed have National Hockey League experience and will provide leadership for the organization’s younger players.

Last season Richmond, 25, played in the American Hockey league with Peoria and Rockford. His NHL experience includes stints with Carolina and Chicago for a total of forty-nine games. Richmond was drafted in the 2nd round, 31st overall by Carolina in 2003.

Last year, Zigomanis, 29, played with Djurgardens of the Swedish Elite League and also played for the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. He has played in 189 games in the NHL with Carolina, St. Louis, Phoenix, and Pittsburgh. Zigomanis was drafted 46th in the 2nd round by Carolina in 2001.

Crabb, 27, has played in twenty-nine games in the NHL all with the Atlanta Thrashers. Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Crabb spent last season with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) where he scored twenty-four goals and twenty-nine assists. He was drafted by the New York Rangers in 2002 in the seventh round, 226th overall.

Toronto is looking to rebound after failing to make the playoffs last year.

In the NHL, Last season, the Columbus Blue Jackets gave up the seventh most goals per game. To finish second-to-last in the Western Conference a year after making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, the poor defense was a big reason Columbus won just 32 games. With the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, the Blue Jackets have a chance to solve some of their defensive woes.

With the fourth overall pick, the Blue Jackets will make their first selection. Columbus assumed the three players taken before their pick would be LW Taylor Hall, C Tyler Seguin, and D Cam Fowler, in the months leading up to the draft. However, recent information indicates that Florida is interested in using the third overall pick to take D Erik Gudbranson. Blue Jackets are left free to take Fowler.

For the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League, Fowler plays defenseman. He excels in moving the puck forward and he is an outstanding skater. Should Columbus take Fowler, he will join current Blue Jacket defensemen Mike Commodore and Jan Hejda to help Columbus’s transition game.

Columbus has seven other selections (including two second round picks), in addition to holding the fourth overall pick. For the draft, Don Boyd, the Blue Jackets director of player personnel, has high hopes. He believes this year’s class is very deep and that his team will have a great chance at striking gold with one of their eight picks.

At center and right wing, the Blue Jackets and their farm system could both use some depth. as far as the draft goes, this will matter very little to Columbus, as they intend on taking the best player available with each pick regardless of position. “You draft the skill and you trade (for) the position,” Boyd said.

After a tumultuous 2009-2010 season, the hockey betting favorite, Tampa Bay Lightning franchise has made numerous changes that they hope will get them back to their glory days of 2003-2004. Former Detroit Red Wings star Steve Yzerman was hired as the general manager and hired Guy Boucher to replace Rick Tocchet as the head coach. Yzerman’s next big challenge will come when the NHL hold its annual Entry Draft on June 25.

The Bolts need help on both offense and defense. They gave up the fourth most goals per game last season and scored the 23rd fewest.

Tampa Bay may decide to pick up another offensive threat that could play alongside center Steven Stamkos. Stamkos, who tied Sidney Crosby for the most goals in 2009-2010, would be happy to have someone to share the workload. Someone who could potentially fill that role is RW Brett Connolly. Connolly has come across a stretch of bad luck as of late. He was limited to 16 games last season due to injuries to his hip and groin. If healthy, Connolly has a devastating slap shot and a large frame that allows him to crash the net.

The Lightning may select goalie Jack Campbell. He would be the first goalie selected in the draft. They took G Riku Helenius in 2006, but he has yet to make it to the NHL and appears to be getting further away. Campbell would likely take three years to come to the team; by that time, Stamkos and some of the other young players will be hitting their prime.
Tampa Bay has five picks between 63 and 118-120, followed by one selection each in the sixth and seventh rounds. The front office is optimistic about the depth of the draft and believes they will be better off keeping all of their picks.

Without any doubts, the Chicago Blackhawks are the Stanley Cup champions and the winning Stanley Cup bet.

On Wednesday night, 4:06 into overtime, Patrick Kane sneaked the puck past Michael Leighton and stunned Philadelphia to lift the Blackhawks to 4-3 overtime win in Game 6. For a few frozen moments, No one but the Blackhawks appeared to know what was going. The goal light never went on. Kane and his linemates seemed the only players on the ice who knew the puck found the side of the net. In team history, Kane will go down as scoring one of the biggest goals.

Knowing the goal was good; Kane raised his arms right away and skated behind the net. The Blackhawks began to celebrate in their own end around goaltender Antti Niemi, while the Flyers sat on the bench in stunned silence with confused looks.

“I knew it went in right away, what a feeling. I can’t believe it. We just won the Stanley Cup. I can’t believe this just happened. … It’s something you dream about, scoring the final goal in the Stanley Cup finals “, said Kane.

On the strength of rising stars Kane and Toews, the Blackhawks completed their revival from the bottom of the NHL to holding the silver trophy. Since Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita, they won their first Stanley Cup, 49 years ago. In the NHL, it ends the longest active championship drought. Since Jason Arnott did it for New Jersey at Dallas in 2000, Kane is the first player to score the Stanley Cup clinching goal in overtime.

