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