NHL 2013 Finals: Boston Bruins vs Chicago Blackhawks

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After four exciting games, the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins will look to continue one of the most exciting Stanley Cup Finals series that we have ever seen tonight in a pivotal Game 5. Entering the game, the series is tied at two games a piece and the winner will have the inside track at taking home Lord Stanley’s Cup.

With Chicago returning home off of an emotional overtime win, will they be able to hold the home ice and get just one win away from reaching their season’s goal or will Boston get the win and head home needing just win? We will find out later this evening.

What time do the Blackhawks and Bruins drop the puck? We’ve got all of the information you will need to know to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the action.

Start time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Venue: United Center
Series Record: Series tied, 2-2
The Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins will battle for control of the Stanley Cup Finals when they face off in Game 5 on Saturday evening.
The Boston Bruins had a chance to seize control of the series but fell to the Blackhawks in overtime in a 6-5 loss.
"I thought we gave them a lot of space," Bruins Coach Claude Julien said. "When we talk about neutral zone, we're not talking about closing a game up and seeing a boring game. We're talking about doing something so that we can regain possession of the puck. And when we regain possession of the puck, we want to get that puck moving in the right direction so we can get a good pace to our game. Sometimes it's misconstrued, I guess, that the neutral zone is about slowing everything down. It's about taking options away. I think Chicago did a great job [on Wednesday]."

The Blackhawks managed to break out of a goal scoring drought against the Bruins with a tremendous six goal effort; the team had only managed one goal throughout Games 2 and 3.
"For us personally, you know you don't get this far, you don't win a Stanley Cup without being pushed up against the wall and being in a few tight spots," said Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews; Toews scored his first goal of the series in Game 4 and his second of the postseason.  "That's where we were [Wednesday] night, and for us it was a must-win. We put it all out there, and we treated it as a Game 7. We got the result we wanted. I think there's still some things we can do better, but for the guys in that locker room, we all understood how critical that game was last night. We showed up to play for each other. I don't think the importance of the next one is any smaller than Game 4."

Chicago Blackhawks vs Boston Bruins June 19, 2013

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Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is finding out what the Rangers’ Rick Nash and the Penguins’ Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin learned earlier in these playoffs: The Bruins don’t give up much.

Toews not only has been smothered through three Stanley Cup Finals games but also has been snake-bitten through the playoffs, with just one goal and nine points in 19 games. Chicago trails Boston, 2-1, in the Stanley Cup Finals entering Game 3 on Wednesday night at TD Garden. The Bruins have won two straight and allowed just one Blackhawk goal in those 126 minutes and 12 seconds,

including Monday’s 2-0 home shutout.
While the whole Chicago offense is struggling, the onus falls on Toews, the 2010 Conn Smythe winner as playoff MVP, to lead his team out of this hole.

“He’s still contributing in a lot of different areas,” Blackhawks winger Patrick Sharp said of Toews. “I know he wants to score, but he takes a lot of draws, he plays well defensively. He plays heavy minutes for us. I’m not too concerned with Jonny.”
Toews did not speak to the media on Tuesday’s off-day in Boston. In fact, the Blackhawks made the bare minimum four players available, with their presence in front of the cameras reflecting their recent presence on the ice. Between the Blackhawks and Bruins on Tuesday, neither team’s captain spoke, nor did either starting goaltender.

Boston, however, has brought its A-game once the puck has been dropped.
Center Patrice Bergeron, last year’s winner of the Selke Trophy for top defensive forward, was beaten out for the award this season by Toews. But in Game 3, Bergeron turned in a performance that Chicago coach Joel Quenneville called “one of those nights that you like to have in a career.”

Bergeron won of 24 of 28 faceoffs as Boston dominated at the dots (40-for-56, 71%). He scored the Bruins’ second goal, and his work off the puck led teammate Jaromir Jagr to say he’s never seen a “hungrier” player in the defensive zone.
“He won the Selke last year for a reason,” Bruins winger Milan Lucic said.

Chicago hopes to receive a lift from the potential return of winger Marian Hossa, whom Quenneville said is “likely to play” after being a surprise Game 3 scratch due to an upper-body injury.
Toews had some chances, but he didn’t finish, like in the first period of Game 3 when he pushed a Duncan Keith pass wide of an open net at the post with the defense collapsing. Big Bruins defensemen Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg have shrunk the ice on Toews.

