The Chicago Blackhawks won the thrilling three overtime game in the first matchup of the Stanley Cup finals and after taking a 1-0 series lead after Andrew Shaw scored the game-winning goal and as Game 2 comes on Saturday night, the home team has all the momentum.
The Blackhawks have home ice advantage after the 4-3 victory and now the Bruins must rally from behind for a Stanley Cup victory. The Bruins have no problems with coming from behind, as the team proved they could do it when they were down two goals with less than two minutes to go in the third period against the Maple Leafs in Game 7 before winning the series in overtime. A big factor will be the status of Nathan Horton, who suffered an injury in Game 1 and may be out of Game 2 depending on how he heals up.
The triple overtime game took a lot out of fans and players alike, with both teams looking tired as heck afterwards. The days off between the two games will help out a great deal and if the Blackhawks can take the victory, they will have a commanding 2-0 series lead heading into Game 3 in Boston. Exhausted players left the ice to a thundering ovation but some were back at the United Center on Thursday to fulfill media obligations, tired but no so weary they couldn't crack a joke.
Hockey fans were still catching their breath on Thursday after the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Boston Bruins in a Game One triple-overtime Stanley Cup thriller that has already been labeled a classic. The Blackhawks were forced to play what amounted to almost two complete games to get one victory, Andrew Shaw ending the fifth-longest game in Stanley Cup Final history with his goal 12:08 of the third overtime period.
Chicago's 4-3 comeback win will long be remembered by anyone who witnessed the pulsating four-hour drama unfold on television or inside a packed United Center. For the Bruins, recovering physically from the draining contest may be easier than recovering mentally after watching a 3-1 lead with 12 minutes left in regulation disappear into a gut-wrenching loss.
While admitting that losing in triple-overtime stings, Bruins coach Claude Julien was searching for some perspective after the crushing defeat. Just minutes before Shaw's decider, Bruins Kaspars Daugavins could have penned a very different result but with Chicago goaltender Corey Crawford sprawled across the ice the Latvian couldn't put the puck in the open net
The real winners on Wednesday were the fans, who had been left bitter and disillusioned when a nasty labor dispute very nearly resulted in no season until a last minute deal was struck to salvage a 48-game season.
Owners and players promised they would reward fans for their patience and loyalty and on Wednesday two Original Six rivals delivered a Stanley Cup Finals opener for the ages.
The NHL reported that Game One received a 4.8 household rating, which is the best metered market rating for a Stanley Cup Final Game One since 1997 but there were other signs people had been captivated by the breathless marathon.
As game went on the Twitter-verse was abuzz with everyone from the White House to the Rolling Stones drawn into the unfolding drama.
U.S. president Barack Obama, a Chicago backer, offered: "Good luck to the @NHLBlackhawks tonight - hope to welcome you back to the White House again as #StanleyCup champs. -bo" while Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger showed his colors donning a Bruins jersey and posting it on Instagram.
"To tell you the truth, (I) fall asleep around 3:00. Woke up early," shrugged Blackhawks' Slovakian forward Marian Hossa. "I think my neighbor decided he (was) going to drill in the morning.
"You know, hopefully (he) is going to get his message for next time, he won't drill.
"We are lucky, we got extra day, you know, to recharge the batteries and get back on Game Two."
(Reuters Quotes)