It's been a long time, since 1961, that the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup, one of the most revered trophies in all of sport. You start out in the late summer in training camp, go to pre-season in late September and start playing by mid October. The season ends in April. Then it's a second season of breathless, fast-paced, high energy hockey, the playoffs, which runs for eight weeks. If your team wins the Stanley Cup, you truly earn it.
Chicago has a shot again. The last time they were this close was in 1992. But "Super Mario" played for Pittsburgh, and his will and play picked up the Penguins.
The Hawks won yesterday's game 4-2. They scored four straight goals to blow by a stubborn and pesky San Jose Sharks team. They swept the Sharks in 4 games, but they were not easy wins. Last year the Blackhawks lost to Detroit in the Conference Finals. That playoff series gave this team a learning lesson that it took to heart. And, it is paying off now.
Captain Jonathan Toews is a young man, but he's the captain of this young team. John Madden was brought in to gave this team some seasoning. He played for two Devils' teams that won the Stanley Cup. Madden plays hard every shift he is on the ice. The surprise of these playoffs has been the stellar goaltending of Antti Niemi and the key goals scored by lumbering Dustin Byfuglien. Buff is big. But his overtime goal in game 3 wasn't scored on bigness but stealth as he streaked toward San Jose's goals to get a great feed and scored quickly. Hawks won a tough one.
Duncan Keith lost 4 teeth Sunday when a puck hit him in the face. That's taking one of the team. He was back on the ice in a few minutes. Courage, and a stout heart. That's what it takes to win the Cup.
