The Chicago Blackhawks took the first game in thrilling fashion against the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup finals, winning the fifth longest contest in championship history in triple overtime after a deflection goal from Andrew Shaw.
The two teams played two extra periods and then some more after the 3-3 game went to overtime and things ended after a shot from Michal Rozsival tipped off of Dave Bolland and then deflected in off Shaw past Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, who was excellent once again in net. The two teams played admirably through the extra periods and fatigue was wearing down on everyone as the clock rolled past midnight and on through the game.
The Blackhawks had chances but couldn't put anything past Rask in the first two periods and the Bruins had some very close chances but some stellar play from Corey Crawford kept Chicago in the game. Crawford finished with 51 saves and Rask with 59 in the game and the Bruins got goals from Patrice Bergeron and Milan Lucic, who had two in the game. Shaw scored the winner, while Bolland, Brandon Saad and Johnny Oduya had the other goals.
Patrick Kane had a solid game and had some scoring chances, but he couldn't put anything in the net after scoring three in the clinching game against the Kings. The Bruins struck first in the game and had a 2-1 lead heading into the third period, but Chicago stormed back and put in two in the third while Boston added another. The overtime was a physical affair and both teams played hard, but it was Shaw that won it in the end.
The two teams combined for over 100 shots on goal and over 100 faceoffs in the game and after three power play opportunities for each team, Boston was the only one to score a power play goal. The Bruins now will have to rally in the series and they know how to do that, just like when they came back from 4-2 down with 90 seconds left against the Maple Leafs in Game 7 in the playoffs. The second game will be in Chicago at the United Center on Saturday.
