In a shocking finish, the Chicago Blackhawks trailing (2-1) with a bit over one minute to play, scored two goals 17 seconds apart, to win game six (3-2) and hoist their second Stanley Cup in four seasons.
They denied the Boston Bruins a second title in three seasons in a series that was closer than the six game result. It appeared the NHL finals’ seventh, seventh game in 12 seasons, (there were but two in the 29 seasons before the span) was going to manifest.
However, maybe either Bryan Bickell or Dave Bolland, who scored the respective tying and winning goals, is the “seventh son of a seventh son” because fate “said” Chicago in six.
Sparing some of the “notes” I usually add, this NHL finals series, similar to the NBA finals series, was a compelling one. Each series featured a startling game six comeback win. The Blackhawks clinched in game six, the Heat survived and won it all in game seven.
In the end, the top seeded team in each league won the crown. Each championship team had a tremendous regular season winning streak.
Hail the champion Blackhawks and Heat. Meanwhile credit the fine performances, albeit in defeat, by the Bruins and Spurs.
The Chicago Blackhawks are one win away from their fifth Stanley Cup victory in this their 86th NHL season. Patrick Kane had the game’s first two goals in Chicago’s (3-1) win in game five vs the Boston Bruins.
After their fourth straight game five of finals win, the Blackhawks, with a (3-2) series lead, can win the Cup tonight in Boston.
All four of Chicago’s previous Cup wins occurred one game before the series limit. In both 1934 and 1938, the Blackhawks won best of 5 finals series, three games to one. The other two Chicago titles were won in six games in best of seven series, 49 years apart in 1961 and 2010.
15 of the 22 times that a best of seven NHL final was tied two games apiece, the game five winner won the series. Two of the seven “exceptions” involve the current teams.
40 years apart in 1971 and 2011, first the Blackhawks lost to the Montreal Canadiens despite taking a (3-2) series lead with a game five win.
In 2011 with obviously many of their current players, the Bruins won the Cup despite losing game 5 of a (2-2) series to the Vancouver Canucks.
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
The Miami Heat led by series MVP LeBron James, who scored 37 points in the decisive 7th game of the finals, have repeated as NBA champions.
Dwyane Wade added 23 points while Shane Battier came off the bench to contribute 18 points, all on three point shots, in the (95-88) victory in game seven vs the San Antonio Spurs.
The Heat are now (3-1) in NBA finals while the Spurs fell to (4-1). In all four NBA finals involving the Miami Heat, the game one loser has won the series. This was the first time the game one winner lost in a finals series involving the Spurs.
25 years ago the Pat Riley coached Los Angeles Lakers repeated as NBA champions by winning game seven of the quarterfinals, semi -finals and the finals at home. They also swept a best of five preliminary series, coincidentally vs the Spurs. That was clinched on the road.
This year the Heat with Pat Riley as team president, won game seven of the “semis” and the finals at home to repeat as champions. They clinched their “quarter” at home and swept a best of seven “prelim,” clinching the latter on the road.
The home team is now (21-2) in the seventh and deciding game of the World Series (9 straight wins), NBA finals (6 straight wins) and the NHL finals (home team has lost the last two after winning 6 straight) since the Pirates’ 1979 World Series win at Baltimore vs the Orioles.
James Gandolfini was incredible in his role as “Tony Soprano.” In fact, it was one of the great television roles and performances in that medium’s history.
Sadly, after saying the same about the late Larry Hagman, who was over 80, shockingly, Gandolfini is dead at the age of 51.
As was the case with Hagman, Gandolfini had some really nice work in addition to his incredible performance as the angst ridden, mob boss,”Tony Soprano.”
I was fortunate to see him in “God of Carnage” on the Broadway stage and he gave a fine, humorous performance in a role that called for just that.
Coincidentally, the last time a LeBron James team faced the Spurs in the NBA finals (2007 James was with the Cleveland Cavaliers), the Sunday night second game was on opposite the final episode of the great HBO original series, “The Sopranos.”
Many people were disappointed in the show’s ending. Truly tragic, while fictional “Tony Soprano” lived, now during another Spurs vs a “James team” NBA final, James Gandolfini died.
There is some consolation in the fact that the performances of James Gandolfini as “Tony Soprano” and in other roles does live on.
I never met Mr. Gandolfini, but by all accounts he was a nice man. Certainly he was a most charitable public figure, who performed brilliantly in one of the great roles in television history.
I was fortunate enough to have been in attendance at the sixth game of the 1986 World Series when the New York Mets down by two runs and with two outs and nobody on, rallied to “(6-5)” the Boston Red Sox in ten innings.
That victory forced a seventh and deciding game which the Mets won. It is an arguable point as to whether that game defeat for the Red Sox was worse than the one suffered by the San Antonio Spurs last night.
