Morning After: Thoughts on Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals

Jun 12, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view during the playing of the national anthem before game one of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

Now that the dust has settled, and I woke up from my 3OT post game coma, I think it’s safe to say that last night’s game was pretty exciting. Triple OT, a double deflection. A game that I thought would never end, did thanks to deflections by Dave Bolland and Andrew Shaw.

And with that some post game thoughts, by yours truly:

• Only in hockey would you have a game end on a goal like that, a double deflection, a goal where Tuukka Rask looked, helpless. If ONLY the Bolland defelection happened, I think Rask would’ve saved that.
  
• Speaking of Goaltending, besides both goalies giving up weak second goals, I do feel that both were fantastic, especially in the overtime period. Sure you can say the post was on Corey Crawfod’s side, and it was. But, the brilliancy and consistent play of both goaltenders through all that overtime was fantastic.
  
• I think Jaromir Jagr hopes games go to overtime. He’s 41 years old, and still conditions like the best of them. I do think he may condition better than anyone else in the sport, and that’s why he can perform at such a high level at 41. Do I think this is his last year, perhaps, but it’s fun watching him play.
  
• It’s going to be interesting to see if Nathan Horton is out for game 2, and if so, how long he’ll be out for. He’s been a player that has helped the Bruins in a role that the Rangers are in dire need of. A guy who can play the corners, can sustain a solid forecheck, and score. While the Bruins do have a more consistent lineup, missing Horton will certainly bring a blow to that consistency.
  
• Kaspars Daugavins had two chances to end the game, TWO. Yet Jonny Oduya slid across the ice, and poked his stick out at the right time. The only question I have for Daugavins, backhand seriously? Forehand all the way buddy.
  
• Not going to lie, I did count the Blackhawks out after Lucic’s second at the beginning stages of the third period. But after Bolland scored to bring it within one, I knew that this game was far from over. Glad to see Oduya didn’t want the game to end either.
  
• Notice how the first OT period was different from the 2nd and 3rd? A lot more fast paced and open hockey. You could tell both teams wanted to end this game early, but Rask and Crawford thought differently. The defensive side of the game was upped during the 2nd and 3rd OT periods. This will NOT be the only game in the series that goes to overtime, and this will NOT be the last multi-OT game in this series.

It’s important here at Blueline Station that we cover hockey until the final horn is sound, and Gary Bettman hands the winning team the Stanley Cup. As it is with every Ranger fan, we truly wished it was our team in the finals facing the Blackhawks. But it is not, and with that we will cover this final with sheer excitement, as it’s hockey and we thoroughly enjoy the sport.

Keep checking back here where we will continue to deliver Ranger news, as well as general NHL news and notes throughout the offseason, along with Stanley Cup Final reports. Game 2 is only two days away, as the puck will drop sometime after 8PM Saturday on NBCSN.

In case you missed it, here are the highlights from Game 1 courtsey of NHL.com: