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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Game Highlights - Game #6 SCF: Chicago Blackhawks Vs Boston Bruins. June...

BLACKHAWKS WIN THE STANLEY CUP WITH A IMPROBABLE COMEBACK!















GOAL SCORERS

CHI:   J. Toews (04:24 - 2nd) , B. Bickell (18:44 - 3rd) , D. Bolland (19:01 - 3rd)
BOS:   C. Kelly (07:19 - 1st) , M. Lucic (12:11 - 3rd)
GOALIES

CHI: C. Crawford (W)
 BOS: T. Rask (L)





         Last night in Boston, it was do or die for the Bruins as they were facing elimination on home ice against the Chicago Blackhawks. 7 minutes in, Seguin played the puck over to Kelly on the right wing and he one-timed a shot past Crawford to make it to 1-0 Bruins. With 4 minutes to play in the first, Thortons point shot deflected off the stick of Shaw and into his face. He went down, but would be okay. The Bruins dominated the first outshooting Chicago 12-6, but Crawford kept them in. 4 minutes into the second, Toews came up the right wing and fired a shot past Rask to tie the game.

     The shots were 9-6 Chicago in the second. 12 minutes into the third,  Krecji centred the puck to Lucic and he scored to make it 2-1 Boston. It looked like the Bruins have the game in the bag, but the Blackhawks never quit. Then with under 2 minutes to play, Seguin had the puck in the slot and fired it off the post. That would have been game over. 1:17 to go and Toews centred the puck to Bickell and he scored to tie the game at 2-2. Overtime may been on it's way, well thats what everyone thought. 17 seconds later, Froliks shot was stopped, but Bolland was there to put home the rebound to make it 3-2.

        Bolland dropped his gloves as if it was overtime and it pretty much was as the Hawks complete one of
the most Improbable combacks in Stanley Cup Final history on route to their second cup in their last four years. In the win, Crawford made 23 saves. In the loss, Rask made 28 saves. The last time the Hawks won the cup was also in 6 game back in 2010 against the Flyers. "That team in 2010, we didn't really know what we were doing," Toews said. "We played great hockey, and we were kind of oblivious to how good we were playing. This time around we know definitely how much work it takes and how much sacrifice it takes to get back here, and this is an unbelievable group.

     "We've been through a lot together this year, and this is a sweet way to finish it off." Patrick Kane was awarded the Conn Smythe trophy for best player in the playoffs."I think it speaks more for my team than myself, personally," Kane said. "Playing with great players, it was the best year of my life just playing with these guys." The Blackhawks deserved this cup more than any other team in the league as they have excellent goaltending, All-Star offense and a solid wall of defense. As for the Bruins, they made it here based off 1 scoring line, strong defense and a stellar goaltender. "I've seen [comebacks like this] happen in soccer, in the [UEFA] Champions League, but not in hockey," Blackhawks center Michal Handzus said about the improbable comeback. "Especially at this big stage, Game 6, elimination game, being in the road building and to score two goals in the last minute to win the Cup. Wow, that's incredible."

The 2013 Stanley Cup Champions are the Chicago Blackhawks.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Ps: This blog that focuses mainly on The Montreal Canadiens will return next season, but only for key regular season games and ALL the Habs playoff games.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Game Highlights - Game #5 SCF: Boston Bruins Vs Chicago Blackhawks. June...

KANE SCORES 2 GOALS; HAWKS TAKE 3-2 SERIES EDGE













GOAL SCORERS

BOS:   Z. Chara (03:40 - 3rd)
CHI:   P. Kane (17:27 - 1st) , P. Kane (05:13 - 2nd) , D. Bolland (EN, 19:46 - 3rd)
GOALIES

BOS: T. Rask (L)
 CHI: C. Crawford (W)





         Last night in Chicago, the Blackhawks were looking to take advantage of home ice so they could take a 3-2 series lead back to Boston. 2 minutes in, Toews had a great chance in front but he hit the post, blocker side on Rask. With under 6 to play in the first, Sharp had a chance to make it 1-0 but Rask went post to post and robbed him with the blocker. 2 minutes later, Oduya's shot was stopped but Kane was there to stuff home the rebound to make it 1-0 Hawks after 1. The shots in the the first were 11-8 Boston. Early in the second, Bergeron pulled something in his lower-body range and he left the game and didn't return."As far as we're concerned, he's just getting evaluated right now," coach Claude Julien said. "Not much I can say on his situation."

     5 minutes into the second, Bickell centred the puck to Kane and he scored to make it 2-0 Blackhawks after 2. The shots in the second were 11-5 Chicago.  3:40 into the third, Chara's point shot beat Crawford to cut the lead to 1. Johnathan Toews sat the entire third period on the bench with a upper-body injury, he asked for a shift but was denied. Bolland would add an empty net goal as the Hawks win 3-1 and take a 3-2 series lead going back to Boston. In the win, Crawford made 24 saves. In the loss, Rask made 29 saves."This is what you work for all year, all summer, when you're training throughout the year, at training camp, whatever it may be," Kane said.

