Jonathan Toews hoists the Stanley Cup after the Hawks' 4-3 overtime win. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Tribune)
By Brian Hamilton
PHILADELPHIA -- Patrick Kane streaked down ice, threw his stick and his helmet into the air and soon was mobbed by a horde of exultant Blackhawks.
At the other end of the ice, no one was quite sure where the puck had gone. The Flyers stood motionless and still by the net. And in short order the verdict came: A half-century of agony had ended.
Kane, the superlative 21-year-old winger, scored 4:10 into overtime of Game 6 at the Wachovia Center on Wednesday, and that made the Blackhawks 4-3 winners and Stanley Cup champions for the first time since 1961.
"I knew it went in right away," Kane said. "What a feeling. I can't believe it. We just won the Stanley Cup. I can't believe this just happened. ... It's something you dream about, scoring the final goal in the Stanley Cup finals."
Kane scooped up the puck along the wall and flung it toward the net, and it zipped past Michael Leighton and in on the far side of the goal -- such a blisteringly quick score that officials reviewed it just to make sure. Once they did, the celebration was on in earnest.
"I was just hoping to God it was just an actual goal," said captain Jonathan Toews, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP. "They came back hard in the third and we just stuck with it."
As captain, Toews received the honor of being the first to hoist the Stanley Cup. Next was Marian Hossa, who finally won a title after near-misses with Pittsburgh and Detroit.
"There's so many great things about winning a Stanley Cup. This is it," Toews said. "This is the best feeling you can ever get. I just can't believe it's happened."
The Hawks' victory parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Wacker Drive and Washington Street, and proceed east to Michigan Avenue, then up Michigan to East Wacker Drive. A rally at that intersection will begin at about 11:30 a.m.
"Winning the Cup is like the greatest thing on the planet," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "It's such a long battle. We had some ups and downs and some twists and turns. To finally grab it, it's amazing."
In search of their first Stanley Cup in a half-century, the Blackhawks had to work overtime, tied 3-3 with the Flyers at the end of regulation.
Scott Hartnell's second goal of the game tied up Game 6 at 3-3 with four minutes to play, capping off a furious onslaught by the Flyers in the third period and putting that agonizing 49-year wait for a Cup title on hold for the moment.
Hartnell's score at the 16:01 mark finally solved Hawks goalie Antti Niemi, who had stoned two great chances for the Flyers in the previous minute. So, no, the Flyers are not going to bow down to history and let the Hawks end a half-century of agony easily. And it was yet another killer goal by the Hartnell-Ville Leino-Danny Briere line, which has 30 points between them in this series at the moment.
They were en route, though. Andrew Ladd redirected a Niklas Hjalmarsson blast into the Flyers' net, giving the Hawks a 3-2 lead after two periods in Game 6, meaning a 49-year wait for a championship could end in another 20 minutes.
Hjalmarsson took a pass from Kane and let loose just outside the faceoff circle, and Ladd skated directly into the line of the shot, getting his stick blade on the blast to tip it past Leighton for the go-ahead score at the 17:43 mark of the second.
That made it two scores in a row for the Hawks, after a Patrick Sharp score quieted a Wachovia Center crowd that had been electrified by a Flyers go-ahead goal just moments before that, making it a 2-2 tie midway through the second period.
The teams were playing 4-on-4 hockey after the Hawks' Hossa went to the box for goaltender interference with 40 seconds left on a Hawks power play. Thirty-seven seconds later, Dave Bolland dropped off a pass to Sharp who zinged it low past Michael Leighton for his 11th playoff goal and the equalizer.
Dominated by the Hawks for the first 19 minutes, the Flyers took a 2-1 lead on a Danny Briere goal eight minutes into the second period.
The Hawks' usually impeccable defenseman Duncan Keith tripped at the blue line, opening the door for a 2-on-1 rush by Ville Leino and Briere. Leino skated in and zinged a pass to Briere, who one-timed it top-shelf for his 12th goal of the playoffs and a lead that nearly blew the roof off the building.
This after the Blackhawks had the roaring start they wanted. They dominated on both ends of the ice. They were on the board first, draining the life and hope from the crowd.
And after one period, they were no better off than when they started in the quest for their first championship since 1961. And the Flyers had come alive.
A power-play goal by Scott Hartnell with 27 seconds to play in the first period made it a 1-1 tie, erasing the momentum built for the preceding 19 minutes with a defensive lockdown, an offensive onslaught and another Dustin Byfuglien goal.
Hawks defenseman Brent Sopel went to the box for the second time in the first period at the 19:07 mark, with the Flyers having mustered all of three shots in the period to that point - compared to a whopping 17 for the Hawks. Shortly thereafter, a Briere blast from the blue line dribbled away from Hawks goalie Niemi and Hartnell, camped out at the crease, pushed it between Niemi's legs and into the net for the equalizer.
