The Chicago Blackhawks beat the Boston Bruins in shocking fashion, to win Game 6, and the Stanley Cup 3-2, on Monday night in Boston. As the third period was winding down, the Bruins were holding a 2-1 lead. It looked as if they would force a Game 7, back in Chicago on Wednesday. However, the Blackhawks had other plans. They scored 2 goals in the last 1:16 to tie then win Game 6.
Boston scored the first goal of the game, with Chris Kelly scoring his 2nd goal of the playoffs, in the first period. The Bruins dominated the first period, but only held a 1-0 lead at the end of the period. The Blackhawks started to come on in the second period, especially when Jonathan Toews scored his 3rd goal of the playoffs, to tie the score at 1. When Boston’s Milan Lucic scored his 4th goal of the Finals, and 7th of the playoffs at 12:11 of the 3rd period, it started to look as if we might be headed for a Game 7.
The Blackhawks outshot the Bruins 16-7 in the 3rd period, as they tried desperately to tie the game, and force the 4th overtime of this Stanley Cup Finals. Chicago put on the normal furious rush, as they pulled their goalie at the end of the third period. Bryan Bickell tied the score at 2, with 1:16 remaining in regulation. It was Bickell’s 9th goal of the playoffs. Now it really looked like overtime. But 17 seconds later, Dave Bolland knocked in a rebound, to give the Blackhawks their first lead of the game.
Chicago held on to win their 2nd Stanley Cup in the last 4 years, and 5th championship overall. Patrick Kane won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Kane is the 4th American-born player to win the award, but the 3rd consecutive. Defenseman Bryan Leetch of the New York Rangers was the first American to win, in 1994, the 30th year the trophy was awarded. Then it took another 17 years until goalie Tim Thomas won it for the Bruins 2 years ago. Last year, the Los Angeles Kings’ goalie Jonathan Quick won the Conn Smythe, and right winger Kane made it 3 in a row for the Americans tonight. That must piss off Canadians, in addition to 20 years since a Canadian team won an NHL Championship, the Montreal Canadiens, back in 1993.
While Kane winning the award made sense, especially with his 3 goals in Games 4 and 5, to get the Blackhawks back in the series offensively, a few of his teammates could have also won the award. Bickell was tied with Kane for the team lead, with 19 points in the playoffs, and Patrick Sharp led the team with 10 goals. You can’t forget goalie Corey Crawford either. He finished with all 16 wins in goal, had a 1.84 goals against average, and a .932 save percentage. His goals against average was the lowest in the playoffs in Chicago Blackhawks history.
I remember 3 years ago when the Blackhawks won their last Stanley Cup, it was imminent that they had to dump many of their players because of high salaries. I haven’t heard any of that talk this time. With Crawford in goal, and the offense they have, the Blackhawks should be very good for years to come.
Now starts the long gap between basketball and hockey, and preseason football. Yes, I know there is baseball, auto racing, golf, tennis and other sports, and I will continue to write about them, but it gets tougher for me this time of year. I won’t let you down though.
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Sports With Frank Thomas