      "This is what you work for, this opportunity. We've got to seize the moment and take advantage of it." The last time the Hawks won the cup (2010) they won in 6 games in Philadelphia... Will it be another 6 game series? Only time will tell.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Game Highlights - Game #4 SCF: Chicago Blackhawks Vs Boston Bruins. June...

SEABROOK SCORES OT WINNER! BLACKHAWKS TIE THE SERIES AT 2-2














GOAL SCORERS

CHI:   M. Handzus (SHG, 06:48 - 1st) , J. Toews (06:33 - 2nd) , P. Kane (08:41 - 2nd) , M. Kruger (15:32 - 2nd) , P. Sharp (PPG, 11:19 - 3rd) , B. Seabrook (09:51 - OT)
BOS:   R. Peverley (PPG, 14:43 - 1st) , M. Lucic (14:43 - 2nd) , P. Bergeron (PPG, 17:22 - 2nd) , P. Bergeron (02:05 - 3rd) , J. Boychuk (12:14 - 3rd)
GOALIES

CHI: C. Crawford (W)
 BOS: T. Rask (L)






      Last night in Boston, it was Game 4 on the 2013 Stanley Cup finals between the Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks. The Bruins were on home ice and looking to take a 3-1 stranglehold on this series, but the Hawks had other plans. 7 minutes in with the Hawks shorthanded, Saad came in on a 2 on 1 and he played the puck to Handzus and he scored to make it 1-0 Chicago. That was the first goal that the Blackhawks scored in 120 minutes. Late in the period with the Bruins on another powerplay, Saad tries to clear the puck and it goes right to Peverley and he ripped a shot past Crawford to tie the game. The shots were 12-9 in favor of Chicago after 1.

        Coming into this game, Toews hadn't scored in 10 games thats his longest playoff drought in his career. But 6 minutes into the second that drought would come to an end as Toews deflects a Rozsivals shot past Rask to give the Hawks the lead. 2 minutes later, Bickell's shot was stopped, but Kane was there to put home the rebound to make it 3-1. But the Bruins don't give up. With over 5 minutes to play in the second, Lucic would cut the lead to 1. The Hawks would respond in a hurry, 50 seconds later, Frolik centred the puck to Kruger he went to his backhand and was robbed by Rask, but he found the puck and stuffed it in to make it 4-2.

       Late in the second with the Bruins on a powerplay,  Chara's shot went wide and it bounced off the glass in behind the net and back in front right to Bergeron who had an east tap in to cut the lead to 1 again. The Bruins never seem to quit. The shots in the second were 13-11 Chicago. 2 minutes into the third, Jagr played the puck to Bergeron (at the top of the right circle) and he one timed a shot into the back of the net to tie the game again. At the half way point of the third, Chicago was on a powerplay. Hossa's shot from the point was stopped, but Sharp put home the rebound to make it 5-4. 55 seconds later, Boychuk slapped a shot past Crawford from the point to tie the game at 5-5.  We will need overtime. The shots in the third were 16-8 Chicago.

      9:51 into O.t,  Seabrook had the puck at the point and he fired a bullet past Rask to win the game and tie the series at 2-2 going back to Chicago. "It [was] time to put all those other games behind us -- the games where we struggled to score, forget about it, just find a way to do what you do," Chicago captain Jonathan Toews said. "It was fun to see the puck go in as often as it did tonight. We know we can be better defensively. But we'll use that confidence and try our best to pounce on them in [Game 5]."In the loss, Rask made 41 saves. "It is not fun. We battled back many times, didn't make it easy on ourselves," said Rask.. "At the end of the day, it is a one-goal game and they get it. We just made it too tough on ourselves. Not our best night."In the win, Crawford made 28 saves.

       "It's exciting," Seabrook said. "Everybody worked so hard tonight, everybody's worked so hard through the playoffs, we're all contributing. It doesn't matter if I score, or anybody else scores; it's nice to get the win and move on to the next day. I think it's definitely exciting to score in an overtime game, an overtime goal. But at the end of the day it's just a win and we still need two more, so..."The Hawks deserved to win this game along with a few other games in this series, but the main problem was they couldn't score on Rask. But it looks like the either solved him or he had a little bit of an off night, only time will tell. You can read about the remainder of this series right here on this blog. Game 5 is Saturday night in Chicago.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

HAWKS WIN IN 4-3 IN TRIPLE O.T TO TAKE A 1-0 SERIES LEAD
















GOAL SCORERS

BOS:   M. Lucic (13:11 - 1st) , M. Lucic (00:51 - 2nd) , P. Bergeron (PPG, 06:09 - 3rd)
CHI:   B. Saad (03:08 - 2nd) , D. Bolland (08:00 - 3rd) , J. Oduya (12:14 - 3rd) , A. Shaw (12:08 - 3rd OT)
GOALIES

 CHI: C. Crawford
        
          Earlier tonight in Chicago, it was Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins. This is the first time in NHL history that these two teams will meet in the Cup Finals. Early on in the game, the Blackhawks came out hitting like the Bruins. But their strategy wouldn’t work as Boston would get on the board first with a goal from Lucic. The Bruins lead 1-0 after 1 and outshot the Hawks 11 to 8. 51 seconds into the second, Krejci came up the left wing and centred the puck to Lucic and he one timed a shot past Crawford for his second of the night to make it 2-0 Boston. Chicago dominated the rest of the period from there. As just 2 minutes later, Hossa centred the puck to Saad and he scored his first career playoff goal to cut the lead to 1.

