Kane Ends Chicago's Wait for the Cup

It wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I stated that Patrick Kane was the X-factor in this series, but his overtime goal in Game 6 was exactly what the Chicago Blackhawks needed to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-3, to claim the Stanley Cup.

And now comes the hard part for the franchise, which will next face the accountants who will help them scan the roster and trim the payroll to fit under the salary cap next season. (Sporting News Today offers Kris Versteeg, Patrick Sharp and Dustin Byfuglien as candidates for departure. Consider and discuss. Who are your candidates?)

There will be some pain this summer. Some critical figures in the dressing room will be on the move. Some champagne or cold beer in the Stanley Cup should help make that part of the story go down better.



Next up is the rest of the American Hockey League's Calder Cup finals (check the spreadsheet bookwork below for all the details) and then the NHL draft. After that, I put the Lounge's remote control on the shelf, open up the blinds and throw out about 400 pounds of notes, box scores, magazines, schedules, power-play diagrams, depth charts and take-out menus.

And after that, summer is officially marked in the Lounge by watching the NHL Network, which shows every game of the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, from the first to the last. Thanks to better technology, good cable plans and some fortysomething eyes that can still get the job done, I watched all but 6 games this spring. Gotta do better than that next year.

The CBC always does a good job on video montages to sum up the playoffs, and I thought they would be hard pressed to top the production of last season, which was put to the fine tune "Sleeping Sickness" by City & Colour (for my money, ain't no flaws there). This year the Smashing Pumpkins' "Tonight, Tonight" gets the call.

And while I might have been disappointed by the song, the footage remains top shelf. Seeing Jean Béliveau giving the Canadiens' Glen Metropolit a note of encouragement is enough for me. I hope it is for you.

Don't forget about us here in the Lounge this summer. We'll be here. Thanks for dropping in.



NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Stanley Cup Finals
Best of 7
Chicago 4, at Philadelphia 3 OT
(Chicago wins, 4-2)
Recap is here.
Three stars by Puck Daddy.
Chicago Blackhawks, 2010 Stanley Cup Champions



AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Calder Cup Finals
Best of 7
Hershey 4, at Texas 2
(Series tied, 2-2)
Recap is here.