HOME ON THE RANGE
The Rangers are not expected to introduce Alain Vigneault as their head coach before Thursday. A press conference is expected in the upcoming days. Vigneault still is assembling his staff, which could include former Rangers defenseman Ulf Samuelsson, who reportedly expressed interest in a job and resigned recently as head coach of Modo in Sweden’s Elite League.
STREIT DEAL

The Flyers have agreed to terms on a four-year, $21 million contract with impending unrestricted free-agent defenseman Mark Streit.

Streit, 35, the former Islanders captain, was traded to Philly last Wednesday for minor-league forward Shane Harper and a fourth-round pick in 2014. The lefthanded blue liner has 65 goals and 288 points in 491 career regular-season games. The Islanders offered Streit a three-year deal worth about $5 million per season, according to Newsday, but the parties were apart on term and money in their negotiations.

Streit’s deal with the Flyers is for an extra year, worth $5.25 million per season, and also reportedly includes a limited no-trade clause.
The Islanders are expected to stitch the captain’s ‘C’ onto the sweater of center John Tavares, 22.

Boston Bruins vs Chicago Blackhawks June 15, 2013

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For the first time in NHL history, the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks will battle for the Stanley Cup. It also marks the first time since 1979 that two Original Six teams will meet in the Final.

Both teams enter their series having easily eliminated worthy opponents in their respective conference finals. The Bruins swept the Pittsburgh Penguins, limiting the offensively loaded top seed in the Eastern Conference to just two goals. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks put an end to the Los Angeles Kings' title defense in five games, snapping L.A.’s 15-game home winning streak in the process.

However, the Bruins and Blackhawks also found themselves on the brink of disaster earlier in the playoffs.

The Bruins dropped two straight games to the Toronto Maple Leafs and trailed, 4-1, in Game 7 with just over 10 minutes remaining in their first-round series. That’s when their dominant run began. The Bruins scored three straight to tie it and Patrice Bergeron scored at 6:05 of overtime to complete an amazing comeback. The Bruins have gone 8-1 since, led by their strong team defense and remarkable goaltending from Tuukka Rask.

The Blackhawks' biggest test came in Round 2, when they found themselves down 3-1 in their series with the Detroit Red Wings. The Blackhawks, however, had little trouble in beating the Wings in the next two games before winning an epic Game 7 showdown in overtime on a goal by Brent Seabrook. 

With that in mind, here is a complete preview of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final.

Boston Bruins vs Chicago Blackhawks June 12, 2013

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There is a lot to love about this year's Stanley Cup Final, much more than just the happy coincidence of it being an Original Six matchup for the first time in 34 years. This really should be some excellent hockey.

Both the Bruins and Blackhawks have had their moments of adversity this postseason; Boston was down three goals in the third period of Game 7 in the first round, Chicago down three games to one in the second. Since those particular moments, both teams have turned on the boosters and are now flying at full speed. The Bruins have won nine of their last 10 while the Blackhawks have taken seven of their last eight. Powers collide.

STANLEY CUP FINAL

Final matchup all NHL could have hoped for
It's no coincidence the two teams left standing are probably the two most balanced teams in the league this season. They both have defense, and loads of it. They both have good-to-great offenses. They can both roll all four lines with confidence -- and will do exactly that in this series. They both have very good goaltenders. Right now, with how they are both playing coming into this Final, the differences between them seem razor thin.

I can make predictions until I'm blue in the face but the only one I feel absolutely certain about is this should be one heck of a series.

Los Angeles Kings vs Chicago Blackhawks June 8, 2013

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On Saturday night, the Chicago Blackhawks battle the Los Angeles Kings in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final. Chicago is looking to punch its ticket to the Stanley Cup Final, as the Blackhawks are up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.

The game starts at 8 p.m. ET and can be seen on NBC in the U.S. or CBC and RDS in Canada.

The Los Angeles Kings have their backs up against a wall after losing their first home playoff game of the season in Game 4, 2-1. That loss put the Kings down 3-1 in the series, and it will be up to them to find a way to win on the road.

Can the Kings come back and force a Game 6 with a win, or will the Blackhawks take Game 5 and the series and advance to meet the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final?

Tune in to this live blog tonight for live scoring updates and in-game analysis of Game 5.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Boston Bruins June 7, 2013

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To everybody’s surprise, the high-powered Pittsburgh Penguins are down 3-0 to the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Finals. And while most of us didn’t see this coming — we all can’t count the Pens out either. After all, this is the Penguins we’re talking about. Although the ‘Burgh hasn’t lustered any sort of mojo thus far, one has to believe they’ll turn this series around somehow right?

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Chris Kunitz, James Neal, Jarome Iginla — ever heard of them?

With the way this series has started, some probably had forgotten about these players because none have really produced enough to talk about.

But that could all change tonight.

