June 13, 2013

Blackhawks Win Game 1 in Triple OT: In the fifth-longest game in Stanley Cup Finals history, the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Boston Bruins 4-3 in triple overtime Wednesday night in game one of the championship series. Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw scored on a deflection 12:08 into the third extra period. The Bruins led 3-1 in the third but the Hawks scored two goals in a four-minute span. "We've preached it -- go to the net, you'll find a way to get a greasy goal," Shaw said.

posted by rcade to hockey at 10:46 AM - 9 comments

"We've preached it -- go to the net, you'll find a way to get a greasy goal,"

certainly a lesson the Bruins could use - David Kreijci sometimes forgets that dancing pretty with the puck isn't as important as putting in the back of the net

posted by kokaku at 11:25 AM on June 13, 2013

As a Canucks fan, this series is going to be a weirdly excruciating schadenfreude sandwich.

I found myself clinging to a single positive hope - that Brad Marchand might have turned out to be the goat on the overtime goal. Nope, but probably more chances of that to come.

posted by rumple at 01:44 PM on June 13, 2013

Kreijci? You mean the guy who leads the playoffs in goals, already has an OT winner this postseason, who had two helpers last night, and in the first and third overtimes set guys up for nearly open net chances that they didn't convert?

Oduya and Bolland both saved near goals setup by great Kreijci passes.

posted by dfleming at 02:27 PM on June 13, 2013

Painful way for the Bruins to lose. They came extremely close several times during overtime.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 02:40 PM on June 13, 2013

With Nathan Horton out and Shawn Thornton mainly stuck on the bench (anyone know why?), it was really just a matter of time before they lost. They won the first period and 1OT, but Chicago controlled the others.

Next time the Bruins wind up in triple overtime in the Cup finals, do me a favor and remind me it never works out well and I should just go to bed.

posted by yerfatma at 02:45 PM on June 13, 2013

Not that anyone around here needs reminding of the incompetence/apathy of the "worldwide leader," but...

After 20 minutes of analysis breaking down every pass and missed shot of a 2-night old NBA game, Sportcenter shifts to hockey coverage with "...and we pick it up in the third period in Chicago..."

I don't know why it still surprises and pisses me off, but it does. What an amazing game from start to finish. Momentum swung back and forth for 110 minutes, with both teams missing opportunities as well as showing that they deserved to be in the finals. Should be a hell of a series between two evenly matched squads.

posted by tahoemoj at 03:36 PM on June 13, 2013

...Shawn Thornton mainly stuck on the bench (anyone know why?)

This is not a definitive answer, but losing Horton required a change at wing on the Krejci line. The choice was Seguin, so now another wing is needed for the 3rd line. Paille is the obvious choice here, and Kelly comes along as center, thus reuniting Kelly and Peverly on that line. Now Daugavins and Thornton are the odd men out, but Daugavins had put in some time with Kelly and Peverly, so he could fill in there. Unfortunately for Thornton, he has no other role on the club outside the "Merlot" line and being an enforcer of sorts. Coach Julien will also mix and match the odd forwards in order to give some of his forwards a break, rather than just go with 3 fixed lines. If you remember, the same thing happened when Campbell went down with the broken leg. Thornton sat for most, if not all, of the remaining time.

As for the game itself, if it proves anything it shows there is almost no difference between the teams. Had the Hockey Gods so dictated, every chance Bruins had would have hit the back of the net, and Bruins would have gone home 5-2 winners in regulation. Conversely, Chicago could easily have done the same thing and walked away with a lopsided win. As it was, the Hockey Gods were thoroughly enjoying the game, kept it going as long as they could, realized they were up long past their bedtime, and decided to end it. This game does not determine the ultimate winner of the series, but it clearly defines what the series will look like. There is some really good hockey to be played.

posted by Howard_T at 04:13 PM on June 13, 2013

Thanks Howard. I can still hear that pipe ringing from the 2OT.

posted by yerfatma at 04:50 PM on June 13, 2013

That was one of the best hockey games I've ever seen. 5 hours on the edge of my seat. Just shocked that Chicago managed to tie it up in regulation. There was a sequence in the second overtime where Crawford fell on his ass, a shot was missed, he got back up, blocked another shot.. then there's that shot Daugavins missed. Just amazing stuff.

Hats off to the Bruins. Chicago's offensive pressure is relentless, but Boston snaps back very quickly.

Now that I've said my peace... GO BLACKHAWKS!

posted by phaedon at 01:58 AM on June 14, 2013

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