A few hundred Blackhawks fans went wild as the team took a picture with the Cup while a few thousand who stuck around booed as the Blackhawks took their turns hoisting the silver trophy.

The art of the comeback was mastered by the Flyers team. To win a series after losing the first three games when it eliminated Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals, it became the third team in NHL history. At Chicago, it also evened the Stanley Cup at 2-all after losing the first two games.

Philadelphia Flyers would like to square up the series in this Game 6, do-or-die match on Wednesday night (8:00 pm ET, NBC), at the Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The series is tied at 3-2 and Chicago leads the seven game series.

Philadelphia has to rethink their game strategies, especially on defense. The defense is way below average and needs to be strengthened. Because of the lack luster performance in the defense, Hawks were able to score 7 goals. The offence is not an issue as it did well in Game 5 by scoring 4 goals. Even though the coach tried out two goalies, Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher, it was of no help. Which one of them will be at the receiving end in game 6 is however not revealed by coach Peter Laviolette.

Our championship is special, Maybe more so than others, if you look at how we had to get here and what we had to do to get our hands on the thing. I always think you’re looking for something to motivate “, said Laviolette.

Antti Niemi need to step up and has to make a big impact on the offence of Philadelphia. This will the key for the Blackhawks to win the 2010 Stanley cup.

the Flyers has won every game this series at home and wiping them out will be tougher than a week-old cheese steak. in the postseason, the Flyers are 9-1 at home. to finish the Flyers in Philly, if the Blackhawks need any added incentive then just recall that Philadelphia won a Game 7 on the road already this postseason (at Boston) and rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win the game.

Oddsmakers from various NHL betting websites have made the Flyers –118 money line favorites for Wednesday’s game against the Blackhawks. Current NHL Public Betting Information shows that 58% of more than 5,395 bets for this game have been placed on the Blackhawks +109.

In the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, on Sunday, June 6th, the greatest rivals, Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks met up. It was the 5th game of the series. The home team has won the first four games in the series, each time. Chicago beat Philadelphia with a score of 7-4. Flyers failed to change the winning streak of the Blackhawks.

The funny side of the game was the way the defense of both the teams worked. Both the teams tried a lot to keep a check on their respective defenses but neither Chicago nor Philadelphia managed to impressive. Since defense was not working for either team, offense was the key factor. Chicago’s offense was overwhelming for Flyers and it was the offense that made the difference according to Hockey Previews.

Star Goalie for Chicago, Antti Niemi allowed 4 and made 23 saves. His presence gives a lot of boost to the team and one can say that it was his goal keeping skills that has enabled Chicago to reach at this point in the season. Even though Philadelphia made use of two goalkeepers, unfortunately each of them allowed three goals. Dustin Byfuglien scored two goals and also added to two assists. He was an unlikely hero for the Blackhawks. As the game ended, 6 different players from the Blackhawks’ squad scored goals. For Philadelphia the players who impressed the most were, Kimmo Timonen. He was a standout player by adding an assist and importantly scoring a goal.

Aggressive play will be the deciding factor for both the teams as both the team are struggling in their defensive strategies. Blackhawks with their offensive play gave them an edge over the Flyers. The game needs to be action-packed and Flyers need to prove a point.

The way the Flyers and Blackhawks have traded goals in the series, it felt like a swap meet. In the third period of Game 4, Philadelphia found itself with some extra room to work with.

On Friday night, Philadelphia withstood a late surge by Chicago and beat the Blackhawks by 5-3. In the first period, Mike Richards, Matt Carle and Claude Giroux all scored goals. Goalie Michael Leighton and the Flyers have bounced back to tie the series at 2, with two straight home victories by a total of three goals.

To help the Flyers become the first team this series to win a game by more than one goal, to help the Flyers become the first team this series to win a game by more than one goal. The Flyers are now trying to become the third team to win a Stanley Cup after losing the first two on the road. The Flyers are the ones who became the third team in NHL history to win a series after trailing 3-0 in the second round of these playoffs.

With 4:10 left, Chicago’s Dave Bolland and Brian Campbell scored to slice the deficit to one. In the third, the Flyers were attacked and outplayed by the Blackhawks, leaving them hopeful they can carry that back home.

For Chicago’s first power-play goal of the game, Bolland sent one past Leighton. In Game, they entered 0 for 6 and went 1 for 3.

When Campbell shot appeared to deflect off Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen’s stick, he made it 4-3 and this silenced the Flyers crowd.
For the man-advantage, Chicago pulled Antti Niemi but Carter slid in the empty-netter. Until the first period, Philadelphia had not held a two-goal lead in the final all series.

Richards struck with a quick steal and scored his first goal of the final. His backhanded flip toward the net stunned Niemi.

Leveling the seven game series will be the first and foremost job for Philadelphia Flyers in Game 4 (8:00 pm ET, Versus) against Chicago Blackhawks, on Friday, at Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Chicago Blackhawks leads the series by 2-1.

In Philadelphia’s 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3, Danny Briere scored and Chris Pronger had an assist. The win was a big one for the Flyers as no team would ever thought of going down three games. Especially Flyers won’t want the same situation as they have been through the same in the Eastern Conference semifinal to beat Boston.