Often times when Pittsburgh has fallen off their game it is because they have lost control of their adrenaline. If they learn to harness their emotions in time for tonight’s contest, the Pens should dictate the speed of the game.

When they stay out of the penalty box — that’s also a good indication that the Pens are showing their focus.

Which is a good point — stay out of the box!

The more opportunities you give the Bruins on the man-advantage, the more momentum they gain via scoring chances. When the Pens avoid the sin-bin, they’re usually the ones on the attack — pressuring the opposition.

Which makes second-chance shots crucial. In respect to Pittsburgh, Boston’s goaltender Tuukka Rask hasn’t allowed many of these, but the Pens must continue to press for that rebound goal.

Chicago Blackhawks vs LA Kings June 6, 2013

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The defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings remained perfect at home after securing a Game 3 victory at the Staples Center, but can they get the job done in Game 4? The Chicago Blackhawks got a lot of chances in Game 3, but the Kings were able to play their first complete game of the series.

The Kings' power play remained anemic and the Blackhawks' penalty kill was still stellar, but will that change in a pivotal Game 4?

The Kings have a chance to get back in this series because of their dominance at home, but they will ultimately have to steal a game at the United Center in Chicago. Right now, it is uncanny how good they have been at home and how different they look on the road, but it won't matter if they tie the series.

Throughout the playoffs, the Kings have been streaky, and a win could really give them some needed momentum to get back on track.
Viewing Info

Time: Thursday, June 6, 9 p.m. ET

Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles

Series: CHI leads LAK 2-1

TV: NBC Sports Network

Game 3: Penguins vs Bruins June 5, 2013

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 The Pittsburgh Penguins will be looking to take the first step on a long road to a comeback when they hit the ice in Boston for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals tonight.

After a 6-1 drubbing at the hands of the Bruins in Game 2, the Penguins find themselves down 0-2 in the series.

There wasn’t much good to come from Game 2, as the entire team looked frustrated and out of sorts.

Brad Marchand scored on a breakaway just 28 seconds into the game and the Bruins never looked back. The goal seemed to stun the Penguins and they never recovered. Before they knew it, the score was 3-0 in favor of the visitors.

Tomas Vokoun was pulled in favor of Marc-Andre Fleury, but the move failed to wake the team from their stupor.

Brandon Sutter scored with under a minute to play in the first period, which would have been a huge momentum boost heading into the locker room. However, Marchand answered right back with under 10 seconds remaining in the period to take the air out of CONSOL Energy Center and the Penguins.

After the team’s practice on Tuesday, head coach Dan Bylsma said adjustments and roster changes would be made ahead of Game 3. While he wouldn’t elaborate on what changes might be coming for obvious reasons, the Penguins cannot afford another poor effort tonight.

The Penguins must absolutely be better in the defensive zone and manage the puck better. As was exhibited in Game 2, it won’t matter which goaltender is in net if the Penguins play that poorly in front of them.

Chicago Blackhawks vs Los Angeles Kings June 4, 2013

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The Chicago Blackhawks will look to establish stranglehold on the Western Conference finals when they visit the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.

After a winning 2-1 in a tightly contested Game 1, the Blackhawks ran away with a 4-0 lead early in the second period that chased reigning Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Quick. However, Chicago must do
something no one else has achieved in these playoffs; they must defeat the Kings at the Staples Center.

 Los Angeles is 7-0 on home ice and Quick has put up three shutouts in the process; Los Angeles has won 14 straight on home ice since the end of the regular season.  More importantly, the Kings have already battled back from a 2-0 lead in this postseason; the team lost the first two games of the series against the St. Louis Blues in the first round but fought back with four straight victories.

"I think you can draw on the fact that we've been in this situation before in the sense that the series is long from over for our mindset," Kings Captain Dustin Brown said. "It's about playing the game. I mean, we try to cut it in half tomorrow night."

In order for the Kings to make the comeback, the team must get more offensive production from its top players. Center Anze Kopitar has struggled tremendously throughout the postseason with only seven points in 15 postseason games; most of his production came in the first round against the Blues.

The Los Angeles Kings will not go down without a fight. Look for the defending Champions to take advantage of home ice and for Quick to bounce back with a strong performance. The Kings win 2-1.
Start Time: 9 PM EST
TV: NBCSN

Boston Bruins vs Pittsburgh Penguins June 3, 2013

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Game 2 between the Boston Bruins and the Pittsburgh Penguins is just a few hours away and the Pens find themselves nearing a "must-win" situation on home ice after dropping Game 1.

The big and bad B's managed to knock the high-octane Penguins off of their offensive game early in the first contest. They will likely aim to do the same thing tonight in Game 2.

