The National Hockey League is on the cusp of deciding its champion as the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks are set to square off tomorrow night in the Stanley Cup Finals. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman salivates at match-ups like this as two of the “Original Six” teams are going to square off for Lord Stanley’s Cup. This will be the first time since 1979 when the Montreal Canadiens defeated the New York Rangers that two Original Six members are facing off in the Stanley Cup Finals. Due to the NHL Lockout, the hockey season was shortened to a 48-game sprint instead of the typical 82-game marathon. A match-up like this can persuade any fan that was on the fence about the NHL to tune in.
Under head coach Joel Quenneville, the Blackhawks started the regular season like gangbusters with a record of 21-0-3. The Blackhawks finished the regular season with 77 points which was tops in the NHL. The Blackhawks 3.10 goals per game average was second in the NHL in the regular season as they were led by center Jonathan Toews and right winger Patrick Kane.
In the second round of the NHL Playoffs, the Blackhawks found themselves on the brink of elimination as they were trailing the Detroit Red Wings three games to one in the best-of-seven series. After scoring just six goals in the first four games, the Blackhawks were finally able to figure out Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard in the final three games of the series as they scored 10 goals.
Chicago was able to carry this momentum over to the Western Conference Finals as they dispatched of the defending Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings in five games.
For Bruins head coach Claude Julien, he has seen his team slug it out in the Eastern Conference all season. The city of Boston has rallied around the Bruins in the aftermath of the bombings that took place at the Boston Marathon.
In Game 7 of their first round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Bruins rallied from a three goal deficit in the third period to force overtime before Bruins center Patrice Bergeron’s goal in overtime advanced them on to the second round.
The Rangers were no match for the Bruins in the second round as they were disposed of in five games. The high-powered Pittsburgh Penguins skated into the Eastern Conference Finals with all of the confidence in the world, but Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask was able to shut down the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin as Pittsburgh was swept out of the playoffs as they only managed to score four goals against Rask.
The moment of truth is upon us for two blue-collar teams that represent two blue-collar cities. The Blackhawks hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2010 while the Bruins followed serve in 2011 so there is experience on both sides.
Blackhawks right winger Marian Hossa is tied for the team’s lead in points for the postseason with 14 as he has picked up the slack for Toews who has struggled at times during the playoffs. If the Blackhawks are going to win this series, Toews must be able to match the production of Kane and Hossa as Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford will have his hands full with the likes of Bruins center David Krejci and right winger Nathan Horton.
From and fan’s perspective as well as from the player’s side, this should be an extremely interesting series.
Prediction: Blackhawks win 4-3
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