Stanley Cup 2010: Mental Games Rampant in the Finals

Half the fun of sports is watching the mind games athletes play with each other. 

For instance, when warming up before Game Two of the finals, the Blackhawks were taunting Dan Carcillo and Chris Pronger.  Both are known for their tempers.

It seemed that the mission of the Blackhawks during the game was to aggravate Carcillo and bait him into penalties.  His hot temper had him visiting the box in the first period and caused him to accidentally check a teammate later in the game when aiming for Tomas Kopecky. 

But it looks like the Flyers are ready to openly fight back in the mental games and are focusing in on one rookie player.

Pronger has been stealing the pucks off the ice after games and even admits to throwing them away. Some believe this is a message to his team to try and boost confidence. Others think he is just trying to keep rookie goaltender Antti Niemi from adding the pucks to his trophy case.

Finding Niemi’s weakness has become the common theme of the Flyers’ playoff, as they look for any possible way to rattle the goalie.  Flyers coach Peter Laviolette joined in on the mental attack against the goalie during Tuesday’s press conference.

"It's a tough position, goal tending. 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." 

One can only assume the Flyers coach’s goal is to make Niemi feel as though the weight of Chicago’s expectations is square on his back.

However, other Blackhawks are laughing off the comments. 

Brent Seabrook figures the comments won’t even shake his goalie, stating that "He's pretty calm, cool, and collected. He doesn't let much bother him…I don't think he lets that stuff get to him. He just continues to play his game, which has been great for us."

So while the mind games continue on both sides, fans get to enjoy the possibly rattled nerves of players that are ready to snap at any moment. 

The Blackhawks are up 2-0 in the series, with the game moving back to Philadelphia for tonight’s Game Three at 8 p.m. EST.