Patrick Kane's drive from an odd angle eluded goalie Michael Leighton in OT of game 6 and the Chicago Blackhawks ousted the Philadelphia Flyers in a taut, thrilling finish to win Hockey's version of the Holy Grail.
The Hawks won the game 4-3, outplayed and outshot the Flyers for most the game. Yet the Flyers would not go away. Scott Hartnell tied the game late in the third period at 3-3 to send the hometown fans in to a frenzy. It appeared a Chicago team would yet again, find a way to lose a game they had all but won. Antti Niemi, the Hawks goalie made a brilliant save in the final minute of the third period to keep his team from avoiding what would have been a terrible defeat. He made some key saves in OT, and it was the heroics of Patrick Kane, a supremely talented winger, who came to the fore. He was silent for most the Finals. But he kept skating and found his game. His teammate, Jonathan Towes, had a great Playoffs performance and won the Conn Symthe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player. If Antti Niemi won the award, no one would argue. Niemi was stellar in goal throughout the playoffs, and especially in the clutch, when the Hawks needed a big save. And some of his stops were jaw-dropping. Niemi will go down in 'Hawks history as the clutch playoff goalie.
The Hawks overall talent won over the grit and guttiness of the Flyers. They played a great Finals, it just so happened that the Hawks were the better team, and played that way.
People will talk about how it has been 49 years since the Hawks last won the Cup. But that drought is over, because the Hawks management made some great moves, acquiring key players in quest of the Holy Grail, that it finally found.
John Madden, Thomas Kopecky, Patrick Sharp, Dustin Byfuglien all made key contributions. Perhaps most of all, it was Marian Hossa's turn to hoist the Cup. He came over from Detroit and was playing in his third straight Cup Finals. Hossa was a presence on the ice both on offense and defense. He played hard and was in the middle of the action. Tonight he made all the right moves, including raising the Stanley Cup and uttering a yelp of relief and joy.
To 'Hawks fans, the new "Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita" of the 1961 Finals and other great playoff years, is Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.
