Welcome to the final post for the 2013 NHL season, covering the Stanley Cup final between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins. This post will act as a reference for the entire series.
Game 1: United Center, Chicago, Illinois. In goal: Tuukka Rask for Boston and Corey Crawford for Chicago. Boston led off in the first period with a Milan Lucic goal, his fourth of the postseason, assisted by Nathan Horton and David Krejci. The Bruins added on as Lucic scored his second of the game and fifth of the playoffs in the second period, via Krejci. Chicago got on the board with a Brandon Saad goal, courtesy of Marian Hossa. Boston answered in the third period with a power play goal by Patrice Bergeron, his sixth of the postseason, powered by Tyler Seguin and Lucic. The Blackhawks got one back as Dave Bolland scored, passed from Andrew Shaw. Chicago tied it on a Johnny Oduya goal, his third of the playoffs, with assists provided by Marcus Kruger and Michael Frolik. The Blackhawks won it 5-4 in the third overtime as Shaw potted his fifth of the postseason, courtesy of Bolland and Michal Rozsival. Shaw, Lucic, and Hossa received the three stars, while Bolland and Krejci got the honorable mentions. The Blackhawks take the early 1-0 series lead.
Game 2: United Center, Chicago, Illinois. In goal: Tuukka Rask for Boston and Corey Crawford for Chicago. Chicago was first to score in the first period, with the ninth of the postseason by Patrick Sharp, assisted by Patrick Kane and Michal Handzus. Boston tied it in the second period on a Chris Kelly goal, with a lone assist by Daniel Paille. The game went into overtime, and only part of one additional period was required for Paille to score the decisive 2-1 goal for the Bruins, his third of the playoffs, made possible by Tyler Seguin and Adam McQuaid. The three stars were handed to Paille, Rask (33 for 34 in saves), and Sharp. The series heads to Boston tied at 1.
Game 3: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts. In goal: Corey Crawford for Chicago and Tuukka Rask for Boston. Boston got going in the second period as Daniel Paille scored his fourth of the postseason, courtesy of Chris Kelly and Tyler Seguin. The Bruins added on as Patrice Bergeron scored his seventh of the playoffs, a power play goal powered by Jaromir Jagr and Zdeno Chara. This stood for a 2-0 win, with the three stars being Bergeron, Rask (28 save shutout), and Paille. The Bruins take a 2-1 series lead.
Game 4: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts. In goal: Corey Crawford for Chicago and Tuukka Rask for Boston. Chicago opened in the first period on a shorthanded goal by Michal Handzus, his third of the postseason, set up by Brandon Saad. Boston tied it with a power play goal by Rich Peverley, his second of the playoffs, powered by Andrew Ference. The Blackhawks took the lead back in the second period on a Jonathan Toews goal, his second of the postseason, thanks to Michal Rozsival. Chicago extended the lead on a Patrick Kane goal, his seventh of the playoffs, fueled by Bryan Bickell and Rozsival. The Bruins pulled back with a Milan Lucic goal, his sixth of the postseason, helped along by Zdeno Chara. The Blackhawks answered on a Marcus Kruger goal, his third of the playoffs, assisted by Michael Frolik and Dave Bolland. Boston replied as Patrice Bergeron sank his eighth of the postseason, a power play goal with assists provided by Chara and Jaromir Jagr. The Bruins tied it in the third period as Bergeron scored his second of the game and ninth of the playoffs, with the help of Jagr. Chicago regained the lead as Patrick Sharp deposited his tenth of the postseason on the power play, courtesy of Marian Hossa and Duncan Keith. Boston retied it on a Johnny Boychuk goal, his sixth of the playoffs, with helpers from Nathan Horton and David Krejci. The Blackhawks won it 6-5 in overtime as Brent Seabrook scored his third of the postseason, with a lone assist by Bickell. Seabrook, Bergeron, and Kane got the three stars, while Bickell, Rozsival, Chara, and Jagr get the honorable mentions. The series shifts back to Chicago tied at 2.
Game 5: United Center, Chicago, Illinois. In goal: Tuukka Rask for Boston and Corey Crawford for Chicago. Chicago started in the first period with a Patrick Kane goal, his eighth of the postseason, coming off of Johnny Oduya and Jonathan Toews. The Blackhawks added on in the second period as Kane struck again with his second of the game and ninth of the playoffs, thanks to Bryan Bickell and Toews. Boston got on the board in the third period with a Zdeno Chara goal, his third of the postseason, guided in by David Krejci and Milan Lucic. Chicago iced it at 3-1 with a Dave Bolland empty net goal, his second of the playoffs, with a lone assist from Michael Frolik. The three stars went to Kane, Crawford (23 for 24 in saves), and Bickell, while Toews gets an honorable mention. The Blackhawks have pushed the Bruins to the edge, holding a 3-2 lead in the series.
