Those ugly days of the lockout when billionaires were fighting millionaires for every dollar seem like ancient history now. It is almost as if NHL executives concocted the perfect scenario to throw disgruntled fans a bone.
If you're a hockey lover, it's hard not to get amped by a Stanley Cup Final that pairs two Original Six franchises with rich histories from major league markets.
The Chicago Blackhawks have been around 87 years, the Boston Bruins 89. This will be their first meeting for the right to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup.
Both had to overcome critical junctures this postseason to get here. The Blackhawks rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to beat Detroit in Round 2. The Bruins, who lost seven of their final nine regular-season games, had to rally from a 4-1 third-period deficit in Game 7 against Toronto in Round 1.
Chicago won the Cup in 2010, Boston in 2011.
"We felt like someone was taking our trophy away for us," Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said of the Bruins. "Once you win it once, you feel like you're that team that can do it again. Here we are again."
MICHAEL RUSSO