The Miami Heat, down by four points with thirty seconds left and Manu Ginobili “popping free throws” and in other dire situations just after, somehow forced overtime and won game six.
That sets up a “ratings bonanza” for Disney in the form of a seventh and deciding game, with the NBA title on the line Thursday night in Miami.
The result of that game could alter the historical ranking and perspective of this Spurs’ defeat. Obviously, if the six point underdog Spurs, win #7 then much, if not all the “horror” of the game six loss will vanish.
However, if the Heat do prevail at home, (20 of the last 22 home teams have won the “title on the line” 7th game and teams suffering horrible defeats in game six, as the Spurs did last night, have all lost) this will rank among the worst defeats ever.
Now thank goodness I have this in proper perspective. I relate to (events in) Turkey and am not one. More important things abound than game seven of the NBA finals, compelling though it may be.
The Spurs were up by four points with 24 seconds left and Ginobili could only the “split the pair” as the great Cleveland Cavaliers announcer Joe Tait would say.
Next, Miami’s LeBron James twice missed three point field goal attempts but each time a Heat player got and made one on the same possession. Ray Allen’s three point shot tied the game with five seconds to play.
After that, Tony Parker, who shot but 6 of 23 from the field, made but one of two foul shots with the Spurs ahead by two points in the overtime. Earlier and in between the three point field goals made by James to cut the Spurs lead to two points and the tying shot by Allen, the Spurs Kawhi Leonard also made but one of two free throws.
Hence missed free throws and bad bounces leading to Miami 3 point field goals, manifested in a game seven tomorrow night.
Since the Pittsburgh Pirates led by the great Willie Stargell won game seven of the 1979 World Series at Baltimore, home teams as stated above, have won 20 of 22 finals’ game sevens in the major sports leagues.
At one point the streak was 18 straight wins for the home team in such games.The two most recent NHL game sevens of the finals were won by the road team. The seventh game win by the Pittsburgh Penguins at Detroit vs the Red Wings in 2009, ended the 18 game home winning streak in the “winner take all” game.
In the NBA, the current streak is five straight wins for the home team with three involving current Miami Heat President Pat Riley. Riley’s teams are (1-2) in previous game sevens of the finals.
The Washington Bullets, now known as the Washington Wizards, are the last road team to win game seven of the NBA finals. They won game seven at Seattle vs the SuperSonics, who are now the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In baseball the home team has won 9 straight game sevens in the World Series. In hockey after 6 straight home team wins, the visitor has won the last two game sevens in the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Boston Bruins took a two games to one lead in the Stanley Cup finals by posting a (2-0) win vs the Chicago Blackhawks in game three at Boston.
After dropping game one to Chicago in triple overtime, the Bruins won (2-1) in overtime in game two. Daniel Paille, not only won game two with an overtime goal, but scored the opening/ game winning goal in game three.
Goaltender Tuukka Rask has been splendid and recorded his third shutout of the semi-finals and finals. He has allowed but three goals in the six Bruins’ wins in those rounds. Chicago had four goals to hand the Bruins their only loss of the two rounds in game one of the finals.
A third outstanding player to cite is Patrice Bergeron, who had the Cup winning goal for Boston in 2011. In these playoffs, as the Bruins bid to win a second Stanley Cup in three seasons for the third time in their history, he had the tying and winning goals in the Bruins’ miracle win in game seven vs the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Bergeron also had a goal in game three last night. In game three of the “semis” vs the favored Pittsburgh Penguins he scored in the second overtime to give Boston a commanding (3-0) series lead.
As cited above the Bruins, who are seeking their seventh Stanley Cup in their 88 year history, are bidding to win a second Cup in three seasons, for a third time.
Boston won the Stanley Cup in 1939 and then 1941. A 29 year drought ensued before Bobby Orr’s “flying through the air” goal on Mother’s Day (May 10th), 1970 ended the drought.
Two years later Orr again had the Cup winning goal, putting the Bruins ahead to stay as Gerry Cheevers shutout the New York Rangers (3-0) in game six of the finals to clinch a second title in three seasons. It was the second time the Bruins accomplished that feat.
The Bruins ended a 39 year “Cup drought” (a year after the Chicago Blackhawks ended a 49 year one), by winning game seven of the finals at Vancouver in 2011.
That year the Bruins were (5-0) on Mondays in the playoffs including home wins in games three and six of the finals.
Last night was the Bruins’ 10th straight Monday playoffs win and fourth this season. That includes the miracle win vs Toronto in the preliminary round.
In that seventh and series deciding game, now five weeks ago, Boston trailed (4-1) but rallied to win (5-4) in overtime. Now they are two wins away from the title. Perhaps Boston will get a chance to make it 11 straight Monday wins and clinch the Cup title at home for the first time since 1970. Game six, if necessary is scheduled in Boston next Monday night.
