The Hockey Stop

I did a double take when I saw this figure. If it is true, then it is simply stunning. City officials claim that more than two million Chicago Blackhawks fans lined Madison, Wacker, Washington and Michigan Avenues to cheer on their beloved team after their first Stanley Cup victory in 49 years.

To put the crowd in perspective, there were an estimated 350,000 fans at the White Sox rally when the team won the World Series in 2005 -- ending an 88-year championship drought, nearly double the Blackhawks!

And President Obama's inauguration drew between 1 million and 1.5 million people to the nation's capital. Even at the highest figure that would still be 500,000 less people then came out for the 'Hawks in Chicago today on a humid, scorching 88-degree summer day in Chi-Town.

And on top of the oppressive heat, the event took place on a work day. It is absolutely astonishing that over two million people showed up. The level of support for Chicago's hockey team is unbelievable.

Live coverage from WGN-TV of today's Blackhawks Stanley Cup victory parade in downtown Chicago:

 

The Chicago Blackhawks won their first Stanley Cup in 49 years tonight versus the Flyers in Philadelphia off an overtime goal by forward Patrick Kane.

The red light didn't go on initially but some of the 'Hawks started celebrating anyway. After a brief review, it was declared a goal and the official celebration got underway with the hard-fought 4-3 victory in Game 6.

Captain Jonathan Toews, 22, was declared playoff MVP and was handed the Conn Smythe Trophy by Gary Bettman.

Chicago will be hosting its first victory parade since 1961 (before tonight the longest active drought in the NHL) for the team that won over this sports-mad city. The 'Hawks rode the timely saves of Antti Niemi, the stellar defense of Duncan Keith and Brian Campbell and the star power of forwards Kane, Toews, Dustin Byfuglien and Marian Hossa to claim the greatest trophy in all of sports.

Washington Capitals fans have been attempting to get President Obama to attend a game at Verizon Center to no avail, even going so far as setting up a Barack The Red campaign initiated by Caps-centric blog Russian Machine Never Breaks.

But with the Caps out of the playoffs -- Vice President Joe Biden attended their Game 7 loss to Montreal in D.C. -- Obama will not be attending a game at the VC anytime soon.

Perhaps the president's first chance to witness a hockey game will come this weekend. That's because the First Family is returning to Chicago for Memorial Day Weekend and Games One and Two of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers will be taking place at the United Center this Saturday and Monday nights.

With the 'Hawks the talk of the town, it will be impossible for Obama not to notice. Memorial Day is probably out since the president will be making remarks at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery south of Chicago.

So the opening game on Saturday night would be the best bet for the president attending his first hockey game. Both Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali have been seen at the UC donning 'Hawks jerseys so wouldn't it be great if President Obama joined them in the press box?

Stanley Cup Finals Schedule:

Saturday, May 2 at Chicago, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS

Monday, May 31 at Chicago, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS

Wednesday, June 2 at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS

Friday, June 4 at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS

*Sunday, June 6 at Chicago, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS

*Wednesday, June 9 at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS

*Friday, June 11 at Chicago, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS

- * denotes if necessary

- All Times Eastern

Before I mount heaps of praise upon the Chicago Blackhawks for reaching the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1992 by sweeping the San Jose Sharks, I have to make a comparison that might make Washington Capitals fans like myself question why Mike Green is on defense instead of being a forward.

The reason being is that Chicago forward Dustin Byfuglien started out as a defenseman and was moved to the forward position -- an experiment that has been wildly successful. Byfuglien scored the game-winning goal the past two games against San Jose, none more important than his third period tally at United Center this Sunday afternoon that capped a 'Hawks rally after being down two goals and sent 23,000 fans at the Madhouse on Madison into a frenzy and the Blackhawks into the Stanley Cup Finals.

Perhaps Green is better suited as a forward and could have the same kind of success as Byfuglien has had with Chicago. But that is a decision the Capitals will have to make. Maybe seeing the 'Hawks skating into the Stanley Cup Finals will make them consider changing things up a bit.

Chicago will be playing for its first championship since 1961. While a lot of that is due to Byfuglien's heroics, goaltender Antti Niemi deserves a lot of credit for keeping the 'Hawks in every game with save after spectacular save.

And with young stars like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, the NHL couldn't have asked for a better representative from the Western Conference. Chicago will play the winner of the Flyers-Canadiens series, which could end as early as Monday night in Philadelphia with the Flyers up 3-1 against Les Habs. Of course, tell that to the Caps and Pens.

Video highlights of Game 4:

Question: What Western Conference team has won nine straight games as the playoffs approach for a conference-tying 97 points?

Hint: It's not the Sharks (losers of five straight), Blackhawks, Kings, Canucks, Avalanche, Predators (although they've won six straight) or the Red Wings.

Answer: The wily Coyotes are giving the competition a big cactus prickle as the financially troubled franchise from Glendale is getting hot just at the right time.

And tonight Phoenix improbably has a chance to surpass Chicago for sole position of first place in the Western Conference. And if the Flames lose in regulation and the Coyotes beat the 'Hawks, then they will clinch a playoff spot. Wow. No one saw this coming.

Chicago has lost five of its last seven games which is why coach Joe Quenneville told NHL.com this is the biggest game of the season.

The 'Hawks might have reason to worry as the Coyotes recently defeated them 5-4 at home, coming from two goals behind to claim the victory.

Streaks come and go, but Phoenix is getting hot just at the right time. While it is entirely possible the Coyotes will go ice cold when the playoffs start and this might be a fluke, I wouldn't underestimate this team.

