Part 1: The Build Up
In 1979, the Montreal Canadiens claimed a fourth consecutive Stanley Cup as they eliminated the threat of the New York Rangers in 5 games. Not only did this win emphasise the extent of Montreal's dominance during the 70's as well as represent head coach Scotty Bowman's fifth Cup in 7 years, but it also marked the most recent Stanley Cup Final involving two teams from the Original Six franchises that made up the National Hockey League between the 1942-3 season and the 1967 league expansion.That is until the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks overcame the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Los Angeles Kings respectively in June of 2013, to book their places in what was to be a memorable 6 game series. Such an Original Six matchup had not been seen for 34 years, and the high expectations of a tenacious spectacle were more than lived up to.
On paper the Blackhawk record seemed unassailable, as Joel Quenneville's team cruised to the number one seed in the Western Conference with a record of 36-7-5, including a 24-game point streak in this shortened, 48 game season. The Bruins were by no means un-impressive during the regular season, however in comparison to Chicago, they lacked the dominance of their Western Conference counterparts, finishing 4th in the East with a 28-14-6 record.
However, the playoffs often favour the form team, and Boston entered the Final on a roll. The Bruins swept the Penguins 4-0, providing a perfect platform to launch a second challenge for the Stanley Cup in the past 3 years. The heroics of goaltender Tuukka Rask sent a formidable message to the Blackhawks, as he allowed arguably the league's most potent offense only two goals in four games, shutting the Pens out twice. History would appear to suggest several omens in Boston's favour:
1: A red hot Goaltender
The Stanley Cup winning Bruins team of 2011 was spearheaded by goalie Tim Thomas, who became the oldest Conn Smythe Trophy winner in NHL history at the age of 37. He stopped 238 of the Vancouver Canucks 246 shots in the Finals for a save percentage of .967, and shut out the Sedins and co. twice in the seven game series. The shutout in the final game in Vancouver will be forever remembered as Thomas' most crucial performance, as his work helped the Bruins win the only road game of the Finals in devastating fashion. With Tuukka Rask threatening similar Cup winning form, Boston's hopes were high.
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| Unbeatable: Tim Thomas receives the 2011 Conn Smythe trophy in Vancouver |
2: Being the form team
Yes the Chicago Blackhawks had the best regular season record by a distance, but Boston's afore mentioned 4-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins indicated that they carried the better streak into the Stanley Cup Final. The importance of a team's form at this stage of the season can be illustrated through the 2012 triumph of the L.A Kings, who despite being seeded 8th in the Western Conference went on to beat New Jersey to the Cup. Again, another goaltender, this time Jonathan Quick, set the tone for a seemingly unstoppable late season drive by the Kings.
The Chicago Blackhawks, on the other hand, seemed less convincing, almost meeting their end at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings during the second round of the playoffs. The Hawks rallied from 3-1 down to clinch the series 4-3, after a 2-1 overtime victory at the United Center saw them home. But despite almost seeing their cup dreams shattered prematurely, Chicago illustrated a quality that remains regardless of form - the fight and determination of a winning team.
3. Chicago Determination
In the overtime win over the Wings, the Hawks desperately needed to find a way past Jimmy Howard in net, many people's MVP of the series. It took a beautiful Tic-Tac-Toe involving veteran Marian Hossa and assistant captain Patrick Sharp to break the deadlock and it is perhaps testament to their experience that the Blackhawks continued to soldier on, despite lacking the outstanding performances from stars like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews that were so prominent earlier in the season. The timely contributions and leadership qualities of defenseman Brent Seabrook cannot be overlooked, and while he will be looked at in more detail further down this 'Road to the Stanley Cup', he needs a mention here as it was his glove side wrist shot that kept the Blackhawks alive. The moment of ecstasy inside the United Center when the 28 year old wheeled away on one knee in trademark fashion was so powerful, that it was seen as a key turning point in Blackhawk fortunes. Don't get me wrong, the Hawks were used to winning, but from such a difficult position, this victory symbolized their ability to recover from anything, and gave Chicago an unparalleled momentum boost going forward.
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| Lucky Number Seven: Brent Seabrook raises his arms aloft after firing the series winner for Chicago |
'We got back in the dressing room frustrated - we thought we should have had the game won. But the guys forgot about it, and while it sucks to have a goal called back like that, our main focus was to simply go out there and play hard in overtime.'
Joel Quenneville, when asked before the game to share his favourite Rolling Stones track (the band were playing locally at the time), he tactfully replied 'You can't always get what you want', before exiting stage right. Very smooth.
The song title was a perfect way to recognize the 24 times the Blackhawks have lost a game 7 in the playoffs. This time, however, the Hawks got exactly what they wanted, and a looming series against defending champions Los Angeles suddenly seemed less of an ordeal.
4. Boston Strong
Before I wrap up this first part of the Road to the 2013 Stanley Cup, the Boston Marathon Tragedy on April 15 should be mentioned. The way the NHL pulled together in this difficult time, placing rivalries aside, was truly commendable, and the words 'Boston Strong' echoed right the way through the Bruins' playoff run. On the back of such a tragic event in the city, determination and willing found a new level:
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| Class Act: Bruins and Sabres players raise their sticks to the sky in support for the people of Boston |
The Original Six matchup between the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks was set to be a brilliant finale.