This after Byfuglien struck first with his nemesis in the box once again. Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger took his second penalty of the first period at the 16:29 mark, and the Hawks capitalized quickly. Toews corralled the puck at the side of the net and then shot a feed to Byfuglien on the doorstep. The burly winger fairly easily knocked in his team-high 11th goal of the postseason for the crucial early advantage.
He then skated along the wall, tapping the glass with his stick in a no-doubt-about-it show-up for the antagonizing Wachovia Center crowd. It was a celebration that was short-lived.
AWESOME!
Lifelong Blackhawks fan here (since 5 years old, Tony Esposito), currently on the West Coast.
All the suffering was worth it tonight!
Enjoy it, folks.
I am very proud of the Chicago Blackhawks and their organization! Chicago has the Cup!
What a difference a few years make.
Thank you!
Does anyone know what time the Hawks arrive into O'hare???
That goal by Kane has to go down in history every one was lookin crazy like it did not happen becaues it really look like it did not go in but Kane saw it. The Flyers could not belive what they just saw it really happen what a goal by Kane
Did anyone catch where they're gonna sell the limited split jersey they showed on the news tonight??????
From Alabama, GO BLACKHAWKS! We waited 49 years!
@JM, the reason that dump in Philly sells out win or lose is because the Flyers fans aren't smart enough to know when they
are being ripped off.
yes yes yes i knew they could do it even when others doubted us BIG BIG UPS BLACKHAWKS representing the CHI. from houston tx.
Last comment - Hey Philly, what team do you think Chrissy (looks like Tarzan skats like Jane) Pronger will go to next year? Certainly he cannot be happy. Will Peter Peter(the Media Eater) Laviolette be back? Lots of questions there.
Sorry I missed you "g", you do have class in my eyes. Was out with family tonight so I have to "enjoy" the experience on DVR.
Some of you Blackhawks fans and many of you Philly fans - show some class - dispense with the profanity and enjoy this for what it was . . . a great series; one of the most watched and appreciated in history. Now quit making excuses some of you Philly fans, the better team won but . . . not by much!
Good job Chicago...love the non-stop offensive-style of hockey you've put on the ice. Pure Excitement!
And thanks for making sure that waste of skin Pronger didn't win it too!
I waited my whole life to see this moment!
Go Blackhawks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to the Hawks and the Fans that stayed faithful for 49 years!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks, 2010 Stanley Cup Champions. You sure earned it, and it wasn't easy. Thank you to my team, the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers for an unforgettably tense but awesome ride. In my heart you will always be the winners for your grit and drive. It just didn't go our way this time, but there will be more chances in the years to come, and we'll get there. I'm sure of it. LET'S GO FLYERS!!!
Could not be here tonight to enjoy the fun. Thanks Philly for a great series. WTG Blackhawks!!!!
Here's the difference between Flyers Fans and Blackhawks Fans. When Flyers were in last place they still sold out the Arena. When the Blackhawks sucked all of you phony bandwagon jumpers had only 5000 in your Arena. Enjoy your cup and just remember, with all of that talent, you should have swept the Flyers easily in 4 games. At least our guys played with you and kept it close. Another thing is if the goalies were switched we would have easily beat you. He was definitely the difference, nothing else.
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~*~*~*~*~ CONGRATULATIONS BLACKHAWKS!! ~*~*~*~*~
CALM down Disgusted...
It's a wonderful night and a wonderful event.
Let's ENJOY It W/O all the profanity.
What a feeling!
Congratulations Blackhawks, and all fans!!
It has been a loooong night for me, but one of the best in my life!
//David, Sodertalje, Sweden.
Wow, Philly fans are truly CLASSLESS!!! What's up with the booing?
Chicago Blackhawks, congratulations you are the Stanley Cup Champions!!
Take that puck CHrissy Pronger - nice -5 in biggest game of the year! And you are a constant Cup loser when Neidermeyer isn;t there to carry you!
Mark Lipdick "I'm very, very lucky given the history of Chicago sports to be alive and well when the four teams that matter...the White Sox, Bears, Bulls and now Blackhawks have won championships."
Well, make that three out of four of the teams that matter in Chicago, but one day the Cubs will win theirs too. Great too to see so many Hawks going to Wrigley Field and Cubs players going to the United Center to see the Hawks play this past season. Hawks players are smart enough to see the relevant baseball team in Chicago. Hopefully some of that will actually rub off on the Cubs. Congrats Hawks on a great season and for hoisting the Cup.
I LOVE THE HOGS AND TRICIA H! AND WATCHING THE CUBS WITH HER IN THE BLEACHERS ON FRIDAYS!
What Series! What a game! and what a GOAL!
I was ready to crown Hossa "The Cursed One"!
Whew! They did it baby! God Bless rocky Wirtz!!!
I can shave now! lol
Lifelong fan of Chicago sports, from Chi-town, living in LA now.....watched and cheered and prayed from afar....Been waiting my whole life for this......Now, Cubbies.....you're the only one left!
