Stanley Cup Final Game 1 Recap

What a way to start the Stanley Cup Finals! Chicago took a 4-3 win in Game 1 courtesy of an Andrew Shaw goal in triple overtime and take a 1-0 series lead over the Boston Bruins. A total 112 blistering minutes of hockey were played with an agonizing number of chances missed in OT before the Blackhawks finally got the puck home via a double deflection. Boston will need picking up after such a draining defeat made even worse by the fact they led 2-0 and 3-1 but allowed it to slip.

Joel Quenneville had clearly sent his team out to be physical early, a highlight being the 5″10 Shaw getting in the face of Zdeno Chara. It didn’t necessarily work in the favour though with the Bruins handling it well and having the better of the earlier exchanges. Corey Crawford had to make a flashy glove save on Brad Marchand early however he was beaten for the first time soon after. Niklas Hjalmarsson went in too exuberantly on David Krejci behind the net which allowed Krejci to roll the check and find Nathan Horton who set up Milan Lucic to fire past Crawford.

Lucic doubled his tally shortly after the second period began off a drop pass by Krejci as the Bruins’ top line continued it’s magnificent postseason. The Blackhawks were looking flat and Brandon Saad’s quick reply was vital to get them going, from there they outshot Boston 16-6 in the second frame although three powerplay chances were missed. Their opponents only man advantage opportunity of regulation came 6 minutes into the third and Patrice Bergeron used it to restore the Bruins’ two goal advantage.

Again Chicago wasted little time pulling it back and Shaw was heavily involved, sending a beauty of a pass across to David Bolland and Tuukka Rask couldn’t get over quick enough. The Hawks were on top again with momentum but they still needed an element of fortune to get the equaliser. Johnny Oduya’s shot was initially off target but Andrew Ference stood by the side of his own net unknowingly diverted the puck slowly over the line off his skate.

Overtime was littered with frantic scrambles around both nets as the tension built inside United Center although it was Boston who looked more likely. Zdeno Chara found the post and Kaspars Daugavins will be reliving the moment he fanned on a backhand with the goal half open. Eventually though Michal Roszival threw one towards the net which nicked firstly off Bolland’s stick and then the leg of Shaw.

The bar has been set extremely high for the rest of the series now and the Bruins should be itching to get back out there on Friday to even things up. They were unfortunate to lose last night but only really have themselves to blame for failing to close it out, it’s a mistake they are unlikely to make again.