"Our goaltender has the best numbers in the playoffs," Laviolette said. "I didn't think I had to announce it."

So in that regard, that goaltender would be Leighton and those numbers would be an 8-2 record, a 2.34 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. Leighton also has been strong on his home ice, posting a 6-0 record and allowing only nine goals in those games.

There really shouldn't have been a question of whether Leighton should get the nod. He was chased after a 3-0 first period in Game 5 -- the second time the Hawks have sent him to the bench in the finals -- but Brian Boucher hasn't played a full game since injuring both knees against the Boston Bruins in the second round. Plus, Leighton's home record should speak for itself.

"We seemed to have played a better game at home in front of our goaltender," Laviolette said. "When our game has gone bad, usually we have a bad outing and everybody takes part in that. So our home game, our record is excellent. I don't think we should have lost a game at home yet in the playoffs."

The Flyers are 9-1 at home in the playoffs, which includes their two wins over the Hawks in the finals. The Hawks haven't won at the Wachovia Center in their last 10 games.