Flyers-Blackhawks: Chicago Dominates 5-1

It may have been the oddest of nights. Here I am, shoveling water, ice, and snow in 60-degree weather on December 26th. The Chicago Blackhawks just hosted 22,000 fans to a dominating performance. The win was the Blackhawks' eighth consecutive victory. They manhandled the hottest team in hockey for sixty minutes. No, it's not the year 2313. We are not experiencing a hyperactive global warming. Nor are we living in an alternative universe. Yet, it sure does feel like it. The Chicago Blackhawks are the hottest team in hockey, and they are beating teams in every conceivable way. Only minutes after an ear-splitting rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, the Blackhawks commanded two early goals from Andrew Ladd and Patrick Sharp. Ladd's goal came off of a rebound, while Sharp's goal came off of shoddy Philadelphia defense. Sharp was allowed to skate right into the front of the net, eight feet out, and flip a wrister past Philadelphia Flyer netminder Biron. Sharp's goal may have catapulted him ... (link)