The Chicago Blackhaws defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 on Monday night to win their third Stanley Cup in six seasons. Chicago are the only team since the National Hockey League lockout in the 2004-05 season to win three Stanley Cups, tempting the modern ‘dynasty’ label.
That will be left to history to decide for certain, but there was little question Monday night where the Cup belonged. Save for a few moments – and at least one unlucky bounce for Tampa Bay – the Blackhawks played a tight offensive game, outshot the Lightning 32-25, won over twice as many face-offs, and more or less dominated possession for all 60 minutes.
It all amounted to the first Chicago Stanley Cup win on home ice since 1938, when the Cup itself wasn’t even present for the victory, as the league at that time didn’t think the Blackhawks could win. Despite a weather delay, the Cup finally made it to the United Center this time around, and was hoisted once again by captain Jonathan Toews.
Monday was ultimately Chicago’s night, but the win was hardly a foregone conclusion.
As a demonstration of how evenly matched the two teams were, there’s this: both teams were 11-1 going into Game 6 when scoring first. And it was that first goal that was of utmost importance Monday night, where the Blackhawks and Lightning went almost 40 minutes without a goal registered on the scoreboard. Not that there weren’t plenty of chances, especially early on, from Chicago.
The Blackhawks started strong at home in a game where they could finally eliminate Tampa Bay. The early energy put the Lightning on their heels, helped along by face-off victories that were to continue all night. However, a shot from Tampa sniper Steven Stamkos almost put an end to the Blackhawks’ momentum, but it rang off the post. Moments later, Stamkos created another chance near the net, but Chicago’s Chris Versteeg, on the back-check came up with the save to keep things even at 0-0.
Having escaped those chances, Chicago earned two back-to-back power plays. On the first, they could not manage to get anything going, and meanwhile allowed Tampa two good scoring chances. On the second, they were more effective, but Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop denied both Blackhawks superstars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to ensure the teams went to the dressing rooms tied.
Tampa Bay started the second at top speed, and Stamkos had another chance to open the scoring – something he’d not done enough of lately for the Lightning (going into Game 6, he hadn’t scored in seven games) – on a breakaway chance. A similar breakaway from Stamkos in Round 2 against Montreal ended in a goal, and rekindled the scoring touch he’d lost to that point. This time, he wasn’t so lucky. A rolling puck wouldn’t settle, and Stamkos couldn’t get it past Crawford’s sprawled left pad.
That chance, however, only seemed to further energize Tampa Bay. They kept Chicago penned in their own end for the majority of the opening five minutes of the second period. After outshooting Tampa Bay 13-4 in the first period, the Blackhawks didn’t manage another until almost nine minutes into the second. However, once they started shooting again, the momentum shifted back in their favour. The latter half of the second period was dominated by Chicago, as they peppered Bishop constantly and pressing Tampa back into the defensive end for multiple shifts.
Finally, it paid off. After a close call just to the side of Crawford’s net, Kane emerged with the puck near centre ice. He then slowed up near the blue line and sent it back to defenceman Duncan Keith, who let go a bomb. Bishop made the first save, but let go a juicy rebound. Keith, the eventual Conn Smythe trophy winner, followed up on his shot, picked up the rebound and lifted it over Bishop to make it 1-0. A late Tampa penalty produced a few more chances, including a huge shot from Chicago defenceman Brent Seabrook, but it hit the post just before the end of the period.
The third period started better for Tampa Bay, and Crawford was forced to come up with a big save early on to keep Chicago ahead. A chance at the other end from Marian Hossa nearly handcuffed Bishop, but Chicago couldn’t manage a second goal. Tampa pressed, but then, with only just over five minutes left in the period, the play shifted out of the Chicago zone, with Brandon Saad skating down boards before dropping the puck back to Brad Richards. Richards held the puck long enough to draw Bishop over, thinking he would take the shot, but at the last moment, he passed it over to a wide open Kane, who easily fired it into the yawning net to make it 2-0, and effectively seal the deal. It was the first time all series that either team had a two-goal lead. It would be the only one necessary.
Tampa pressed late, and coach Jon Cooper pulled Bishop with a full three minutes to go, and as the Lightning went on the power play, they gained two extra attackers. But it wasn’t enough. Chicago shut it down in their zone and Crawford closed the door again and again to keep the lead alive and bring the Cup back to Chicago.
