2013 Stanley Cup Finals: Triple overtime goal by Chicago's Andrew Shaw; Chicago 4 Boston 3

Game one is in the books... At The 12:08 mark of the third overtime period of game one of the Stanley Cup Finals, Chicago Forward Andrew Shaw scored the game winning goal against the Boston Bruins.

Congrats to our 5 winners. Sorry if you didn't win a free T. But, you can buy them for charity and say you won. bucciovertimechallenge.com
— John Buccigross (@Buccigross) June 13, 2013

2013 Stanley Cup Finals: Lucic's second goals against the Blackhawks

At the 0:51 mark of the second period, the Hulk Line struck again. Boston Bruins forward, Milan Lucic scored his second goal of the game, his fifth goal of the Stanley Cup Finals, to push the Boston Bruins to a 2-0 lead, assisting on the goal was David Krejci.

That 2-0 lead was short lived as the Chicago Blackhawks would get a goal from Bradon Saad at the 03:08 mark of the second period.

Bruins' top line of Lucic-Krejci-Horton has combined for 56 points this postseason.
— Joe McDonald (@ESPNJoeyMac) June 13, 2013

2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Milan Lucic goal vs. Blackhawks

That's first goal of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs for Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic (4), assisting on the goal for the Boston Bruins, forwards Nathan Horton (11) and David Krejci (13).

The Boston Bruins outshot the Chicago Blackhawks 11-8 in the first period. That was also the first goal of the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals.

#Bruins are 8-2 this postseason when scoring first goal of the game. #Blackhawks are 3-3 when allowing first goal.
— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) June 13, 2013

Patrick Kane's Hat Trick sends the Black Hawks to the Stanley Cup Finals

And then there were two. You can bet that the 6'9" Zdeno Chara will be glued to Patrick Kane during the Stanley Cup Finals. You can also bet that "the little ball of hate" Brad Marchand will be in Jonathan Toews grill, much like Henrik Zetterberg was during the second round the playoffs.

So, here's how the Stanley Cup Finals shake out. Boston Bruins 28-14-6 regular season, 12-4 playoffs vs Chicago Blackhawks 36-7-5 regular season, 12-5 playoffs... Game one kicks off on Wednesday Night at 7:00 p.m. at the Mad House on Madison.

The emerging theme; the officiating is not good during the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs

I used to follow Damien Cox, but I couldn’t take all of his constant political rants in my twitter feed anymore. This article is worth a look because it does provoke thought. Here’s the problem. There’s an emerging theme coming out of this season’s 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The officiating has been poor, but in defense of the officials, the officiating has been poor all season long. Not just during the playoffs. That being said, the officiating is still better in the NHL game than it is in college game. Sidney Crosby, Gary Bettman’s favorite player was whining about the officiating after game one between the Boston Bruins and the Pittsburgh Penguins. I didn’t hear many whining when Chicago Blackhawks forward Jonathan Toews was being mugged by the Detroit Red Wings.

Damien Cox, The Spin – For sure in Chicago and Boston, and certainly throughout Canada, and beyond, well, we'll see. In the world of the Bettman administration, this Stanley Cup final would only be better if all seven games were scheduled for Wrigley and Fenway.

Otherwise, two great American sports cities, and two terrific hockey towns, suggest this is some kind of peculiar reward from the hockey gods to the NHL owners and players after the grinding 113-day lockout that produced something for both side and nothing for the fans.

But the fact that a lot of people will be watching also means is that if the NHL were of such a mind, a correction right now would be most helpful.

That is, after allowing the rulebook to be stretched, perverted and torn to shreds over three rounds, now would be a good time to re-establish a little structure.

Hell, if they can change the standard halfway through the season and then again the playoffs, they can change it back again.

And let's face it, things have become rather ridiculous. Sure, the spirit of "letting them play" has merit within the sometimes dubious history of the game, but beyond that, allowing blatant fouls to go uncalled at key points of hockey games has turned these playoffs into a bit of a joke.

What do you think? Has the officiating in the NHL a problem during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Is there going to be a change how the games are called during the Stanley Cup Playoffs going forward?

Schedule for the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals

So, it could be almost July before the 2013 season is over, thanks to the lockout. All times will be 7:00 pm Central Standard time for us living in the Midwest.

(Video) Chicago Blackhawks Road To The Stanley Cup Final 2013 and Kings were banged up

Standing in the way of the Chicago Blackhawks are the Boston Bruins. Check out some of the injuries of the L.A. Kings. Sounds like they were a pretty banged up hockey team.

Dustin Brown says he tore his PCL in his knee in Game 6 last round. Played through it
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) June 9, 2013

Justin Williams says he played with a slight shoulder separation ever since Stuart crunched him last round. Doesn't think surgery needed
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) June 9, 2013

Drew Doughty had been playing on a bad ankle, since the San Jose series. More on that later.
— lisa dillman (@reallisa) June 9, 2013

Patrick Kane goal; no penalty called on the play

This was the go-ahead goal by Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane, the L.A. Kings were unhappy and felt that there should have been a penalty called on the play. After further review, it might have been the right call on the play. That being said, the goalie needs to be ready at all time, regardless. Jonathan Quick struggled early in the game.