For the third straight year the NBA season will end in Miami. In 2011 the Dallas Mavericks clinched the title in six games at Miami vs the Heat. Last year the Heat clinched the title at home in game five vs the Oklahoma City Thunder. Game six and a potential game seven of this year’s finals are scheduled to be played in Miami.
The San Antonio Spurs, who are (4-0) in game five of the NBA finals, took a three games to two series lead by winning their last home game of the series, game five, last night.
In both 2003 and 2005, the Spurs won game five of a (2-2) NBA finals series on the road before coming home to win their second and third titles. The Spurs also clinched their first title with a game five, road win in 1999.
San Antonio has a (4-0) record in previous NBA finals, only the Chicago Bulls at (6-0), have a better finals record in any of the major North American sports leagues.
Teams with a three games to two, NBA finals lead, but facing the potential last two games on the road, are (5-4) in previous series.
The first team to win in that situation were the 1985 L.A.Lakers (at Boston, to win their first finals vs the Celtics in nine tries). Next, both the 1993 and 1998 Bulls turned the trick, at Phoenix and Utah respectively. Then the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks accomplished the feat against each other, the Heat clinching at Dallas in 2006 while the Mavericks “titled” at Miami in 2011.
The first team to overcome a (3-2) NBA finals deficit were the Syracuse Nationals in 1955. The Nats led by the great Dolph Schayes, also won the last two at home in the 2-3-2 format, that was in place in the NBA finals that season. After that season it was another thirty years before the 2-3-2 format came back in the NBA finals.
That 1955 series in which Syracuse defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons in seven games is also the only all home team final in the 67 NBA finals contested in league history. That includes this year (1947-2013).
The 1988 Los Angeles Lakers coached by Pat Riley (vs the Detroit Pistons), the 1994 Houston Rockets vs the Pat Riley coached New York Knicks and the 2010 Lakers vs the Boston Celtics are the three other teams to win the last two games of the finals at home and of course, claim the title.
Pat Riley is currently the Miami Heat team president. He was the Heat coach in 2006 and in his current role in 2011. Thus Riley, with three different teams, has been involved in six of the ten NBA finals in which a team came home for the potential last two games, trailing the series three games to two.
Riley’s teams are (3-2) in previous situations and it spans a period of 28 years and 29 NBA finals.
Pat Riley
Likely, though far from certainly, the Chicago Blackhawks’ three overtime win in game one of the Stanley Cup Finals augurs well for them.
Certainly history is on their side. This is the first Blackhawks vs (Boston) Bruins final. However, the final’s history of both teams points to game one winners taking the Stanley Cup.
Additionally, the game one winner has gone up (2-0) in the last five Bruins’ finals, each time against the Bruins, as Boston has now lost six straight final’s openers.
The Bruins are in their 19th Stanley Cup Final (they are 6-12) and only twice, in the previous 18, has the game one loser won the series. The first time was in 1974 when the Bruins won the series opener (their last final’s opener win) on Bobby Orr’s late goal but lost the series in six games to the Philadelphia Flyers.
The key game in that series was the Flyers’ win at Boston in game two. In that game, Andre “Moose” Dupont had a late tying goal before the great Bobby Clarke won the game in overtime.
Two years ago, the Bruins down (2-0) in the finals to the Vancouver Canucks, rallied to win the series in seven games, hoisting their first Stanley Cup in 39 years.
The last six Chicago Blackhawks’ finals have stood at (2-0) which “Chi” hopes is the case after tonight’s game two in Chicago, where the Blackhawks are (10-1) this post season. Four of those were vs Chicago while two, including the 2010 finals, when Chicago won their first title in 49 years, were (2-0) in the Blackhawks’ favor.
The Blackhawks are in their 12th finals series (they are 4-7 going into this one) and only in 1971, when Chicago was up two games to none, but lost in seven games to the Montreal Canadiens, did the game one winner not win the final’s series. The great Henri Richard had the tying and winning goals for Montreal in game seven.
Bobby Orr
Andre Moose Dupont
Bobby Clarke
Henri Richard
Only game one was close but the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs are tied at two games apiece.
After the Spurs routed the Heat in game three, Miami came back to win game four last night. Game five is in San Antonio on Sunday night. The series shifts back to Miami for game six on Tuesday and a seventh game, if necessary on Thursday June 20th.
Since the 2-3-2 format (the team with the better record at home for the first two games and the potential last two with the middle two or three games on the road) the team winning game three of a (1-1) series has won 11 of 12 times.
The lone exception was when the Heat took a (2-1) series lead with a win at Dallas in 2011 but lost the series in six games.
The fifth game is considered even while the Heat will be about six point favorites in any game(s) to be played in Miami.
Andy B Sports 