Game 7 — Jones snaps in the overtime winner

With 24 seconds remaining in the overtime, Seth Jones lined up from the slot to snap in the game-winner past Igor Shesterkin inside the right pipe, giving Chicago a 3-2 victory in the decisive Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. The Blackhawks win at Madison Square Garden completes their long journey to the top after losing in the Final last season to the Rangers in 6 games.

Alexander Radulov scored twice for the Rangers, leading off the 1st period with his 16th of the playoffs. Chicago answered with a goal in the 2nd frame by Dominik Kubalik, and then took a 2-1 lead 7:35 into the 3rd period when Kirby Dach scored. For the next 12 minutes, goalie Chris Dreidger stood firm in the crease to prevent New York from tying, but in the final minute, Radulov found a way — scoring in a nick of time to force overtime.

In overtime, the Rangers directed 13 shots toward goal while the Blackhawks put 9 on target with neither goalie conceding. Jones’ game-winner was his only shot of the entire game, and will turn out to be the most consequential for him (and Chicago) all season.

Game 6 — Panarin (Make it Snappy) leads NYR to series tie

Artemi Panarin scored during a 2nd period 5-minute powerplay to break a 1-1 tie and the Rangers went on to take Game 6 by a 4-1 final at United Center. It would be the 4th game of the series where the visiting team skated away winner.

Panarin’s go-ahead score came after ‘Hawk’s right-winger Mackenzie Entwistle was ejected 9:42 into the middle frame for  misconduct. It only took Panarin 5 seconds into the man-advantage to score.

Just before the end of the 2nd period, Alexander Rudalov snapped in his 15th goal of the playoffs to pad New York’s lead (3-1). Sammy Blais scored through traffic late in the 3rd period to seal the win. (K’Andre Miller opened the game with a snapshot to give New York a 1-0 lead in the 1st period.)

Game 5 — Chris Dreidger at his best

Goalie Chris Dreidger stopped all 19 of New York’s shots to lead the Blackhawks in a 3-0 shutout, giving Chicago a 3-2 series lead. Alexander Nylander’s 5th of the playoffs went in 7:39 into the 1st period. It turned out to be enough to carry the resurgent Blackhawks to victory — their 2nd straight over the Rangers.

Game 4 — Blackhawks tie series

Mackenzie Entwistle scored 2 goals to fuel Chicago’s 3-2 win on home ice — tying the series 2-2. Entwistle’s two goals was part of a 3-goal 2nd period for the Blackhawks who fell behind 1-0 when Alexander Radulov led off the period scoring his 13th playoff goal. Chicago responded with 3-unanswered. Rudalov notched a 2nd goal just 39 seconds into the 3rd period, but nothing else would get by goalie Chris Dreidger.

Game 3 — New York takes series lead behind Copp’s 2 goals

Andrew Copp scored two goals to lead the Rangers to a 4-1 victory over the Blackhawks, giving New York a 2-1 series lead. K’Andre Miller and Alexis Lafraniere also tallied goals. The Rangers led 2-1 lead after the 1st period, then goalie Igor Shesterkin went to work, stopping the 16 shots Chicago put on target in the 2nd and 3rd periods combined. Ian Mitchell scored Chicago’s lone goal.

Game 2 — Rangers power past Blackhawks to even series

The Rangers gave a strong response to their series opener loss to the Blackhawks. Alexander Radulov and Artemi Panarin each scored two goals and New York routed Chicago 6-1. Alexis Lafranier and Andrew Copp also scored.

Chicago was held to a single shot in the 1st period and 3 in the middle frame. They would fall behind 5-0 before Dominik Kubalik erased the shutout with his 5th of the postseason coming at the 18:53 mark of the 3rd period. Things got so bad for the Blackhawks that they replaced starting goalie Chris Driedger with Josef Korenar. 

New York came out physical — out-hitting Chicago 21 to 8.

Game 1 — ‘Hawks came to play, unrelenting in series opener

The Chicago Blackhawks came out firing on all cylinders, jumping ahead 1-0 within 38 seconds of the first puck drop, and storming past New York 5-3 in the series opener at Madison Square Garden. Dominik Kubalik scored twice to lead the charge — lighting the lamp midway through the 1st period, then scoring again to start the 2nd period. The Rangers wouldn’t answer until they trailed 3-0. Alexis Lafranier notched his 5th of the playoffs 7:43 into the middle frame to make it 3-1, but the rout was unstoppable. Box score

How Chicago got here

Chicago was not in the playoff picture at the midseason point. But, by the Trade Deadline, they had risen to 4th-place in the West. They didn’t make a lot of noise during the Deadline, trading two 2nd-round picks and RW Brett Connolly to the Kraken for goalie Chris Dreidger. Dreidger has been the main stopper for the Blackhawks in the playoffs, winning 11 of 20 starts, while posting a (not so great) 2.86 GAA.

Rd 1 – Chicago defeated Anaheim Ducks 4-3
Rd 2 – Chicago defeated Calgary Flames 4-3
Western Conf. Final – Chicago defeated Colorado Avalanche 4-3

Chicago Blackhawks: By the numbers

Offense — Chicago averaged 3.10 GFPG through 3 rounds of the playoffs and surrendered 3.00 goals per night. Alex Debrincat and Patrick Kane will lead the Blackhawks attack. Debrincat has scored 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists, 3 PPG) in the playoffs. Kane follows with 28 points, 12 goals, and 16 assists. (All stats from the playoffs).

Goaltending — Defending the net will be Chris Dreidger (2.86 GAA in playoffs), who was a Trade Deadline pickup by Chicago

Special Teams — Power play: 17.0%, Penalty Kill: 82.8% (Playoff stats)