Replay appears to show Williams going down on his own. Good non-call.
— Steve McAllister (@yahoomac) June 9, 2013

Blackhawks vs Kings; Blackhawks lead series 3-1

The L.A. Kings lose for the first time at home during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Chicago Blackhawks make L.A. Kings all-world goalie Jonathan Quick look human, the goal by Hossa was an absolute blast, in fact, Quick is probably still looking for the puck.

Scoring for the Blackhawks: Bryan Bickell (8), Marian Hossa (7) and Patrick Kane (3) find the twine and score big goals for the Blackhawks. Scoring For the L.A. Kings: Slava Voynov(6) and Dustin Penner (3).

Bryan Bickell is an unrestricted free agent in the offseason and has had a big 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs scoring (8g-3—11pts), you would think that he’s going to be getting a big raise in the offseason. According to capgeek.com Bickell is  making $541,667.00

Blackhawk's Duncan Keith suspended one game for high-sticking

Someone mentioned the L.A. Kings forward Jeff Carter slashing Chicago Duncan Keith prior to this high-sticking incident and it appears that the NHL's Department of Player Safety is basically not taking that into account, or is over looking the slash. I am not excusing it. I do think Carter should have been fined if Keith is worthy of a suspension in this case. Thoughts?

Hawks Duncan Keith faces hearing following high-sticking incident

So, we're waiting to see if Duncan Keith is suspended by the NHL's department of Player safety for this hit on the Kings Jeff Carter.

NHL.COM --- Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Wednesday for a high-sticking incident during Game 3 of the Western Conference Final against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday at Staples Center.

At 7:58 of the second period, Keith was assessed a double-minor for high sticking Kings forward Jeff Carter in the face while the pair was skating behind the play. Carter left the ice, but returned after missing about six-and-a-half minutes of game action.

The following grounds are being considered for supplemental discipline: high-sticking. However, the Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to the infraction upon review.

I am going to say that there's a chance that there could be some kind of a suspension for this slash/high stick. Last night, I was surprised that there wasn't at least a match penalty called on this play. Now that being said, in my opinion, Duncan Keith is not a dirty player and he could be fined for this incident and avoid a suspension. It will be interesting to see what comes out of this.

Blackhawks' Keith: 'I said my piece, and it's up to them' trib.in/11sijzl

— ChiTribSports (@ChiTribSports) June 5, 2013

Related articles

• Blackhawks' Duncan Keith faces disciplinary hearing over high-sticking (tracking.si.com)

Chicago Blackhawks twitter pictures

I have a feeling a lot of people will be framing this one twitter.com/HawksTalkCSN/s…
— Blackhawks Talk (@HawksTalkCSN) June 3, 2013

Here are some interesting pictures that were posted on twitter right after the game. This has been an interesting and intense series so far, very rough and very hard hitting. Tonight, there were 82 hits in this game, with L.A. dishing out 46 hits.

You know your favorite hockey team is screwed when Jon Toews is smiling. twitter.com/theroyalhalf/s…
— The Royal Half (@theroyalhalf) June 3, 2013

Blackhawks Dave Bolland won’t be suspended for hit on Kings Mike Richards

If you were asleep last night, #Blackhawks center Dave Bolland won’t be suspended for hit on Mike Richards: bit.ly/ZDWRc5
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) June 2, 2013

Chicago Blackhawks Dave Bolland will not be suspended or receive anymore scrutiny for his questionable hit on L.A. King forward Mike Richards. Yesterday I had said, “I have to think, based on everything that we have seen so far in the playoffs that this could be a potential one game suspension for Bollard.” I still there if there has been more time between games, there might have been more of a look at this play by the NHL's Department of Player Safety. Also, there was "no" penalty called on the play.

“He was there,” Bolland said of his jarring hit on Kings center Mike Richards in the final minutes of the Hawks’ 2-1 victory Saturday in Game 1 at the United Center. “I just came in and hit him.”

There apparently won’t be any repercussions — at least, not from the league. There was some concern that Bolland would face a suspension because the principal point of contact was Richards’ head, but the league decided against holding a hearing for Bolland, meaning he won’t face any discipline. [Adam L. Jahns, Suntimes.com]

I know that L.A. Kings fans will not be happy with this call and there is more examples of inconsistency during the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. If a repeat offender had made that call or if that had been against a star player would there have been a hearing this morning? I don't know? Maybe Crosby has a point? It could be his delivery though and how he relays his message.

Related articles

• Dave Bolland hit Mike Richards (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Dave Bolland hit Mike Richards

At the 01:53 mark of the third period Chicago Blackhawks forward Dave Bollard hit L.A. Kings forward Mike Richards with a shoulder in the chin/head area. You have to wonder, will Mike Bollard be getting a phone call from the NHL's department of players safety for this hit? I have to think, based on everything that we have seen so far in the playoffs, that this could be a potential one game suspension for Bollard. Thoughts? Just for the record, there was "no" penalty called on the play.