The shots in the second were 16 to 6 in favour of the Hawks but once again the defence of the Bruins and goaltender Rask were just too good. 6 minutes into the third with the Bruins on a powerplay, Bergeron one timed a shot into the back of the net to make it 3-1. 2 minutes later, Krug threw the puck up the middle, Shaw intercepted it and centred the puck to Bolland and he scored to cut the lead to 1. 3 minutes later, Oduya’s shot from the point was deflected off the skate of Ference and in to tie the game. So were off to overtime. The shots in the third were 15 to 8 in favor of Chicago.

        There was no score in the first o.t and the Bruins dominated, outshooting the Hawks 11 to 8. The closes the Bruins got to ending the game was when Horton hit the post. No one could find the back of the net until late in the 3rd overtime when, Rozival took a shot from the point and it was tipped in by Shaw and the Hawks take a 1-0 series lead. In the win, Crawford made 51 saves. In the loss, Rask made 59 saves. Now both of these teams will get a much needed two days off before Game 2 on Saturday night.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Sunday, June 9, 2013

2013 STANLEY CUP FINAL PREVIEW: Blackhawks Vs Bruins





















Bruins: 28-14-6, (62 points), 4th in Eastern Conference
Blackhawks: 36-7-5, (77 points), 1st in Western Conference
 SEASON SERIES:  Did not play each other.  

Players to watch:  J. Toews (CHI), M. Lucic (BOS), P. Kane (CHI), B. Marchand (BOS), D. Keith (CHI), D. Krecji (BOS), M. Hossa (CHI), T. Rask (BOS).

               It that time again, its the Stanley Cup Final, a little bit later than usual do to the lockout. But it will be a great original 6 match up between the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks. At the begging of the playoffs everyone (including me) expected a Chicago vs Pittsburgh match-up, but it seemed that Rask and the Bruins were too tough to stop as they have surprised everyone by returning to the cup final. Lets jump back to how it all began for Boston back in round 1 of the playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins were the dominating force through the first 4 games of the series and were in control with a 3-1 series edge. But Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer was not willing to give up. He made spectacular saves in game 5 to force a game 6. Game 6 was another 30 plus save performance for Reimer that lead to a game 7.

        In the third period of game 7 with 10 minutes to play, the Leafs were in control with a 4-1 lead. Horton scored to cut the lead to two. Things were still looking good for Toronto as they had a 4-2 lead with under two minutes to play. The Bruins pulled the goalie and Lucic scored with 1:22 to go. Then 30 seconds later, Bergeron tied the game. Then he won it in overtime as Boston eliminated Toronto and are the first team in NHL history to come back down 4-1 in a Game 7. As for Chicago they got through a beaten up Minnesota Wild team in 5 games. Onto round 2, Boston eliminated the Rangers easily in 5 games. As for the Blackhawks, they were up 3-1 in a series against the Detroit Red Wings, but thanks to Goalie Jimmy Howard the series went to 7 games. The game was tied at 1-1 late in the third when, Hjalmarsson scored over the glove of Howard, but the goal was waved off due to 2 players being in a wrestling match near the Red Wings bench. Seabrook scored to win the game in overtime.

      Round 3, The Bruins battled with the heavily Favorited Penguins. Boston swept the series and held Pittsburgh's stars, Crosby and Malkin to 0 points. They won the series mainly thanks to Rask as he made 40 saves every-game in the series and his highlighted game was Game 3 when he made 53 saves in a double O.t win. As in the Western Conference, Patrick Kane had a hat-trick game to lead Chicago to a 4-3 double O.t win win in Game 5 against the Stanley cup champs to advance to the finals against Boston.

          Now onto the matchup between the Hawks and Bruins. I no doubt believe that Boston has no chance at winning this series, the only reason they are where they are is due to outstanding goaltending from Rask and clutch goals from Bergeron and Horton. The only way Boston will win this series is if Rask stands on his head. As for Chicago, due to their "Video game" type skill I think they win the series in 5 games. They will be lead by Crawford in goal and their captain Johnathan Toews will step up and becoming once again a terrific goal scorer and passer.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

2013 STANLEY CUP FINAL
SERIES O TIME (ET) #1 vs. #4 Networks
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013 8 p.m. BOSTON AT CHICAGO NBC, CBC, RDS
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2013 8 p.m. BOSTON AT CHICAGO NBCSN, CBC, RDS
MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2013 8 p.m. CHICAGO AT BOSTON NBCSN, CBC, RDS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2013 8 p.m. CHICAGO AT BOSTON NBC, CBC, RDS
*SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2013 8 p.m. BOSTON AT CHICAGO NBC, CBC, RDS
*MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013 8 p.m. CHICAGO AT BOSTON NBC, CBC, RDS
*WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2013 8 p.m. BOSTON AT CHICAGO NBC, CBC, RDS
* If necessary