Mission accomplished: Blackhawks bring home Stanley Cup

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The noise from the United Center crowd grew as the seconds ticked away. Another season, another chance at a Stanley Cup, another trophy hoisted. And this time, the Blackhawks got to do it at home.

Duncan Keith scored the game-winning goal and earned the Conn Smythe Trophy, and Corey Crawford stopped all 25 shots he saw as the Blackhawks beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night. The Blackhawks claimed their third Stanley Cup in the past six seasons and their first on home ice since 1938.

Patrick Kane scored his first goal of this series to give the Blackhawks a 2-0 lead with just over five minutes remaining in regulation. Brandon Saad finished with a team-high six hits.

For the Blackhawks, it was an exhilarating night after another nail-biting 60 minutes. It was one more close game, one more contest where there were interesting bounces, close calls and a few posts hit. Yet at the end, the Blackhawks were there once again.

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“We knew it was a great opportunity,” Kane said. “Everyone came in here today knowing we didn't want to waste this one. We caught a couple breaks early and had a great start to the game. It was a great all-around team game.”

As with the previous five, it was also tough. Ben Bishop, who later said he was playing with a groin tear, was tough to crack again. Nerves were showing in some players, especially a young Teuvo Teravainen early in the game. It took nearly two full periods for the Blackhawks to break through, and it was no surprise that Keith was the one doing it. Late in the second Keith took the pass from Kane and fired, but Bishop stopped the shot. Keith kept going, however, grabbing the rebound and scoring for a 1-0 lead at 17:13 of the second.

It stayed that way until late in the third when Kane, taking a pretty pass from Brad Richards, gave the Blackhawks a little insurance.

The Blackhawks preach the team mentality and it was evident again on Monday night. The fourth line did strong work – Andrew Shaw battled through a back injury that almost kept him out of the game. The top four defensemen logged hearty minutes once again. The second line provided the big goal. Crawford provided the big stops, his biggest coming when Steven Stamkos broke free but Crawford stopped his shot with his left leg.

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“I just had to stay patient. I didn’t want to make the first move against him. Just try to get my pad out there and take away the long half of the net,” said Crawford, who was just the third goaltender in the past 20 years to record a shutout in a Cup-clinching game. “I mean everyone played great. You need the whole team to work hard and battle and win those battles along the walls, in front of the net, blocked shots. That’s what our team did.”

There was joy everywhere on the United Center ice after the game, from the young Teravainen reveling in the moment to the veteran Kimmo Timonen, who came back from blood clots for one last chance at the Cup, finally hoisting it for the first time.

“There are so many words I want to say,” said Timonen. “It’s been a long journey, obviously ups and downs. What happened this summer was tough but I’m leaving this game happy, relieved and ready. I’m ready. I’m leaving as a Stanley cup champion so I don’t know if you can ask anymore.”

It was just as great for Marian Hossa, who, unlike Timonen, isn’t retiring at the end of this season.

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“I'm coming to Chicago signing a 12-year deal and in the first six years winning three times,” Hossa said. “I mean, it’s a dream come true. I'm speechless. I don't know what to say. It's an amazing feeling with an amazing group of guys. It's such a great organization. I mean, this Indian head brought me so much luck, winning in junior, the Memorial Cup with the same jersey. So it was meant to be I guess.”

The Blackhawks’ success was apparently meant to be, too. They’ve gone through the same salary-cap issues that every team has, yet they’ve found a way to keep this core together for quite a while and add the right pieces to enhance it.

They had won the Cup two other times in hostile visiting arenas. But to win at home was on theirminds. Mission accomplished.

“We wanted it. We wanted it for each other, for the city,” said Jonathan Toews. “In so many ways, winning a championship like this in your own city in some ways transcends the sport. Everyone wants to be a part of it. It's amazing. You can feel the energy. I’m trying my best to explain it but it's pretty tough. It’s definitely overwhelming.”

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