(2-2) Stanley Cup Finals

Tonight in Chicago is the pivotal fifth game of the Stanley Cup finals between the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins. The series is tied at two games apiece. Game six will be in Boston on Monday night. (The Bruins have won 10 straight Monday playoff games). If there is a seventh and deciding game, it will be played in Chicago on Wednesday night. The Blackhawks have won four straight Wednesday playoff games, all this season.

Overshadowed by, and in between the two exciting Miami Heat wins that gave them a second straight NBA title, the Blackhawks won an exciting (6-5) game to even the series this past Wednesday night in Boston.

Though they never trailed, Chicago had leads of (1-0), (3-1), (4-2) and (5-4) but needed Brent Seabrook’s overtime goal to win the game and square the series.

Seabrook had won game seven of the Blackhawks’ quarterfinal series vs the Detroit Red Wings three Wednesdays earlier, with an overtime goal.

The Blackhawks have won three straight game fives in the Cup finals. En route to their first title in 49 years in 2010, the Blackhawks won a high scoring, home fifth game vs the Philadelphia Flyers to take a (3-2) series lead.

Chicago then won the title on Patrick Kane’s “reviewed” overtime goal at Philadelphia(Flyers) in game six. Thirty years earlier, the Flyers, who have lost in six straight finals, were eliminated in the finals when Bob Nystrom of the New York Islanders scored an overtime, home goal in game six.

The Bruins have lost eight of their last nine game fives in the Cup finals. In 1974, when last they won game 5 of the finals, (the New York television outlet for the game was PBS Channel 13) they lost the series in six to the Philadelphia Flyers. Only in 1939, the first year of a best of seven Stanley Cup final, did the Bruins win both game five of the finals and the title.

Brent Seabrook