The Stanley Cup Finals are all set for 2013 after the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the defending champion Los Angeles Kings in the Western conference finals with a 4-3 victory in double overtime on Saturday and now the team will face the Boston Bruins in an Original Six NHL matchup.
The Kings battled hard and scored a goal with less than 10 seconds to tie the game in the third period after a deflection from Mike Richards, but after holding on in the first overtime the team lost in the second after the third goal from Patrick Kane for the game-winner. Kane scored a hat trick in the game and the Blackhawks advanced after coming back from a 3-1 deficit against the Detroit Red Wings in the previous round and now the number one team in the West will face the number four seed in the East in the finals. The Blackhawks will have Game 1 at home at the United Center at 8 PM on Wednesday, June 12 on NBC before Game 2 picks up on Saturday, June 15 at 8 PM again on the NBC Sports Network.
The finals may last until near the end of June if necessary, as Wednesday, June 26 would mark Game 7 in Chicago at the United Center at 8 PM on NBC and the same goes for Game 5 on June 22. Game 6 will be in Boston at 8 PM on Monday June 24 on NBC. The Blackhawks look strong entering the finals after winning the series 4-1, but the Boston Bruins have looked just as good, defeating and embarrassing the Pittsburgh Penguins after sweeping them in four games to advance to the finals for the second time in three seasons.
The Kings fought hard against Chicago, but now the team will have to head home after winning the Stanley Cup last season and the Blackhawks advanced after a hat trick from Patrick Kane. The Kings got goals from three different players in Mike Richards, Dwight Kings and Anze Kopitar, including the tying goal with seconds left in the third from Richards, which deflected off his leg and into the goal past Corey Crawford, who finished with 33 saves. Jonathan Quick was solid with 31 saves in the game and the Blackhawks got three goals from Kane as well as the second goal of the playoffs from Duncan Keith.
Here is the full Stanley Cup Finals schedule for 2013:
Game 1 Wed., June 12 8 p.m. Boston at Chicago NBC, CBC, RDS
Game 2 Sat., June 15 8 p.m. Boston at Chicago NBCSN, CBC, RDS
Game 3 Mon., June 17 8 p.m. Chicago at Boston NBCSN, CBC, RDS
Game 4 Wed., June 19 8 p.m. Chicago at Boston NBC, CBC, RDS
*Game 5 Sat., June 22 8 p.m. Boston at Chicago NBC, CBC, RDS
*Game 6 Mon., June 24 8 p.m. Chicago at Boston NBC, CBC, RDS
*Game 7 Wed., June 26 8 p.m. Boston at Chicago NBC, CBC, RDS
* if necessary