Game 6: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts. In goal: Corey Crawford for Chicago and Tuukka Rask for Boston. Boston began in the first period on a Chris Kelly goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Tyler Seguin and Daniel Paille. Chicago tied it in the second period as Jonathan Toews scored his third of the playoffs, an unassisted goal. The Bruins took the lead back on a Milan Lucic goal in the third period, his seventh of the postseason, helped along by David Krejci. The Blackhawks tied it late with a Bryan Bickell goal, his ninth of the playoffs, courtesy of Toews and Duncan Keith. Chicago took the lead with a Dave Bolland goal, his third of the postseason, guided in by Johnny Oduya and Marcus Kruger. This stood up for the final at 3-2, with the three stars going to Lucic, Keith, and Seguin. The Blackhawks are the 2013 Stanley Cup Champions, with the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP belonging to Patrick Kane.
As usual, I would like to give a "state-of-the-blog" address now that the NHL season is over. Starting July 1, 2013 will be a new series, entitled "From Cradle to Cup." This will focus on telling the stories of the Chicago Blackhawks that make up this team, much in the way that "How They Got Here" did with the San Francisco Giants last November. I will not pick up baseball this season, since it would be very time-consuming and I am trying to relax before heading out to college. At the conclusion of "From Cradle to Cup," I will take approximately a month and a half off to prepare for moving and getting settled at Washington State University. I have decided that I will continue blogging the KHL next season, which now stands at 28 teams after expansion. I will also continue with the NFL in September and NHL in October when both sports return. Most likely, I will not cover the 2014 Sochi Olympic Hockey tournament at all, as I will use the time to rest up. Additionally, in the next couple of weeks, I will start in earnest my new poetry blog, which can be found here. I would love feedback on all of the posts over there. Thank you all very much for making this lockout-shortened hockey season another spectacular run on my blog. Enjoy the new series tomorrow! Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Game 1: United Center, Chicago, Illinois. In goal: Tuukka Rask for Boston and Corey Crawford for Chicago. Boston led off in the first period with a Milan Lucic goal, his fourth of the postseason, assisted by Nathan Horton and David Krejci. The Bruins added on as Lucic scored his second of the game and fifth of the playoffs in the second period, via Krejci. Chicago got on the board with a Brandon Saad goal, courtesy of Marian Hossa. Boston answered in the third period with a power play goal by Patrice Bergeron, his sixth of the postseason, powered by Tyler Seguin and Lucic. The Blackhawks got one back as Dave Bolland scored, passed from Andrew Shaw. Chicago tied it on a Johnny Oduya goal, his third of the playoffs, with assists provided by Marcus Kruger and Michael Frolik. The Blackhawks won it 5-4 in the third overtime as Shaw potted his fifth of the postseason, courtesy of Bolland and Michal Rozsival. Shaw, Lucic, and Hossa received the three stars, while Bolland and Krejci got the honorable mentions. The Blackhawks take the early 1-0 series lead.
Game 2: United Center, Chicago, Illinois. In goal: Tuukka Rask for Boston and Corey Crawford for Chicago. Chicago was first to score in the first period, with the ninth of the postseason by Patrick Sharp, assisted by Patrick Kane and Michal Handzus. Boston tied it in the second period on a Chris Kelly goal, with a lone assist by Daniel Paille. The game went into overtime, and only part of one additional period was required for Paille to score the decisive 2-1 goal for the Bruins, his third of the playoffs, made possible by Tyler Seguin and Adam McQuaid. The three stars were handed to Paille, Rask (33 for 34 in saves), and Sharp. The series heads to Boston tied at 1.
Game 3: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts. In goal: Corey Crawford for Chicago and Tuukka Rask for Boston. Boston got going in the second period as Daniel Paille scored his fourth of the postseason, courtesy of Chris Kelly and Tyler Seguin. The Bruins added on as Patrice Bergeron scored his seventh of the playoffs, a power play goal powered by Jaromir Jagr and Zdeno Chara. This stood for a 2-0 win, with the three stars being Bergeron, Rask (28 save shutout), and Paille. The Bruins take a 2-1 series lead.