The big guns of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and James Neal couldn't find a way to beat Bruins' netminder Tuukka Rask, who shut out Pittsburgh for the first time since February 1, 2012. In the backdrop will be a pair of hits-from-behind that occured in Game 1. One from Matt Cooke of the Penguins and another from Brad Marchand of the Bruins.

Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET and is available on NBCSN in the United States, while RDS and the CBC have Canadian viewers covered.

Los Angeles Kings vs Chicago Blackhawks June 2, 2013

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Marian Hossa winked when the television camera focused on him during the national anthem, a signal to his friends watching the game back home in Slovakia. Then he gave them something to cheer about.
Hossa tipped in the tiebreaking goal in the second period, helping the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 on Saturday in the opener of the Western Conference finals.

Patrick Sharp also scored and Corey Crawford made 21 saves for the Blackhawks, who generated just enough offense to improve to 7-1 at home in the playoffs. They also have won four in a row heading into Game 2 on Sunday.
"It's always great when you win the first game, especially back to back, give you a little momentum," Hossa said. "I felt like we did lots of good things today. We know we have to be better (Sunday) and keep doing those things."

Jonathan Quick stopped 34 shots, and Justin Williams scored for Los Angeles, which has won just one of seven road games in the playoffs. The defending Stanley Cup champions got center Jarret Stoll back from a suspected concussion, but their offensive funk continued.
"I think the two guys that scored for them are going to score goals," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "We have guys that have to score goals. That's how close it will be."
Los Angeles has scored 27 times in 14 playoff games. The last three have gone to Williams, who was responsible for the Kings' offense in a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks in Game 7 of the second-round series on Tuesday.

"Scoring doesn't simply come from the offensive zone," Williams said. "It comes from being good in your own zone, breaking out together and scoring off the rush. We didn't have enough of that."

The Blackhawks and Kings returned to the ice after surviving strenuous second-round tests.
Top-seeded Chicago stormed back to beat Detroit after trailing 3-1 in the series, winning Game 7 on Brent Seabrook's overtime goal Wednesday night. Fifth-seeded Los Angeles was pushed to the brink of elimination by the Sharks in a series in which the home team won every game.
For the first period and much of the second of the conference finals opener, Chicago looked hopeless against Quick and Los Angeles' talented defensemen. Drew Doughty, Robyn Regehr and Co. kept the Blackhawks' fleet forwards in check, and Quick made it look as if there was a white wall moving from side to side in net.
As they did against Detroit, the Blackhawks began to create more quality chances when they put more traffic in front.


With 7 1/2 minutes left in the second, Sharp skated into the zone, left the puck for Johnny Oduya and kept moving forward. When Quick kicked away Oduya's slap shot, the puck went right to Sharp, who scored into the lower right corner to tie it 1-1 with his eighth playoff goal.
"That first shot against him is tough," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "You need traffic. You need a deflection. He finds a way to find pucks. I think the volume and traffic of shots is the only way to get to this guy."
Sharp created another strong opportunity a few minutes later, but Brandon Saad shot wide right on a potential tip-in.


The Blackhawks kept up the pressure and went ahead when Hossa redirected Keith's long slap shot out of the air at 16:22 of the second. The puck landed in the lower right corner again before Quick could find it in the maze of bodies near the net.
It was the sixth goal of this postseason for Hossa and the 42nd of his playoff career. The 34-year-old forward has at least one point in four straight games.
"If Quick's going to see it, he's going to stop it. If we can get a slight tip on it, I think it changes his view," said Bryan Bickell, who earned an assist on the goal. "It was a nice tip by Hoss."
Quick wasn't made available to the media while the locker room was open after the game.

Boston Bruins vs Pittsburgh Penguins June 1, 2013

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Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins is just a few hours away. This series is loaded with star power—Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang lead the way for the high-flying Pens.

 The Bruins answer with the likes of Zdeno Chara, David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron. The puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET Saturday. Fans in the United States will be able to catch the game on NBC, while the CBC and RDS will be covering the game for Canadian viewers.

Los Angeles Kings vs Chicago Blackhawks June 1, 2013

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The Los Angeles Kings visit the Chicago Blackhawks for Game 1 (in progress) of the Western Conference Finals on Saturday. Catch the game on NBCSN in the US, or TSN and RDS in Canada.

Justin Williams scored in the first period to make it 1-0, Kings.

Keep it tuned to this live blog for thoughts, scoring updates and in-game analysis of Game 1.

Los Angeles Kings 1, Chicago Blackhawks 0. Second period.