If you’ve read any of my posts before, I do not pretend to be a huge hockey fan.  Growing up in Elmhurst, IL, we did have a good hockey program at the YMCA.  However, for whatever reason, my dad didn’t play hockey.  I didn’t even learn how to skate until I was like 37.  So, despite many of the Blackhawks living in Elmhurst when I was young, I was not a fan of hockey.  I do remember meeting Bobby Hull, The Golden Jet, once in Elmhurst at a bar – Riley’s in probably the late 80s.  The dude’s hands were as big as the Incredible Hulk’s.  Still, I went to one Hawks game in the early 90s when they had a good team.  In fact, during the Bulls’ runs of the 1990s, the Blackhawks went to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1992.  So, the Chicago Stadium alternated nights between the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals.  Well, the Penguins kinda crushed us.

Some of my fandom changed in the last decade.  A lot of my friends in my adulthood were huge Blackhawk fans.  Plus, the Hawks had done what the Cubs and other baseball teams had done – a complete rebuild.  The Hawks picked up Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, and the Blackhawks were the talk of the town.  Suddenly, I was watching playoff hockey for the first time in my life.  Hockey is a game that is 1000% better in person.  Going to that game in the 90s and then a couple with the young Blackhawks made me appreciate the speed and skill of the game.  I think no sport has benefitted more from the High Definition technology on television than hockey.  The truth is in the days before HD, the puck was just too fast to track.  I remember in the mid-90s when NBC attempted to have a blue streak on the puck, so the viewing audience can keep up with the game.  So, I think the viewing experience of hockey is so much better that it is a more approachable game now.  Of course, 60-75% of the stars in hockey are not from the USA.  That probably hurts the popularity.  Still, if you have time over the next couple of weeks to watch the Stanley Cup Finals, then do yourself a favor and take in this fast, skilled game that has hits like football and drama like no other.

History of the Stanley Cup

According to Wikipedia, the first time the Stanley Cup was the trophy for the best hockey team was in 1893.  That makes the Stanley Cup the oldest trophy in major sports.  Thank good news for Lord Stanley of Preston who was enamored with ice hockey.  The Stanley Cup is the same trophy every year not remade like other sports.  Each champion is engraved on the outside of the Cup.  So, it is truly a cherished trophy in the sport.  The winning team typically has its players travel with the Cup all over town in bars and restaurants taking various drinks from the Cup itself.  It’s almost magical.

When the Hawks won their first Cup in 2010 (1st of 3 in 6 years) since 1961, Chicago went nuts.  The parade down Michigan Avenue with the double decker buses was extraordinary.  People were crazy to just get a glimpse of the Cup.  It is hard to not get caught up in the fever.

2018 Finals

This year is really special.  There will be a 1st time champion at the end of this series.

  •  Washington Capitals – Washington has been a franchise with good teams, but nothing really to show for it.  The Caps made the Stanley Cup Finals in 1998 for the 1st time only to be dispatched in a 4-0 Sweep.  Before this year, the current team lead by NHL leading scorer, Alex Ovechkin, had never advanced past the 2nd round.  The Capitals have been labeled as a team that choked despite their skill.
    • How they got here?
      • This year seems different.  Tied 2-2 in the Eastern Conference Semis against the defending Cup Champs, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Caps avoided a Game 7 at home with a thrilling 2-1 OT win at Pittsburgh advancing to the Conference Finals.  That was a good sign of things to come.
      • In the Conference Finals, the Caps started out hot winning 2 games on the road at the higher seeded Tampa Bay Lightning.  Then, the Caps proceeded to lose 2 straight at home and a 3rd straight at Tampa putting the Caps down 3-2 in the series and having to win a Game 7 on the road to get to the Finals.  Well, the Capitals hit another gear winning easily 3-0 in Game 6 and crushing the Lightning at home in Game 7, 4-0.  Ovechkin and the Caps have beaten their demons to advance to the Cup Finals.
  • Las Vegas Golden Knights – The Knights are an expansion team in their 1st year in the league.  Reaching the Stanley Cup Finals by an expansion team is unprecedented in this era.  So, this group of expansion drafted players from other teams and rookies had defied all the critics and captured the excitement of Vegas and hockey fans across the country.
    • How they got here?
      • Vegas has rolled through the playoffs – 4-0 in 1st Round over LA Kings, 4-2 in the 2nd Round over San Jose Sharks, and a surprising 4-1 series win over Winnipeg after dropping Game 1.  This team is on a mission.

Game Schedule:

Game 1:  Monday, May 28th at 8 PM Eastern/7 PM Central – Las Vegas

Game 2:  Wednesday, May 30th at 8 PM Eastern/7 PM Central – Las Vegas

Game 3:  Saturday, June 2nd at 8 PM Eastern/7 PM Central – Washington

Game 4:  Monday, June 4th at 8 PM Eastern/7 PM Central – Washington

Game 5:  Thursday, June 7th at 8 PM Eastern/7 PM Central – Las Vegas (if necessary)

Game 6:  Sunday, June 10th at 8 PM Eastern/7 PM Central – Washington (if necessary)

Game 7:  Wednesday, June 13th at 8 PM Eastern/7 PM Central – Las Vegas (if necessary)

Who Will Win?

  • Statistics 
    • Offense:
      • Las Vegas is 5th in Goals Per Game (3.27) compared to Washington is 10th (3.12)
      • Las Vegas is 11th in Shots Per Game (32.8) compared to Washington is last at 31st (29.0)
      • Washington is 7th in Power Play Percentage (22.5%) compared to Las Vegas is 11th (21.4%)
    • Defense:
      • Las Vegas is 8th in Goals Against (2.74) compared to Washington is 16th (2.90)
      • Las Vegas is 11th on Save Percentage (91.1%) compared to Washington is 13th (90.9%)
      • Las Vegas is 10th in Power Play Kill Percentage (81.4%) compared to Washington is 15th (80.8%)
  • Vegas is the hottest team against the team who is playing for more in Washington given their disappointing history.
  • Washington has the best player on the ice in Ovechkin.

Prediction:

I think the Washington Capitals are due.  Vegas looks like the better team on paper for sure, but something has to be said for a team who has been crushed year after year and now has overcome the Champs and a 3-2 deficit to the Lightning.  Should be a fun series.

Capitals win in 6 Games 4-2.  Who you got?

Wegs

 

About the author

I'm a 49 year old, twice divorced guy with a 20 year old. The blog has morphed a bit lately. Not just sports or dating, social commentary and now some stories from my past experience.