Regardless, the game against Chicago tonight will be an interesting test to see if this team is for real and might make a playoff run.

YZERMAN SNUBS GREEN



Calgary native Mike Green was left off Team Canada's Olympics roster. What a shame. I don't know what executive director Steve Yzerman was thinking when he left the Washington Capitals' Norris-nominated defenseman off the team. What I do know is that it was a mistake.

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, all of 20 years, made the cut over Green? Come on. The National Post quoted Yzerman as saying he picked players who "will you to a win." And what does Green do then?

In the 2007-2008 season Caps commentator Joe Beninati nicknamed Green "Game Over" because he finished the season with 4 game-winning goals along with a league-leading 18 goals by a defenseman for 56 points. Last season Green set an NHL record by scoring in eight consecutive games. As of Dec. 13 he led all defensemen with 32 points (6 goals and 26 assists) in 32 games.

I just don't understand this decision, other than a bias against offensive-minded defensemen. Green should be skating in Vancouver in February. Oh well, I guess this is more ammunition for Green to prove the critics wrong. Expect a big second half of the season for the All-Star blue-liner.

SUN-TIMES: BLACKHAWKS ONE OF DECADE'S BIGGEST LOCAL STORIES



The rise of the Chicago Blackhawks is No. 6 on the Chicago Sun-Times' top ten biggest local stories of the decade. No. 1? The White Sox winning the World Series of course! Here is the 'Hawks entry from the Sun-Times website:

"6. Rocky Wirtz takes over the Blackhawks

When longtime Blackhawks chairman Bill Wirtz passed away in September 2007, he left behind a crumbling organization, a lousy hockey team and an embittered fan base. Enter son Rocky Wirtz. Within days, he vowed to put fans first and to restore the franchise to its glory days of the past. And he has delivered on his promises, rapidly transforming the organization into one of the best in the NHL. Hawks games, long an afterthought in this city, have become exciting, must-see events. And the team has become a Stanley Cup contender."

BIG TRADE: CHIMERA FOR CLARK, JURCINA



The Caps and Jackets made a big mid-season trade, with gritty, hard-charging forward Jason Chimera going to the Caps for veteran forward and captain Chris Clark and defenseman Milan Jurcina. I got a taste of Chimera's fearless net-crashing turbo boosters while watching last night's 5-2 loss at San Jose on NHL GameCenter Live. At one point late in the game Chimera skated full speed towards Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabakov. He nearly scored, but instead flew into and over Nabakov. Chimera should be a valuable irritant to opposing goalies.

IMPACT! MAGAZINE MAKING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT?



The December 2009 issue of NHL.com's Impact! Magazine is available online. The cover story is about the rise of Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin. The web-only edition looks great and is easy to read online by flipping the virtual pages the same way you would read a print magazine. But if the point of providing the magazine online instead of print is to save paper and the environment, then NHL.com probably shouldn't lead off with this:

"The best part: print out the entire magazine and take it with you!"

DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN, I MEAN KINGS DEFEAT FLAMES



As an online news editor myself I can certainly sympathize with late-night errors when your eyes and mind are a bit foggy. But still, this is really bad. On the top of NHL.com the final score is 2-1 Flames over Kings, but the headline (which was up for a good 45 minutes) says "Kings edge Flames." Somebody was asleep at the Zamboni!

The Chicago Blackhawks are hitching onto the popularity of the Chicago Bears and the NFL franchise is riding the winning ways of the NHL team.

The Bears and Blackhawks have entered into a marketing partnership, reports ESPNChicago.com. The deal will include commercials, appearances at United Center and Soldier Field, and other cross-promotional activities.

Blackhawks stars such as Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will join Bears players such as Jay Cutler and Devin Hester in the spots.





Quebec City is making an aggressive push for an NHL franchise.

Mayor Régis Labeaume recently announced the city is building a new arena to lure a team and the NHL's top brass are taking notice. Both commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly have both stated that a new arena will help Quebec City's cause in its competition with Kansas City and Las Vegas for a team.

The city lost the Nordiques to Denver (Colorado Avalanche) which could hurt its cause, but it also could be a positive as Daly stated: "Both Winnipeg and Quebec have already done that (supported an NHL team). We'll see how things evolve."

It is doubtful there will be a more dramatic game during the regular season.

The Chicago Blackhawks overcame a 5-0 hole against the Calgary Flames at United Center last Monday to win 6-5 in overtime.

Chicago matched the biggest comeback in NHL history and beat the previous club record of a four goal comeback.

The game reminds me of a lesson I learned a few years back while listening to the Dodgers on the radio. The date was Sept. 18, 2006 and Los Angeles entered the ninth inning trailing the San Diego Padres 9-5 at Dodger Stadium.

At that point I turned off the radio thinking the game was over. About a half an hour later I turned the radio back on to listen to the postgame analysis of the Dodgers' disappointing loss.

And what did I hear? Dodgers win 11-10 in ten innings! What? Jeff Kent, J.D. Drew, Russell Martin and Marlon Anderson all hit consecutive home runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game and send it into extra innings. It was only the fourth time in MLB history a team had hit four consecutive home runs.

Then in the top of the tenth, the Padres took the lead again by a score of 10-9.

That set the stage for the heroic two-run walk-off homer by Nomar Garciaparra to win the game for Los Angeles.

So the moral of the story is: Never, and I mean NEVER, leave a game early no matter what the score is because sometimes something special can happen. Just ask those Dodgers fan who stuck around and the Chicago fans rocking the UC.

Here are the highlights (or lowlights if you are a Flames fan) of the unbelievable comeback by the Blackhawks: