Give the Chicago Blackhawks and their fans credit. They hadn't won the cup in 49 years and during that time they and their fans weren't nearly as bad as those in Boston. Beantownfans whined endlessly for 86 years until theRed Sox won a World Series in 2004, and there was no telling when the Bruins would win another cup. There was no whining in Chicago. They were patient and knew their time would eventually come. But unfortunately, Chicago Blackhawks fans did what fans from any other red blooded American city does after they win a championship in sports— they rioted!Fans went into the streets and turned over cars and trucks, sets some fires and looted. Let's not overlook the fact that the majority of these imbeciles weren't even alive the last time the Blackhawks won the cup.
Putting all that aside, the Blackhawks captured their first Stanley Cup since the Kennedy administration against the hapless Philadelphia Flyers in six games. Hapless, because the Flyers have lost their last six Stanley Cup finals appearances. The Blackhawks went into the playoffs as the second seeded team in the Western Conference after winning the Central Division. To no one's surprise, the Blackhawks advanced to the finals by sweeping the San Jose Sharks, which won the Pacific Division and had the best record in the Western Conference. The Blackhawks were so good and so balanced as a team that hardly anyone ranked in the top 5 in the major scoring categories. Goalie AnttiNiemi was fourth in the league with a 2.25 Goals Against Average, and tied for third in shutouts with seven.
The Washington Capitals won the Presidents' Trophy for the most points and the best record in the league, but like the Sharks a year before, Alex Ovechkin and company were upended in the first round by the eighth seeded Montreal Canadiens in seven games which gave all Americans a scare. The Canadiens made a serious run defeating the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games before bowing out to the Flyers in five games in the Eastern Conference finals. That makes it 17 consecutive years since a team from Canada has won the Stanley Cup. Here are the Top 5 NHL Teams of 2009-10.
