Stanley Cup News | June 7, 2010

Blackhawks 1 win from ending their Stanley Cup drought

By Rick Gano
June 7, 2010


Chicago, IL — Coach Joel Quenneville’s adjustments and line shuffling have helped the Chicago Blackhawks’ high-energy offense find another gear and move closer to the team’s first championship in 49 years.

Now with a day off to rest after a 7-4 win put his team up 3-2 in the Stanley Cup finals, Quenneville is expecting Chicago to come out Wednesday in Philadelphia with the same aggressive approach.

He called Game 6 the biggest game ever for him and most of his players and said the Blackhawks would have to channel their emotions and withstand what will certainly be a hard charge early from the Flyers.

Chicago is 7-3 on the road in these playoffs but lost its first two tries in Philly.

In Game 5, Chicago stormed out with three first-period goals, prompted a goaltender switch by the Flyers from Michael Leighton to Brian Boucher, and ended up with goals from six different players.

Quenneville broke up his first three lines, separating his former first line of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien. Is more shifting a possibility?

“Status quo would probably be the best way to go, (heading) into the next game,” Quenneville said Monday.

Byfuglien had two goals and two assists and Kane a goal and assist as the Blackhawks were able to split their talent and force Philly defensive star Chris Pronger into a minus-5 night.

Pronger was also in the penalty box when Byfuglien scored his first goal of the series.

And after going 1-for-9 in the first four games of the series, the Blackhawks converted twice on four chances with a man advantage.

“We just settled down and played our game and that’s a big factor, just even with the even strength, we came out ready to go, controlling the puck a little better,” Byfuglien said.

“That led into the power play with guys just settling down, confidence and just playing. That’s something we needed to do.”

But now can they carry it over in their return to Philly?

“Nothing’s won yet,” Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith said. “We know going forward we’re going to need the same effort, even better.”

The Blackhawks PR machine has been pushing the “One Goal” theme for two years—that of course being the Stanley Cup, something the franchise hasn’t hoisted since the days of Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita in 1961.

A day off the ice Monday gave the Blackhawks time to rest and reflect on how far they have come since training camp started way back in September.

Quenneville was ready to embark on a year of scouting when Chicago fired Denis Savard four games into last season. Now in his first trip to the finals as a head coach, he’s appreciative of how his life has changed.

“It’s been a lot of fun. I’ve been very fortunate to come here at the time, receiving a tremendous hockey team with great kids that like being around each other. Have a lot of skill and talent,” Quenneville said.

“Things change rapidly. I was the beneficiary of coming in with a great opportunity at the right time. I feel lucky.”

Quenneville knows his team will face an early hard charge from the Flyers and says controlling emotions will be play a big role.

“It’s a huge game, biggest game of our lives,” Quenneville said. “Channel it properly, and control—we control what we can control and that’s your next shift.”

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