2013 Stanley Cup Finals

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (1) VS. BOSTON BRUINS (4)

I'm throwing all stats out the window on this one. We're in store for what's probably going to be one of the better Stanley Cup Final series we've had in recent memory. Two Original Six juggernauts that have stampeded through this post season save a single test each. The similarities in each team's runs are uncanny. For the Bruins, with the exception of a two game slide in the first round in which they relinquished a 3-1 series lead and nearly were eliminated by the Leafs, have otherwise been absolutely dominant dispatching of both the Rangers and the Penguins in just one game over the minimum. The Hawks have also been utterly dominant with the exception of a three game stretch against the Wings where they were outscored 9-2 and were nearly eliminated. 

For the Blackhawks to be triumphant, they're going to have to get through Boston's top rate defense. The fact the Hawks score a ton will certainly help them but Pittsburgh thought so too and they couldn't get anything going against Boston in the neutral zone or on attack until it was far too late. What's going for the Hawks is that they're ridiculously hot right now. Even after LA stabilized in the last tilt and started to resemble the team that won it all last year, the Hawks were so on fire, they managed to outlast them courtesy of a Patrick Kane hat trick. With the top lines of Chicago getting goin' at the right time, Boston knows it's in for a dogfight. 

The Bruins have a lot going for them, too. They are getting a very pleasant surprise out of goal as Rask has been channeling his inner Tim Thomas and their defense is just giving everybody fits. Their top forwards are not only legitimate scorers (Krejci and Marchand have been tearing up the sheet) but also imposing, pesky and defensively stout. And here's a fun bit: they have been getting a boatload of production from the blueline, too.

The advantages on paper go to the Blackhawks, honestly. Indeed, the Hawks have more scoring depth. Their top end forwards are "more" elite. If one of these teams has the firepower to make a difference on the power play against two of the finest penalty kill crews in the league, it would be the Hawks. They have a hot goaltender. They also get home ice advantage. 

But I did say I'd toss the "paper" out. The Bruins are going to win the Stanley Cup again and it'll be because, as the old adage likes to remind us, defense wins championships. Their blueliners play elite defense. Their forwards play elite defense. Their goaltender has been playing probably the most elite defense of all. The Hawks dealt with a pesky, resilient bunch in the Red Wings and a big, strong bunch in the Kings. Combine those two traits and you have the pesky, resilient, big bodies of the Bruins.

A couple of weeks ago, I was convinced the Blackhawks were going to win the whole thing. That was until I watched Boston play Pittsburgh. Err... that was until I watched Boston sweep Pittsburgh. Everyone's picking Chicago in this one; they were the trending pick all regular season, after all, especially after that torrid start. I've even seen it called as quickly as five games. I disagree. 

Bruins in 6