The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Boston Bruins 4-3 in triple overtime to take Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. Chicago is now three wins away from being the 2013 Stanley Cup Champions, after winning the 2010 Stanley Cup against the Philadelphia Flyers.
This Game 1 has now become the fifth longest game in Stanley Cup Final history after 112 minutes of play. Boston took part in the longest game in Stanley Cup Final history in a 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers back in 1990. Chicago took part in the fourth longest game in Stanley Cup Final history in a 3-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens back in 1931.
Andrew Shaw was the hero Wednesday night scoring the game-winning goal as the clock struck midnight in Chicago, with 12:08 into the third overtime period.The Blackhawks became the first ever home team to win a triple overtime game in a Stanley Cup Final.
Milan Lucic scored the first two goals for the Boston Bruins, the Bruins lead 2-1 after two periods. The Bruins took an early 3-1 lead in the third period with a power-play goal by Patrice Bergeron, but Chicago rallied to tie it with goals coming from Dave Bolland and Johnny Oduya.
Both of these goaltenders were amazing, especially in the overtime period, Tuukka Rask saving 64 shots, and Corey Crawford saving 54.
Boston and Chicago, the first Original Six teams to make it to a Stanley Cup Final since 1979 provided plenty of drama tonight, this is why hockey has the best playoffs in all of sports. The Bruins and Blackhawks have had memorable comebacks in this postseason as the Bruins came back from a 4-1 deficit to the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 of the third period way back in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Boston became the first team ever in NHL history after trailing by three goals in the third period in a Game 7. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks have shown why they have won the Presidents' Trophy as they trailed three games to one in the Western Conference Semifinals against the Detroit Red Wings, but rattled off three straight wins to advance to the Western Conference Finals.
In the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, the Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks in seven games after trailing in the series two games to none. If anyone can battle through adversity, it's the Boston Bruins.
Settle in folks, we're in for a heck of a series, and it was only Game 1, we could be in for six more of these going forward. This year's first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs set an NHL record with 17 overtime games, who knows what will unfold in these last few games. Thankfully these teams will have two days off with well deserved rest as Game 2 is not until Saturday night in Chicago.
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Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Monday, June 10, 2013
Stanley Cup Finals Preview
The Stanley Cup is set as the Chicago Blackhawks get ready to take on the Boston Bruins to determine who will be the 2013 Stanley Cup Champions. This will be the first Original Six Stanley Cup Final since 1979 as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the New York Rangers in five games. The Blackhawks are the #1 seed out of the Western Conference and the Bruins are the #4 seed out of the Eastern Conference.
The shortened regular season due to the lockout was most noted by the great streak of the Chicago Blackhawks lasting 24 straight games to open up the regular season with scoring at least one point which was marked by the best start in NHL history.
Both of these teams are coming off of short series as the Bruins swept the #1 seeded Pittsburgh Penguins in four games in the Eastern Conference Finals and the Blackhawks defeated the defending Stanley Cup Champions Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference Finals. Patrick Kane scored the game winning goal to win 4-3 in overtime, resulting in a hat-trick. Gregory Campbell, center for the Boston Bruins is out for the postseason with a broken leg, however he was able to finish a penalty-kill shift with a broken leg in a Game 3 victory over the Penguins.
Tuukka Rask was outstanding in the series against the Penguins for the Bruins, only allowing two goals in the entire series as the Bruins held Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin without a point.
Bruins and the Blackhawks haven't lacked any drama in the postseason. In the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, the Bruins were down 4-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 with 10 minutes to go in the third period, but a remarkable comeback was held by the Bruins scoring three goals in the final 10 minutes to send the game into overtime. The Bruins became the first team in NHL history to win a Game 7 after trailing by three goals in the third period. Patrice Bergeron scored the game winning goal in overtime to send the Bruins to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Blackhawks then were down three games to one against their rival Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference Semifinals, but Chicago showed why they won the Presidents' Trophy by winning three straight games to move on to the Western Conference Finals.
This year's Stanley Cup Playoffs have been memorable as the first round of the playoffs set an NHL record with 17 out of 47 opening-round games went into overtime.
How the teams got here:
-Blackhawks defeated the Minnesota Wild in five games in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, Detroit Red Wings in 7 games in the Western Conference Semifinals, and Los Angeles Kings in five games in the Western Conference Finals.
-Bruins defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, New York Rangers in five games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and the Pittsburgh Penguins in four games in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Game 1 of the best-of-seven series starts on Wednesday at 8:00 ET in Chicago. Here is the series schedule:
Game 1: Wednesday in Chicago, 8:00 ET on NBC
Game 2: Saturday in Chicago, 8:00 ET on NBC Sports Network
Game 3: June 17th in Boston, 8:00 ET on NBC Sports Network
Game 4: June 19th in Boston, 8:00 ET on NBC
Game 5: June 22nd in Chicago, 8:00 ET on NBC (If needed)
Game 6: June 24th in Boston, 8:00 ET on NBC (If needed)
Game 7: June 26th in Chicago, 8:00 ET on NBC (If needed)
The shortened regular season due to the lockout was most noted by the great streak of the Chicago Blackhawks lasting 24 straight games to open up the regular season with scoring at least one point which was marked by the best start in NHL history.
Both of these teams are coming off of short series as the Bruins swept the #1 seeded Pittsburgh Penguins in four games in the Eastern Conference Finals and the Blackhawks defeated the defending Stanley Cup Champions Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference Finals. Patrick Kane scored the game winning goal to win 4-3 in overtime, resulting in a hat-trick. Gregory Campbell, center for the Boston Bruins is out for the postseason with a broken leg, however he was able to finish a penalty-kill shift with a broken leg in a Game 3 victory over the Penguins.
