By Steve Rhodes
“The Detroit Red Wings regularly draw criticism for having more skill than size or toughness, which is why the Chicago Blackhawks’ championship Monday night should be viewed as immensely positive,” Helene St. James writes for the Detroit Free Press.
“The Blackhawks embody skill, top to bottom. Like the Wings with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, they are headlined up front by a pair of superbly talented players in Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Chicago’s defense is anchored by Duncan Keith, whose style is in the mold of Nicklas Lidstrom.
“Right on down through the fourth line – populated by the likes of Andrew Shaw, Michael Frolik, Marcus Kruger and Viktor Stalberg – the Blackhawks fielded players who belong in the NHL, not bubble players doing little but killing time while the top lines get some rest.
“The Blackhawks’ run – which also included dispatching the big Los Angeles Kings – is good for hockey.”
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Agreed. When I grew up as a diehard North Stars fan in Minnesota, the Blackhawks were a goon squad. Unfortunately, the North Stars were also soft.
These Blackhawks are both highly skilled, fast as hell and tough enough. They’re a joy to watch.
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Toronto likes the Blackhawks too.
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Did Custom Camaro Herald Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup Victory?
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Mmm, Camaro . . .
My first car, which I bought when I was in high school, was a used 1975 Camaro. Official color: North Star Green. I also worked for the North Stars at the time. (Pure coincidence.)
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The Blackhawks are an early favorite to return to the Stanley Cup Finals – but not to win.
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“When he went down, we were a little concerned, because he never goes down,” said Darlene Shaw, mother of Andrew. “But he came back.”
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“The Chicago Blackhawks pulled off perhaps the most improbable comeback in the history of the Stanley Cup finals on Monday night,” Jeff Z. Klein writes for the New York Times.
Klein has been one of the best chroniclers of the playoffs, so you might want to click through for the rest of his report.
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“For the second year in a row, Dave Bolland, who was born and raised in Mimico, attending. St. Leo’s Catholic elementary school and then on to Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School, will be running a summer hockey camp at the MasterCard Centre in south Etobicoke,” the Guardian of the Etobicoke section of Toronto reports.
“This year, he might want to add a session on how to score a Stanely Cup winning goal.
“Many dream of it, and Bolland became one of the very few to do it when he scored the game and Stanley Cup clincher in the last minute of play on Monday, June 24, leading the Chicago Blackhawks to a thrilling 3-2 game-six win over the host Boston Bruins.
“Bolland’s goal with 59 seconds left completed a remarkable comeback for Chicago who had tied the game up just 17 seconds earlier on a goal by Bryan Bickell.
“Bolland’s goal was a case of being Johnny-on-the-spot. The puck had hit the post, bouncing lazily back into the crease, behind the Boston goaltender, and Bolland seized the opportunity, quickly whacking it into the gaping net.
“I think (my eyes) were huge,” said Bolland in a post-game interview on NHL.com. “They almost popped out of my head.”
“It is the only Cup-clinching goal ever scored in the 60th minute.”
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Spoiler Alert: Belushi vs. Rahm.
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“As you know by now, the Blackhawks pulled off a stunning comeback by scoring two goals in a 17-second span to finish off the Bruins last night. The postgame celebration was dominated by Duncan Keith’s adorable son, who didn’t seemed pleased that his mom and dad tried to stuff him into the Stanley Cup.”
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How Cool Was That?
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Blackhawks TV.
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Tweeting The Bros, Blackhawks & Broadcasts.
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Beware A Blackhawks News Dump.
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The Beachwood Tip LIne: Antidotal.
Posted on June 25, 2013