CHICAGO — Party on, Chicago. It’s a Windy City celebration 77 years in the making.
Duncan Keith scored in the second period and directed a dominant defense that shut down Tampa Bay’s high-scoring attack, and the Blackhawks beat the Lightning 2-0 in Game 6 on Monday night for their third NHL title in the past six seasons.
Kane had a goal and an assist, helping the Blackhawks clinch the Cup on home ice for the first time since 1938. Corey Crawford, who was pulled from Chicago’s first-round series against Nashville, had 25 saves in his fifth career playoff shutout.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman tagged the Blackhawks as a dynasty, and the frenzied crowd of 22,424 at the United Center wholeheartedlyagreed.
“We won it for each other, for the city,” Toews said. “In so many ways, winning a championship like this in our home city, I think it really transcends the sport. Everyone wants to be a part of it. It’s amazing.”
Keith was a unanimous selection for the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP after he finished with 21 points while playing more than 715 minutes in a grueling postseason.
“It feels so great. You want to keep being a part of these things,” Keith said. “You don’t get these awards without being on great teams with great players, and like I said, I’m just proud to be a part of this group of guys who cares so much and do whatever it takes.”
It was an appropriate conclusion to a series full of near misses and close calls that had fans in Chicago and Tampa Bay on the edge of their seats for almost two weeks. It was just the second final to begin with five one-goal games, and no team enjoyed a two-goal advantage until Kane buried a perfect pass from Brad Richards at 14:46 of the third.
It was Kane’s first goal of the final, and it touched off a wild celebration by the delirious crowd, which broke out more chants of “We want the Cup! We want the Cup!”
The Blackhawks became the first team since the Detroit Red Wings won it all in 1997, 1998 and 2002 to win three titles in a six-year span.
Thumbnail photo via Dennis Wierzbicki/USA TODAY Sports Images
