Stanley Cup Finals Season 2013 Episode 1 Game 1: Bruins vs Blackhawks

Game 1 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals pitted the Boston Bruins against the Chicago Blackhawks. Both teams came into the series with impressive playoff records, as Boston had won 12 of their last 14 games and Chicago had won seven straight.

The first period was a tightly contested affair, with neither team able to break through. Chicago goaltender Corey Crawford was tested early and often, making several key saves to keep the game scoreless. Boston's Tuukka Rask also played well, stopping all eight shots he faced in the opening frame.

The second period saw a bit more action, as each team traded power play opportunities. Boston's Tyler Seguin nearly cashed in on a wide-open net, but Crawford made a sprawling save to keep the game tied. Chicago finally broke through late in the period, as Andrew Shaw redirected a Michal Rozsival shot past Rask to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead.

The Bruins would respond early in the third period, as Milan Lucic deflected a shot from the point past Crawford to tie the game at 1-1. The remainder of the period was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams generating scoring chances. Despite the pressure, Rask and Crawford stood tall, sending the game to overtime.

The first overtime period was a tense affair, as both teams exchanged scoring chances. Boston's David Krejci had a golden opportunity to win the game, but his shot rang off the crossbar and out of play. Crawford made several key saves to keep the game alive, while Rask did the same for Boston.

It wasn't until the second overtime period that the deadlock was finally broken. Boston's Daniel Paille took advantage of a Chicago turnover and beat Crawford with a wrist shot to give the Bruins a thrilling 2-1 victory. The goal was Paille's third of the playoffs and gave Boston a 1-0 series lead.

Overall, the first game of the Stanley Cup Finals was a tightly contested battle between two evenly matched teams. Both goaltenders played well and several key players made big plays throughout the game. With the series off to an exciting start, fans can only hope that the rest of the series is just as entertaining.