Game 1 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final has arrived, with the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins set to battle in a dream matchup for hockey history buffs. It is the first final series between Original Six teams since 1979. And Chicago and Boston have never before met for the title.
Both teams powered through the conference finals.
Boston swept Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh in four games, featuring a remarkable performance by towering defenseman Zdeno Chara. The Bruins outscored the Penguins 12-2, getting four goals from center David Krejci. Goalie Tuukka Rask stopped 134 of 136 shots.
Chicago unseated defending NHL champion Los Angeles four games to one. With a resurgent Patrick Kane leading the offense and a red-hot Corey Crawford in goal, the Blackhawks are attempting to become just the second team in the past decade to win both the President's Trophy and the Stanley Cup.
Kane had four goals for the Blackhawks in the Kings series, including the winner in Game 5's double-overtime 4-3 victory. Crawford has a .935 save percentage in the playoffs and a 1.74 goals-against average.
As NHL.com pointed out in a series preview, it's hard to pick a winner between the Bruins and the Blackhawks. They did not meet in the regular season and had no common opponents. Both teams are hot, of course, with Boston having won nine of its past 10 games and Chicago seven of its past eight.
The puck drops in Chicago for Game 1 at 8 p.m. ET tonight on NBC.
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