The Daily Herald - Unstoppable!: The Chicago Blackhawks Dominant 2013 Championship Season

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Contents

Introduction

Blackhawks Unforgettable Road to the Stanley Cup

By Tim Sassone

Talk about a storybook season.

The Blackhawks had one in 2013.

The season didnt start until mid-January in Los Angeles because of the lockout, and 24 games into the schedule the Hawks still hadnt suffered a loss in regulation, establishing an NHL record for best start by going 21-0-3.

The Hawks didnt lose more than two games in a row in the regular season, finishing with 11 wins in their last 15 games.

They capped the memorable season by disposing of Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs, rallying from a 3-1 deficit against Detroit in an epic seven-game series in the second round that wasnt decided until overtime in Game 7, then knocking off defending champion Los Angeles in the Western Conference finals and coming up strong against Boston in Game 6 with two third-period goals in the final minutes of the Stanley Cup Final.

The first game of the Final against the Bruins took three overtimes to decide, and the deciding game appeared headed to overtime until Bryan Bickell and Dave Bolland each found the net 17 seconds apart with the game-winner coming at 19:01 in the third period.

It was the Hawks second Stanley Cup in four years, but there were only eight players who played on both teams for coach Joel Quenneville Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Dave Bolland and Niklas Hjalmarsson.

Hawks general manager Stan Bowman, who didnt get enough credit for the first Stanley Cup win in his rookie year as GM, rebuilt more than half the club after salary cap problems forced him to tear the 2010 champs apart.

When we look back, we had to change the whole makeup of our team, basically half the team, after winning, Quenneville said. It was kind of a new team for a couple years there. I thought we progressed over the course of a few years there.

At the same time the challenges this year we got off to an amazing start. I thought we faced as much adversity as you can face being down 3-1 against Detroit.

Bowman kept the core mostly intact, re-signing Toews, Kane, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook and Hjalmarsson to contract extensions.

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews hoists the Stanley Cup after Chicagos thrilling 3-2 victory in Game 6 to clinch the Stanley Cup. (AP Images)

To replace those players they couldnt afford to keep, the Hawks developed their own prospects in goalie Corey Crawford, left wing Bryan Bickell, right wing Andrew Shaw, left wing Brandon Saad and center Marcus Kruger.

Bowman traded for defensemen Nick Leddy and Johnny Oduya, left wings Michael Frolik and Viktor Stalberg, and center Michal Handzus. He signed right wing Jamal Mayers, goalie Ray Emery, left wing Daniel Carcillo, defensemen Michal Rozsival and Sheldon Brookbank and left wing Brandon Bollig as free agents.

And, poof, it all came together.

It seemed like we had a different guy step up every night, Toews said.

The comparisons with the 2010 team are only natural to discuss.

Certainly the core group has matured to a nice level over the last four years, Quenneville said. Weve got some young guys this year who made a big impact on our team, have grown throughout the year and in the playoffs as well.

You look back to the group in 2010 maybe the makeup is a little bit different to the team, but certainly the objective, the demographics are comparable. We had a young team, we still feel we have a young team today.

Bowman, just as he didnt seek the credit in 2010, was quick to deflect the praise coming his way now.

I try to point out that it really is sort of a team effort, Bowman said. Its not just one man. It wasnt one man back then. Its not one man now.

I look at some of the success weve had personnel-wise and you have to look at our amateur scouting staff. Theyve done a great job. Weve had a couple young players, Andrew Shaw, Brandon Saad theyve come in at a young age, made a big contribution. Once we get the players, we turn them over to the coaches, they have to find a way to utilize them, make them better players. Theyve done that.

Keeping the Hawks at the top of the league is Bowmans goal.

I think everyone that has success wants to sustain that over a period of time, Bowman said. Its a challenge to do it. Obviously, there are a lot of factors that come into play in the salary cap world.

I think it can be done, clearly. You have to have some continuity to your team. Obviously, there are some changes from year to year. We want to keep these guys together as much as we can and to keep developing as a group. I certainly hope its a trend that we continue. I think the fans in Chicago have come to love the team. Theyre supporting us like never before. We want to keep that going.

Keith would like to see this team stick around a little longer than the 2010 champs.

I think weve all matured over the last few years, Keith said. Weve learned a lot, especially losing back-to-back years in the first round. Its basically been the same team thats done that. Weve grown together a lot the last three years as a group.

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville celebrates with Dave Bolland following the Blackhawks thrilling victory in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. (AP Images)

Some GMs might have blown the team up after two straight first-round exits in the playoffs, but not Bowman.

We did a lot of good things the last couple seasons, Bowman said. You have to have confidence that youre close to having success in the playoffs. I think we knew we had a very good team. We didnt need to make sweeping changes.

I think theres something to be said for consistency. Weve had a lot of these guys together for a long time. Certainly Joel has done a great job. He understands how to coach the team. There are a lot of little nuances that the media doesnt see or the fans may not pick up on. When you add it all up, thats why we felt confident coming into the year that we had the group that could have success.

Kane said the core players from 2010 are better players now.

I think a lot of us that were here in 2010, we consider were better players now, Kane said. I myself feel that Im a well-rounded player, got a lot better defensively and without the puck as time has gone on. I feel like Im more focused about hockey now.

Stanley Cup Final

Stanley Cup Final, Game 1

June 12, 2013 Blackhawks 4, Bruins 3, (3OT)

Marathon Victory

Long, Long Opening Act Ends in Win for Hawks

By Tim Sassone

Andrew Shaw seemed to be everywhere Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Shaw sure was in the right place at the right time in front of the net in triple overtime, when he deflected a shot by Michal Rozsival past goalie Tuukka Rask to give the Blackhawks a 4-3 win over Boston.

The clock in the United Center had just struck midnight when Shaw ended the third-longest game in team history at 12:08 of the third OT. The longest game in team history took place in 1931, when Cy Wentworth scored at 13:50 of the third OT to beat Montreal.