Hawks Clinch Cup on Home Ice; First Time Since '38

77 years!

Stanley Cup Final Starts Wednesday!

It is that time.

But first, congrats to the Oshawa Generals on the thrilling OT win to win the 97th CHL Memorial Cup. CHL. Canadian Hockey League. Not Central Hockey League.

And now, to the Stanley Cup Final, where the Lightning are back in it for the first time since 2004. Remember that series? We all do. The last one before the lockout season in which the entire season was wiped out. Jon Cooper, the Bolts coach, won championships in various levels, and now this could be that chance. The Blackhawks are in their third Cup final in five years. The won in six against the Bruins in 2013.

STANLEY CUP FINAL
(best of seven)
(A2) Lightning v (C3) Blackhawks
Game 1 Wednesday
Game 2 Saturday
Game 3 Monday
Game 4 6/10
Game 5 6/13*
Game 6 6/15*
Game 7 6/17*
*-If necessary.

All games on CBC in Canada (and northern US!). All but the first two Chicago games are on NBC; those games-3 and 4-are on NBCSN.

The Cup Returns to Chicago!

DA HAWKS!

 

Also Scott Bowman's 13th Cup, as he is in charge of player personnel and development with the Hawks.

 

Meanwhile, the Cubs are still waiting to end their drought. 105 years and counting...

 



2013 Stanley Cup Finals: An Original Six Masterpiece

It all comes down to this.

Starting Wednesday, for the first time since 1979 (Habs/Rangers, I think), there will be an 'Original Six' Stanley Cup final.

The Bruins and Blackhawks have won Cups in recent years, but a matchup like this is good for all of ice hockey, considering the rich history of both clubs. Both the Hawks and Bruins were among the NHL's 'Original Six' still in survival to this modern day (Leafs, Habs, Rangers and Wings the others).

Whilst the Hawks survived and outplayed the Wild, Wings and Kings to return to this point, the Bruins had to come back from behind 4-1 in the third of game 7 of the East Quarterfinal with the Leafs, a game in which they came back and won in Overtime. No one knew they would come back, and since then, it was solid performances, especially in the conference final, where they swept the best in the east, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

With that in mind...the series schedule!

Game 1 Wednesday
Game 2 6/15
Game 3 6/17
Game 4 6/19
Game 5 6/22*
Game 6 6/24*
Game 7 6/26*
*-if necessary.

With the exception of games 2 and 3 (both on NBCSN), the rest of the series is on NBC. And once again, the finals are also on CBC, and since this is an original six final, it is a great way for CBC to close out their 60th Season of NHL telecasts, the longest running tenure anywhere on television.

Because it's the Cup.

Caption This!

Jeff Carter, game 2, Western Conference Final:

Frozen Four: NHL Style 2013

The NHL's version of the Frozen Four is set!

The defending Stanley Cup champ Kings are almost there again; they have to get by a tough Hawks team that is playing their asses out this abridged season. A really good Western final.

Meanwhile, it is the top seeded Pens against the Bruins in the East final.

With that in mind...

(Best of seven)

EAST
Final
(1) Penguins v (4) Bruins
Game 1 Saturday
Game 2 6/3
Game 3 6/5
Game 4 6/7
Game 5 6/9*
Game 6 6/11*
Game 7 6/12*

WEST
Final
(1) Blackhawks v (5) Kings
Game 1 Saturday
Game 2 6/2
Game 3 6/4
Game 4 6/6
Game 5 6/8*
Game 6 6/10*
Game 7 6/12*

The Kings/Hawks series will have split TV coverage in Canada, with TSN carrying games 1 through 3, while CBC will pick up the rest of the series. CBC will have all the games in the Pens/Bruins finals series.

Meanwhile here in the states, every game, every night on NBC and NBCSN. Because it's the Cup.

Friday Jukebox 4.22.11

In the spirit of the Canucks' game 4 and 5 first round performance against the Hawks (and I was truly dissapointed at Luongo)...

No explanation needed...