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Hossa hoping it'll be third time lucky in finals
Source: Agencies |
June 3, 2010, Thursday
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MARIAN Hossa is not making any plans for his day with the Stanley Cup just yet despite his Chicago Blackhawks holding a comfortable 2-0 lead over the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League finals.
Playing in his third Stanley Cup finals in as many years - each with a different team - Hossa is hoping the third time is the charm.
The flashy forward has had one hand on the Stanley Cup before only to have it yanked away.
Last year playing for Detroit, Hossa was in the same position he is now as the Red Wings swept the first two games of the finals against Pittsburgh only to watch Sidney Crosby lead the Penguins back to win the Cup in seven.
He also backed the wrong horse in 2008 when the Atlanta Thrashers shipped him to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline. Hossa helped the Penguins reach the finals only to watch the Red Wings hoist the Cup.
Hossa has endured nearly as much personal Stanley Cup heartbreak as long suffering Blackhawks fans who are hoping their team can finally end a 49-year championship drought - the longest in the NHL.
The Slovakian says he does not like to dwell in the past but has learned from those bitter experiences and is better prepared now for the final push.
Certainly Hossa has seemed like a man on a mission in the opening two games of the finals.
After going nine games without a goal, Hossa has elevated his play in the finals.
He was the best player on the ice in Chicago's wild 6-5 Game 1 win and broke out of his scoring slump on Monday, notching the opening goal in tight 2-1 Game 2 victory.
"It bugged me not getting goals," Hossa told reporters. "I tried not to get frustrated but it's in your head.
"It's been a long time. I just try to work hard.
"It was a garbage goal I scored but I was looking for some ugly goal like that to get the offense going.
"Our line creates a lot of chances but we weren't able to capitalize on the good chances.
"Finally, it seems we got lucky bounces."
A Stanley Cup tradition allows each member of the winning team to spend a day with the celebrated trophy but Hossa and his teammates insist they are not looking beyond Game 3 in Philadelphia today.
Playing in his third Stanley Cup finals in as many years - each with a different team - Hossa is hoping the third time is the charm.
The flashy forward has had one hand on the Stanley Cup before only to have it yanked away.
Last year playing for Detroit, Hossa was in the same position he is now as the Red Wings swept the first two games of the finals against Pittsburgh only to watch Sidney Crosby lead the Penguins back to win the Cup in seven.
He also backed the wrong horse in 2008 when the Atlanta Thrashers shipped him to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline. Hossa helped the Penguins reach the finals only to watch the Red Wings hoist the Cup.
Hossa has endured nearly as much personal Stanley Cup heartbreak as long suffering Blackhawks fans who are hoping their team can finally end a 49-year championship drought - the longest in the NHL.
The Slovakian says he does not like to dwell in the past but has learned from those bitter experiences and is better prepared now for the final push.
Certainly Hossa has seemed like a man on a mission in the opening two games of the finals.
After going nine games without a goal, Hossa has elevated his play in the finals.
He was the best player on the ice in Chicago's wild 6-5 Game 1 win and broke out of his scoring slump on Monday, notching the opening goal in tight 2-1 Game 2 victory.
"It bugged me not getting goals," Hossa told reporters. "I tried not to get frustrated but it's in your head.
"It's been a long time. I just try to work hard.
"It was a garbage goal I scored but I was looking for some ugly goal like that to get the offense going.
"Our line creates a lot of chances but we weren't able to capitalize on the good chances.
"Finally, it seems we got lucky bounces."
A Stanley Cup tradition allows each member of the winning team to spend a day with the celebrated trophy but Hossa and his teammates insist they are not looking beyond Game 3 in Philadelphia today.
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