Nothing is easy in the NHL Playoffs, especially not clinching a Stanley Cup trophy, but the Chicago Blackhawks got the job done with a 2-0 win in game 6 to win the Finals 4-2, getting an early goal from Duncan Keith and a clutch finisher, finally, from Patrick Kane.
Kane has been struggling all series against an excellent line and defense the Lightning put in front of him to slow him down, but as frustration grew for the Lightning with more and more shots stopped by bodies, sticks and Corey Crawford himself, the opportunities became easier to spot for the Blackhawks, and in one of them, late in the third, Brad Richards set up Kane to finally leave his mark on the series.
Earlier it was Duncan Keith, receiving the Conn Smythe Trophy as Most Valuable Player of the playoffs after the game, who put the Blackhawks on the scoreboard. Through the first two periods, or at least up to his goal, it was all Chicago as they blasted away at Ben Bishop, playing with a partially torn groin, barely managing to keep it together.
Keith got a nice pass from Kane as he was charging up the middle. His first shot was blocked by Bishop, but he was all alone to jump at the rebound and send the building into a frenzy that never stopped, and continued into celebrations in the streets.
The Blackhawks have themselves a dynasty, as much as it’s possible to have one these days in the NHL. They win their third Stanley Cup in six years, something that hasn’t happened since the 1980’s, when we had both the Edmonton Oilers, following the New York Islanders.