Richards declined to speak to reporters who wanted to ask how he felt after hit.
— Helene Elliott (@helenenothelen) June 2, 2013

#Blackhawks' Dave Bolland on hit on Kings' Mike Richards: "It's a quick game. You get hit. It happens. It's happened to me."
— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) June 2, 2013

Referee Stephen Walkom no goal call (Video)

This was the call last night that shook the hockey world. This was a horrible call by veteran NHL referee Stephen Walkom, because the actual penalty has no bearing on the goal that was being scored. Think about this, the Chicago Blackhawks scored the game winning goal in regulation only to have it taken away from them. I was watching the game at Parrot's Kay and I couldn't believe that they ref waved this goal off.

That's a goal.... Put it on the score board.
— Eric J. Burton (@goon48) May 30, 2013

First off, the officiating for whatever reason in the Chicago vs. Detroit series was absolutely brutal. Words like atrocious, brutal, unacceptable, disgusting, come to mind... I have never seen a series that was this poorly officiated, in a very long time. There is no excuse for this. Here's the good news, Stephen Walkom is going to officiate in the next round of the NHL playoffs. In the Army we used to have a saying, screw up, you move up.

This is the NHL, not the house league in Canada or the WCHA. This is the best hockey league in the world. The Stanley Cup Playoff games are the show case games and should have the best officials. The best of best officials should be officiating the show case games and the product on the ice, being the officials, should match the players on the ice.

The officiating in this series was suspect, and it was unacceptable and I would even use the word shoddy to explain the officiating as well. The NHL should be ashamed of itself and I do believe that they do have egg on their face. Where have we seen this before? Sound familiar? Today was a rich day for NHL hockey news.

Jim Diamond, Nashville Predators Examiner --- I have played in too many games where NHL officials are doing everything in their power to "even things out." No matter who's playing whom and no matter how they're playing, it was all too common for officials to attempt to mete out an equal number of minor penalties to each team. Meaning, going in to any given game, the men in black adopt the approach that the penalties taken by the visitors will, for the most part, equal the number of penalties taken by the home team. All is fair if everybody gets their fair share, right? (There's a socio-political point in there somewhere but that's subject matter for a different piece).

Seems reasonable, no? The penalties balance out and the players will sort it out from there, right? Not at all actually. The truth is there are many nights when one team simply outplays and outworks the other. That's a fairly straightforward truth; we've all seen it. And yet, even in a game like that, the guys in stripes are still attempting to balance out this ledger whereby one team gets the same number of power plays as the opposition.

L.A. Kings and Chicago Blackhawks schedule (Greene vs. Toews)

Game 1: Saturday, June 1 - L.A. at Chicago 4:00 p.m. NBCSN

Game2: Sunday, June 2 - L.A. at Chicago 7:00 p.m. NBCSN

Game 3: Tuesday, June 4 - Chicago at L.A. 8:00 p.m. NBCSN

Game 4: Thursday, June 6 - Chicago at L.A. 8:00 p.m. NBCSN

Game 5: Saturday, June 8 - L.A. at Chicago 7:00 p.m. NBC

Game 6: Monday, June 10 - Chicago at L.A. 8:00 p.m. NBCSN

Game 7: Wednesday, June 12 - L.A. at Chicago TBD NBCSN  

Henrik Zetterberg and Jonathan Toews (gif)

s/t to Jack who posted this gif in the comments of another post. So, do you think that the refs are not calling the obstruction in this series? This is pre-lockout officiating in the NHL. The calls the officials have let go have been pretty obvious. Zetterberg has been in Toews hockey pants all series long.

Schedule for round three of the SCP...

If Detroit wins tomorrow, Round 3 starts Friday in West. If Chicago wins, there will be a doubleheader on Saturday night with East and West.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) May 29, 2013

These tweets should shed some light when round three will be played. So, we need the Chicago Blackhawks to beat the Detroit Red Wing tomorrow night... That means if Chicago wins we're going to end up with two games on Saturday. I guess, that's the scenario that I would rather see. I believe that the L.A. Kings and Chicago would be a much better series to watch. The Bruins game will be on Saturday anyways.

Pens-Bruins in East final will start Saturday at 8 p.m. regardless and then go Mon, Weds, Fri, Sun, Tues, Weds.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) May 29, 2013

So no matter which teams are playing, if both series are still going, two Game 7s on June 12. RIP, us.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) May 29, 2013

Detroit's Joakim Andersson scores a knucklepuck goal

I was beginning to think we were watching Mighty Ducks. What next? The flying v... Detroit Red Wing forward Joakim Andersson scores a knucklepuck goal and Chicago Blackhawks goalie Cory Crawford didn't have a chance on the goal.

Jonathan Toews high stick on Justin Abdelkader...Was this Embellishment?

Former Fighting Sioux forward Jonathan Toews had a rough night for the Chicago Blackhawks, he beat a path to the penalty box, taking three minor penalties, this one was laughable based on some of the calls the on-ice officials have missed this season. Sure there was a penalty but, come on! Abdelkader sold this one big time with his Academy Award winning acting job. On this play, Johnny was assessed a two minute minor for high sticking Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader. So, what do think? Was there was some embellishment on the play from Abdelkader? I do believe there was. Thoughts and feelings…