The Blackhawks have just won the Western Conference finals and are heading to the Stanley Cup finals starting on Wednesday. They will be matched up to another Original Six team, the Boston Bruins. This will be the first meeting of two Original Six teams since the 1979 Stanley Cup (Original Six meaning that when the NHL was first formed there were only six teams: the Bruins, Blackhawks, Red Wings, Canadiens, Rangers, and Maple Leafs.)
This is extremely exciting for me and for the rest of Chicagoland. But after the high fives and fists pumps that were flying through my living room I have come to realize that the Hawks have not won…yet.
Boston is a tremendous team, shutting down their Eastern Conference rival, the number one ranked Pittsburgh Penguins. Not only did they beat the Penguins, but the Bruins annihilated them. Giving up only two goals through a four game sweep against one of the best offenses in the game is something that Hawks fans need to take a look at.
Many players on the Hawks have not yet stepped up to the level that they should be at. I am hoping that in the next few days the fire within burns and they figure out whatever it is that has been hampering them. All that Patrick Kane needed to do was “steal” a goal in game 4 that would have gone in the net anyways from Brian Bickell. That “stolen” goal got Kane’s juices flowing though, because in game 5 (that I am sure you watched like all good Chicagoans do) Kaner stole the show with a goal that not only sealed his hat trick (3 goals in one game) but finished off the game in the second overtime.
I am ready for Boston. They have a goalie that is extremely hot right now (Tuukka Rask), a giant with the fastest slap-shot in hockey (Zdeno Chara), and an opponent that the Blackhawks have already played against in the Stanley Cup finals… of 1992 (Jaromir Jagr).
The players on the Blackhawks that I think will make an impact in the Cup are Jonathan Toews (who fed Kane the winning goal to finish off the Kings), Patrick Kane (because he got hot in game 5, gotta carry that mojo over), and Niklas Hjalmarsson (he has looked great recently, and really been putting it all out on the ice akin to Duncan Keith of 2010). Corey Crawford needs to look sharp, and not allow any bad goals past. Boston is really good and really hot right now. Craw will need to be at his best. My Prediction; Blackhawks in 7 (it’s going to be a classic.) Go Hawks!