After putting forth a thrilling triple-overtime classic in the opener of the Stanley Cup final, the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks will look to provide an encore in Game 2 on Saturday, when the Original Six rivals reconvene at the United Center. Andrew Shaw scored 12:08 into the third extra session as Presidents' Trophy-winning Chicago overcame a pair of two-goal deficits to post a 4-3 triumph in the fifth-longest game in Stanley Cup final history. Shaw ended the wild affair by tallying on a double deflection - after Chicago had tied the game at 3-3 in the third period as defenseman Johnny Oduya's shot caromed off the skate of Boston blue-liner Andrew Ference and into the net.
"It's those two tough bounces that went in, and there's nothing you can do," said Boston's Patrice Bergeron, who was honored as the King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner on Friday. The award is presented to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice. The Bruins will need that leadership to rebound in Game 2 - or else they'll head back to Beantown with an 0-2 deficit in a Stanley Cup final for the second time in three years.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN, CBC, RDS
ABOUT THE BRUINS: Top-line wing Nathan Horton participated in practice on Friday and is a game-time decision for Saturday's tilt. "He's day-to-day, and that's where he is," coach Claude Julien said of Horton, who sustained an unspecified upper-body injury after an exchange with Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson during the first overtime in Game 1. "That's why he practiced (Friday), and we'll have to make a decision on Nate (Saturday). But it was encouraging to see him out there today, and if he feels good, he's in the lineup." Should Horton missed the contest, Tyler Seguin likely would move to the top line - as he did during the latter stages of Game 1.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS: Jonathan Toews was named the Frank J. Selke Award winner, which goes to the league's best defensive forward. The captain claimed the award over finalists Bergeron and three-time winner Pavel Datsyuk of Detroit. "To be able to go head to head with guys like that in the playoffs, and to know them from the past, you understand how much they mean to their teams and how much they contribute offensively and defensively," Toews said. Toews registered a stunning plus-28 rating in the regular season but has mustered just one goal and eight assists in the playoffs.
OVERTIME
1. Boston's top line of David Krejci (NHL-leading nine goals, 14 assists), Horton (seven goals, 11 assists) and Milan Lucic (five goals, 11 assists) has combined for 21 goals and 36 assists in the postseason. Lucic tallied twice in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final.
2. Blackhawks G Corey Crawford and Bruins G Tuukka Rask set career highs with 51 and 59 saves, respectively, in Game 1.
3. Boston yielded more goals on Wednesday versus Chicago (four) than it did in the entire Eastern Conference final against Pittsburgh (two).