GO BLACKHAWKS.....Sending love from the West Coast!!!!
NY RANGER fan here living in PA now. Thank you Chicago for winning the cup (especially here in Philly). Great series. You deserve it!
Congratulations from a lifelong Flyers fan! I smiled when they handed Jonathan Toews the cup and was happy for Kane, Sharp, Eager and all the hawks.
No one likes their favorite team to lose, but we lost to a better team, period.
Congrats and enjoy your parade!
congrats to the hawks and thier fans, you are verry deserving and carry yourselves with such class and decorum, well done. enjoy this cause you never know when youre going to win it again. CONGRATS!
YES!!!!!!!!!!! BLACKHAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm very, very lucky given the history of Chicago sports to be alive and well when the four teams that matter...the White Sox, Bears, Bulls and now Blackhawks have won championships.
There are a lot of Chicagoans who can't make that claim.
Congrats to the Hawk players, the organization and the fans...all it took was a change in ownership to make it happen.
Wow...what a night!
Mark Liptak
Congrats to Hawks! And Chicago fans! Who deserves it more than us?????
I'm a Devils fan in NJ, but it was great watching the Blackhawks hoist the cup in Philly! Congrats Chicago!
BLACKHAWKS.
What a joke, they robbed of us a celebration!!!!! Pay ATENTION!!!!! You Moron NHL refs. The NHL owes us big time for that debacle. Nascar is not as obviously fixed as this. Was the NHL hoping nobody noticed the goal?????? UP YOOOOOUUUURRRRSSSS!!!!!! You and your cheap calls. No Doubt the Blackhawks and Chicago will forever be retaliated against for winning this series in six instead of seven.I can assure you that the release of adrenaline that was missed by the refs 'pretending' it was not a goal.... will seriously increase the VIOLENT crime rate in the next 24 hours. Blame it on the NHL, not the murderer. KILL, KILL, KILL.
Blackhawks Win Stanley Cup!! Amazing job and well worth the hard work. Thank you Chicago and the Blackhawks.
DZ
my god 49 years i have been waiting , god bless rocky wirtz
Now its time for the Cubs!!!!
Hawks are superior on even strength so they should take it home as long as they don't put the Flukers on the advantage. The announcers are hilarious. The puck shoots off Hartnell's skate and they call it 'remarkable Flukers resilience'! What a laugh! It's more like by the skin of their teeth.
Choke
A whole period without a penelty. How strange! Hopefully there will be none in OT.
Man, this is as good as competition gets.
How about clearing out some of the spam, mods?
What a game man!!!!!!!!!
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I guess they shouldn't have, yet
They just took the cup out of the case
Good thing cowgirl is here you know in case we want to get laid after the game.
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Hre come the Hawks the mighty Blaaaaackhawks!!!!!!!!!!
Niemi in the zone!!
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The officiating is on the level of the WWF. Bettman pregame said that there is no bias and direction to extend the series. What a joke. The Hawks are the better team and are showing when the refs go out of their way to keep it close. BTW Hartnell (Captain Caveman) is the new Pronger. nice triple spin dive on the phantom elbow then throwing elbows and cross checking like crazy himself.
I'm lying? Sad little g. Is this all you've got? You're not even good at it.
Enjoy those sour grapes.
KOK don't get him going. Let him enjoy the game
I'm watching CBC (Canada) they're stunned by the calls.
It is clearly obvious the NHL has told the refs to make sure there is a Game 7 in Chicago. Never thought I would see this in the NHL. Also, the Philly fans are the dumbest and most classless fans in the NHL. Totally classless just like their team and their team's coach.
There needs to be an investigation in terms of this officiating affter the no call for tripping Keith and now the call on Hossa!
NHL and NBC wants seven. It's coming back to Chicago.
Rangers fan here and I'm rooting real hard for the Hawks. Good luck but your goalie is not to be confused with Glenn Hall or Tony Esposito. I don't trust this kid; this series shouldn't be this tight. I hope your celebrating your azzes of tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What another weak penalty on Sopel. Love how the commentators make excuses for the refs. Instead of calling it b.s. they say well I guess they are gonna call a tight game. Total b.s. Series isn't even close if refs called the game fairly.
This is on Keith so far, how go you not stay on that guy? Just bad.
great officiating seriously elbowing and interference calls. Where were the calls for these infractions when Philly has committed them, games 1-5. Nice rationalization by TV crew citing zero tolerance. Let's see that tolerance when Philly elbows or interferes.
what a joke the league and refs are
dhbdad
Grab a fricken seat Sopel!! Get used to it because any more stupid penalties like the TWO you've already taken and you're DONE for this year!
Do the Hawks know "Power Play" means they have a one man advantage? Just curious...
Pronger is a BEEEYOTCH!!
'Don't Stop Believing'???And they're complaining about 'Chelsea Dagger'? They might as well use a Bangles song.