Tuukka Rask was outstanding in the series against the Penguins for the Bruins, only allowing two goals in the entire series as the Bruins held Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin without a point.
Bruins and the Blackhawks haven't lacked any drama in the postseason. In the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, the Bruins were down 4-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 with 10 minutes to go in the third period, but a remarkable comeback was held by the Bruins scoring three goals in the final 10 minutes to send the game into overtime. The Bruins became the first team in NHL history to win a Game 7 after trailing by three goals in the third period. Patrice Bergeron scored the game winning goal in overtime to send the Bruins to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Blackhawks then were down three games to one against their rival Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference Semifinals, but Chicago showed why they won the Presidents' Trophy by winning three straight games to move on to the Western Conference Finals.
This year's Stanley Cup Playoffs have been memorable as the first round of the playoffs set an NHL record with 17 out of 47 opening-round games went into overtime.
How the teams got here:
-Blackhawks defeated the Minnesota Wild in five games in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, Detroit Red Wings in 7 games in the Western Conference Semifinals, and Los Angeles Kings in five games in the Western Conference Finals.
-Bruins defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, New York Rangers in five games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and the Pittsburgh Penguins in four games in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Game 1 of the best-of-seven series starts on Wednesday at 8:00 ET in Chicago. Here is the series schedule:
Game 1: Wednesday in Chicago, 8:00 ET on NBC
Game 2: Saturday in Chicago, 8:00 ET on NBC Sports Network
Game 3: June 17th in Boston, 8:00 ET on NBC Sports Network
Game 4: June 19th in Boston, 8:00 ET on NBC
Game 5: June 22nd in Chicago, 8:00 ET on NBC (If needed)
Game 6: June 24th in Boston, 8:00 ET on NBC (If needed)
Game 7: June 26th in Chicago, 8:00 ET on NBC (If needed)
Thursday, June 6, 2013
NBA Finals Preview
Game 1 of the 2013 NBA Finals gets underway tonight as the San Antonio Spurs battle the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena, 9 ET on ABC. The Miami Heat are making their third consecutive trip to the NBA Finals and are looking to win their second consecutive NBA Championship after winning the NBA Title last year against the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games. The Heat are also looking for their third championship in franchise history as they defeated the Dallas Mavericks in 2006. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs are looking for their fifth NBA Championship in franchise history.
The Heat are coming off a hard-fought seven game series against the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals while the Spurs are coming off a four game series sweep over the Memphis Grizzlies.
This year's NBA Finals should be focused on the Heats' big three against the Spurs' big three as LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh take on Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili. Back when LeBron was in Cleveland, the Spurs swept the Cavaliers in four games in the 2007 NBA Finals, now LeBron gets his chance for redemption, looking for his 2nd NBA Championship with the Miami Heat as he looks to build his legacy. Cleveland in 2007, Miami in 2011, LeBron has gone through disappointment, but now after winning his first elusive title last year with the Heat, he will now have a chance to silence the critics as he is becoming one of the best players to play the game. This won't be an easy task as the San Antonio Spurs are a storied franchise with veteran players who now how to win championships.
The Spurs and Heat lay it all on the line as a champion will be crowned in the few weeks to come.
My prediction - Spurs in 7. This will be a thrilling series, but the Spurs are too well coached and have enough veteran players that know how to win.
Here is your NBA Finals Schedule:
Game 1: Tonight at 9 ET on ABC (In Miami)
Game 2: Sunday at 8 ET on ABC (In Miami)
Game 3: Tuesday at 9 ET on ABC (In San Antonio)
Game 4: June 13th at 9 ET on ABC (In San Antonio)
Game 5: June 16th at 8 ET on ABC (In San Antonio) If Necessary
Game 6: June 18th at 9 ET on ABC (In Miami) If Necessary
Game 7 June 20th at 9 ET on ABC (In Miami) If Necessary
The Heat are coming off a hard-fought seven game series against the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals while the Spurs are coming off a four game series sweep over the Memphis Grizzlies.
This year's NBA Finals should be focused on the Heats' big three against the Spurs' big three as LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh take on Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili. Back when LeBron was in Cleveland, the Spurs swept the Cavaliers in four games in the 2007 NBA Finals, now LeBron gets his chance for redemption, looking for his 2nd NBA Championship with the Miami Heat as he looks to build his legacy. Cleveland in 2007, Miami in 2011, LeBron has gone through disappointment, but now after winning his first elusive title last year with the Heat, he will now have a chance to silence the critics as he is becoming one of the best players to play the game. This won't be an easy task as the San Antonio Spurs are a storied franchise with veteran players who now how to win championships.
The Spurs and Heat lay it all on the line as a champion will be crowned in the few weeks to come.
My prediction - Spurs in 7. This will be a thrilling series, but the Spurs are too well coached and have enough veteran players that know how to win.
Here is your NBA Finals Schedule:
Game 1: Tonight at 9 ET on ABC (In Miami)
Game 2: Sunday at 8 ET on ABC (In Miami)
Game 3: Tuesday at 9 ET on ABC (In San Antonio)
Game 4: June 13th at 9 ET on ABC (In San Antonio)
Game 5: June 16th at 8 ET on ABC (In San Antonio) If Necessary
Game 6: June 18th at 9 ET on ABC (In Miami) If Necessary
Game 7 June 20th at 9 ET on ABC (In Miami) If Necessary
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