Bruins Tie Up Series in OT, Ovechkin Wins Hart Trophy Again

It was another game, another OT for the Chicago Blackhawks but this time they fell to the Boston Bruins, 2-1 on Saturday.

The Stanley Cup Final is now tied and will head to Boston for Game 3.

Daniel Paille

The Bruins got off to a rough start in the first period as the Blackhawks dominated with a 19-4 shots on goal advantage and led 30-5 in shot attempts. Patrick Sharp with his six, along with Marian Hossa’s five shots on goal, represented more than the entire Bruins team shots, reported NHL.com.

The Bruins six forwards combined only had a single shot on goal during this time.

But the Blackhawks only emerged with a 1-0 lead in the first period after a possible second goal was questioned by officials and stood as no good.

The Bruins returned after the first period break with energy and adjustments and tied the game late in the second period by Chris Kelly–his first goal of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Blackhawks never played with the same gusto and by the third period, both teams looked fatigued. Many will say the changes to the Bruins line and their picking up of the game’s pace got them the win. In the end, it was Daniel Paille’s goal that finally won it with a left side shot at the 13:48 mark in OT.

Combining the second, third and OT periods, the Bruins outshot the Blackhawks, 24-15.

Coach Joel Quenneville said of his team’s play via NHL, “Maybe we left something out there. [We] had everything right in that first part of the game; had some good looks, as well. [We] did what we were looking to do. But, hey, it’s a long game. You know, we got to be better than that.”

For the Bruins, winning Game 2 is a good thing, besides the obvious of tying up the series. According to ProHockeyTalk.com, the team that wins the second game of the Stanley Cup Final has gone on to win it all in eight of the previous 10 seasons 75.3 percent of the time since 1939 when it went to a seven-game series.

Vegas may disagree as it has the Blackhawks at -125 and the Bruins at +110.

Game 3 is on Monday and for the Bruins (-130, 5 o/u), they’ll enter not only from confidence in Saturday’s win but the fact that the team has won six straight games at TD Garden.

Then again, this is the same Blackahawks team that overcame a 3-1 deficit against the Detroit Red Wings in the second round.

Ovechkin Wins Hart Trophy

Capitals Alex Ovechkin

For the third time, Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin has won the Hart Trophy–the NHL’s honor for its Most Valuable Player. He beat out the Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby and New York Islanders John Tavares.

Ovechkin won his previous Hart awards in the consecutive years of 2007-08 and 2008-09. He remains the only Capitals player in team history to have this honor and he joins an elite group of fellow NHL players to achieve this three times.

This includes Bobby Clarke, Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Mario Lemieux, Howie Morenz, Bobby Orr and Eddie Shore.

So what did Ovechkin accomplish this season for this MVP honor?

He had 32 goals over 48 games; he was the NHL’s third top scorer with his 56 points. Overchkin also led his team in goals, power play goals, shots on goals and hits this past season.

The Capitals also began the season with a 5-10-1 start, only to turn it around and win their fifth Southeast Division title over the last six six years.

As for the next generation of NHL players, Jonathan Huberdeau of the Florida Panthers won the Calder Trophy, which is the league’s honor for the top rookie. He scored 14 goals with 31 points over 48 games.