Game 4: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts. In goal: Corey Crawford for Chicago and Tuukka Rask for Boston. Chicago opened in the first period on a shorthanded goal by Michal Handzus, his third of the postseason, set up by Brandon Saad. Boston tied it with a power play goal by Rich Peverley, his second of the playoffs, powered by Andrew Ference. The Blackhawks took the lead back in the second period on a Jonathan Toews goal, his second of the postseason, thanks to Michal Rozsival. Chicago extended the lead on a Patrick Kane goal, his seventh of the playoffs, fueled by Bryan Bickell and Rozsival. The Bruins pulled back with a Milan Lucic goal, his sixth of the postseason, helped along by Zdeno Chara. The Blackhawks answered on a Marcus Kruger goal, his third of the playoffs, assisted by Michael Frolik and Dave Bolland. Boston replied as Patrice Bergeron sank his eighth of the postseason, a power play goal with assists provided by Chara and Jaromir Jagr. The Bruins tied it in the third period as Bergeron scored his second of the game and ninth of the playoffs, with the help of Jagr. Chicago regained the lead as Patrick Sharp deposited his tenth of the postseason on the power play, courtesy of Marian Hossa and Duncan Keith. Boston retied it on a Johnny Boychuk goal, his sixth of the playoffs, with helpers from Nathan Horton and David Krejci. The Blackhawks won it 6-5 in overtime as Brent Seabrook scored his third of the postseason, with a lone assist by Bickell. Seabrook, Bergeron, and Kane got the three stars, while Bickell, Rozsival, Chara, and Jagr get the honorable mentions. The series shifts back to Chicago tied at 2.
Game 5: United Center, Chicago, Illinois. In goal: Tuukka Rask for Boston and Corey Crawford for Chicago. Chicago started in the first period with a Patrick Kane goal, his eighth of the postseason, coming off of Johnny Oduya and Jonathan Toews. The Blackhawks added on in the second period as Kane struck again with his second of the game and ninth of the playoffs, thanks to Bryan Bickell and Toews. Boston got on the board in the third period with a Zdeno Chara goal, his third of the postseason, guided in by David Krejci and Milan Lucic. Chicago iced it at 3-1 with a Dave Bolland empty net goal, his second of the playoffs, with a lone assist from Michael Frolik. The three stars went to Kane, Crawford (23 for 24 in saves), and Bickell, while Toews gets an honorable mention. The Blackhawks have pushed the Bruins to the edge, holding a 3-2 lead in the series.
Game 6: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts. In goal: Corey Crawford for Chicago and Tuukka Rask for Boston. Boston began in the first period on a Chris Kelly goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Tyler Seguin and Daniel Paille. Chicago tied it in the second period as Jonathan Toews scored his third of the playoffs, an unassisted goal. The Bruins took the lead back on a Milan Lucic goal in the third period, his seventh of the postseason, helped along by David Krejci. The Blackhawks tied it late with a Bryan Bickell goal, his ninth of the playoffs, courtesy of Toews and Duncan Keith. Chicago took the lead with a Dave Bolland goal, his third of the postseason, guided in by Johnny Oduya and Marcus Kruger. This stood up for the final at 3-2, with the three stars going to Lucic, Keith, and Seguin. The Blackhawks are the 2013 Stanley Cup Champions, with the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP belonging to Patrick Kane.
As usual, I would like to give a "state-of-the-blog" address now that the NHL season is over. Starting July 1, 2013 will be a new series, entitled "From Cradle to Cup." This will focus on telling the stories of the Chicago Blackhawks that make up this team, much in the way that "How They Got Here" did with the San Francisco Giants last November. I will not pick up baseball this season, since it would be very time-consuming and I am trying to relax before heading out to college. At the conclusion of "From Cradle to Cup," I will take approximately a month and a half off to prepare for moving and getting settled at Washington State University. I have decided that I will continue blogging the KHL next season, which now stands at 28 teams after expansion. I will also continue with the NFL in September and NHL in October when both sports return. Most likely, I will not cover the 2014 Sochi Olympic Hockey tournament at all, as I will use the time to rest up. Additionally, in the next couple of weeks, I will start in earnest my new poetry blog, which can be found here. I would love feedback on all of the posts over there. Thank you all very much for making this lockout-shortened hockey season another spectacular run on my blog. Enjoy the new series tomorrow! Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
