PHILADELPHIA – After nearly a half-century drought, the Chicago Blackhawks hoisted the Stanley Cup after defeating
the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 in overtime in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Flyers battled back from a one-goal deficit scoring late in the third period to send the game to overtime but Buffalo native Patrick Kane responded by scoring the game winner at 4:06 in OT.
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville celebrated after the win:
“The party in Chicago is going to be all-world. It’s been a long time.”
Yes it has. The last time Chicago won the cup was in 1961 when names like Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull were on the back of one of the NHL’s most famous sweaters.
Blackhawks captain, 22-year-old Jonathan Toews is having a great year regarding hardware. After winning a gold medal in this year’s Winter Olympic Games, Toews not only gets his name on hockey’s Holy Grail but he also skated away with the Conn Smythe MVP award. He finished the playoffs with 29 points in 22 games.
“This tops everything, for sure,” said Toews. “We’re brothers in that locker room and we pull for each other, and that’s what makes this so special.”
After receiving the cup from NHL Commish Gary Bettman, Toews did his skaete-around then handed the Cup to Marian Hossa, who was becoming notorious for losing the Finals after being a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings runner-up teams in 2008 and 2009 respectively.
“I was so happy to be in the Final but at the same time it was scary,” Hossa said. “I’m so glad. I won it. I got the Stanley Cup. What a feeling. Wow. This is unbelievable.”
Other top contributors were African-American player, Dustin Byfuglien, who found the back of the net 11 times during the playoffs, Patrick Kane (28 points) and Patrick Sharp (22 points).
More Blackhawks: Dustin Byfuglien Interview/Feature
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