For the last two months, Briere and Pronger have played at a high level. With 11 goals, Briere leads the Flyers with sparking the improbable comeback with five goals and five assists. In a punishing postseason, Pronger’s been the most durable Flyer. Against the Blackhawks, he has been impressive. Blackhawks forward, Dustin Byfuglien, was poked and prodded by Pronger, in front of the Flyers net.

Besides solving Pronger, Quenneville has other concerns. Before losing Game, they had won seven straight playoff games and seven straight on the road. This postseason, the Flyers are 8-1 at home and escaping Philadelphia with a 3-1 series lead will be tough even though Chicago has a series lead.

“We have a lot of confidence in ourselves and in our ability in the next game; something we’re going to focus on is finishing strong. I thought we had a good start to our last game. Unfortunately, our finish wasn’t as good as our start “, said Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith. Forward Andrew Ladd returns to the lineup and will boost the squad.

Oddsmakers from NHL odds betting websites have made the Flyers –115 money line favorites for Friday’s game against the Blackhawks. Current NHL Public Betting Information shows that 66% of more than 1,564 bets for this game have been placed on the Blackhawks +106.

To give the Philadelphia Flyers a 4-3 victory over Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3, Giroux scored 5:59 into overtime. Of the Stanley Cup finals Wednesday night, cutting the Blackhawks’ series lead to 2-1. On a redirection off Matt Carle’s pass, beating Antti Niemi, Giroux scored to decide the third straight one-goal game in the series.

After dropping the first three games to Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Flyers already rallied to win a series.

Trying to win their first Stanley Cup title since 1961, the Blackhawks snapped a seven-game winning streak and a seven-game road-winning streak. After Simon Gagne thought he scored the winner, Giroux ended the game moments, only to have replay officials rule the puck did not cross the goal line.

Since 1987, Scott Hartnell had a no-goal overturned by replay to spark the Flyers to their first Cup win. For the Flyers, Danny Briere and Ville Leino also scored whereas Michael Leighton made 24 saves. For the Flyers, Giroux’s goal was the only shot in OT. In the third straight thriller in the series, Niemi stopped 28 shots.

For the Blackhawks, Duncan Keith, Brent Sopel and Patrick Kane scored.

Power-play slap shot by Chris Pronger was deflected by Hartnell, trickled through Niemi and eked past the red line. Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson’s diving stab at the puck cleared it back onto the nice as the goal horn sounded.

To make it 2-2, Sopel blasted a shot past Leighton from inside, a shot the goalie likely never saw Lukas Krajicek was standing in front of him. Early in the third, Chicago and Philadelphia swapped goals 20 seconds apart to make it 3-3. To win it in regulation, the Flyers seemed determined and pounded Niemi in the third. He delivered by stopping 14 of 15 shots.

The Philadelphia Flyers needed video replay, a couple of times to decide if a goal counted. One of the goals did count whereas the other didn’t.

Philadelphia Flyers need a win to get started in the seven game series. They face Philadelphia Flyers in Game 3 (8:00 pm ET, CBC) at Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Flyers lead the series by 2-0. Since 1997, the Stanley Cup Final comes to Philadelphia. In addition, the home team desperately needs a win.

By winning its eighth consecutive road game, Chicago can set an NHL record tonight. A win on Wednesday will give them a convincing three game lead and this will keep Chicago at the brink of losing the series.

“We’re the last guys to talk about (the road streak) before the game or at any time, we never would talk about that and I bet you if it wasn’t brought up by you guys most of us, it wouldn’t even come into our heads. It’s just Game 3 to us “, said defenseman Brian Campbell said.

Before Games 1 and, the Hawks actually stayed in hotels at home, trying to emulate their playoff success on the road. After losing their first road game this spring at Nashville, they have won their last seven games away from the United Center.

On Tuesday, Philadelphia coach Peter Laviolette was trying to get inside your opponent’s head, since it seems every ploy has failed. He was about Hawks goaltender Antti Niemi, who stopped 32 of 33 shots in the Hawks’ 2-1 victory.

When all else fails, try to get inside your opponent’s head. That sounds like what Philadelphia coach Peter Laviolette was trying to do on Tuesday when talking about Hawks goaltender Niemi. The 26-year-old Finnish rookie stopped 32 of 33 shots in the Hawks’ 2-1 victory in Game 2. Laviolette went to great pains to remind Niemi that he has never been here before.

“We’ve got to put more pressure on their goaltender. He’s a rookie goaltender playing in the Stanley Cup Finals, We have to get on the board here tomorrow night and put a little bit of doubt there. Our team is capable of scoring a lot of goals; put a lot of pressure on him. It’s a tough position, goaltending. He’s representing a city that hasn’t won a Cup in 50 years. We have to give him a crack of doubt. We can do that tomorrow night “, said Laviolette.

Oddsmakers from various NHL betting sites have made the Flyers –125 money line favorites for Wednesday’s game against the Blackhawks. Current NHL betting information shows that 63% of more than 1,120 bets for this game have been placed on the Flyers -125.