Lord Stanley is in the House for Game 6 of Stanley Cup Finals

The Chicago Blackhawks are on the brink of NHL stardom once again for the first time since 2010! After a 3-1 home victory to take a 3-2 lead in the series, the players will now head to Boston to take on the Bruins knowing that a win would clinch the Stanley Cup. Through the first 5 games of the Finals, there has been a clear feeling that the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals is amongst the most exciting NHL series ever played.

 

This series has had it all. Game 1 went to triple overtime, while games 2 and 4 went to single overtime. Only in two matches has the victor won by more than one goal. But while this proves to be one of the most enduring and grueling Stanley Cup Finals in quite some time, it has also been one of the most competitive and evenly matched Finals ever.

 

All this intensity and effort has now resulted in several injuries. It seems that both Jonathan Toews of the Blackhawks and Patrice Bergeron are set to miss at least Game 6 of the Finals, and such absences will surely put an additional strain on an already challenging run of games.

 

But right now the man of the hour looks to be Patrick Kane of the Blackhawks, the hero who clinched the 2010 Stanley Cup with an overtime goal. After having not scored in the first 3 matches of the Finals, Kane has added a goal in Game 4 and two goals in Game 6. Additionally, both goals were masterfully crafted, revealing the player’s creativity and knack for instinctual shots and puck control. Now is the time for Kane to strike and put the series to bed!

 

But the Boston Bruins won’t be put down this easily, either! Boston has several players who are having great Stanley Cup Finals, including David Krejci, Nathan Horton, and Milan Lucic. Although the loss of Bergeron will surely be felt, this team has been battle-tested and proven throughout the 2013 NHL Playoffs. Therefore, I would be incredible surprised if they give up Game 6 in front of their home fans tonight. Although a lot depends upon how the puck bounces, Tuukka Rask will need to put in a strong performance tonight. He has been a sensational goalie in the playoffs and any former Stanley Cup Champion understands the importance of solid goalie play on the biggest nights.

 

Goalies were the talk of the pre-Stanley Cup Finals debates between the teams, but both have had shaky moments throughout these finals. If either goalie can rise to the occasion now and help clinch the title, it would be a monumental achievement. Corey Crawford of the Blackhawks has been strong too, and while I do think that the Blackhawks will win the series, I think that it will be pushed to Game 7 after a strong display form Rask tonight in Boston. The Bruins have their backs against the wall for tonight and I expect them to respond and push this incredible series to Game 7. Look for the Boston Bruins to win game 6 in double overtime, 3-2!

 

No matter who takes the Stanley Cup this year, AAA Sports Memorabilia will

have the collectibles that you are looking for. As soon as the Stanley Cup Champion is determined, we will have memorabilia commemorating the team and the experience. All of our hockey memorabilia is officially licensed by the NHL and all of our autographs are obtained through private signings with the athletes. Come check out what we have today!

NHL Playoffs Hitting Full Swing: Likely Suspects in Contention for Stanley Cup

Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup Trophy

One of the wonderful things about professional ice hockey is the even quality spread out across the NHL. 9 different teams have won the last 9 Stanley Cup titles. However, the 2013 NHL Playoffs look to be altering the trend a little bit. 8 teams are currently playing for the Cup and of those teams, 5 have won the Stanley Cup in the last five years, showing that a consistent quality team is the most likely to win it all. Also, it shows that we will probably see a recent champion win a second Stanley Cup title and gain prominence as an emerging dynasty in professional hockey.

 

The teams that look most favored to lift the cup are the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Los Angeles Kings, the Detroit Red Wings, and the Boston Bruins. Each team is a recent winner and knows the thrill and the hard work that must go into claiming the Stanley Cup.

The Chicago Blackhawks were the regular season’s best team and will expect to make a deep run in the playoffs. Having won the 2010 Stanley Cup after a Patrick Kane overtime goal in game 7, this team is now more mature and just as talented as their previous championship side.

 

Facing the Blackhawks are the 2008 champions, the Detroit Red Wings. A usual contender for the title, the Red Wings thrive with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, two experienced veterans who led the team to that championship. Although their regular season wasn’t as dominant, the Red Wings and Blackhawks are currently tied in what could be a thrilling Conference Semifinals matchup.

The other heavyweight favorite for the Stanley Cup is the Pittsburgh Penguins, who won it all in 2009. Behind the ever-talented Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the Penguins were the best team in the Eastern Conference and currently hold a 2-1 advantage over the Ottawa Senators. Although Crosby hasn’t quite been the dominant figure in ice hockey that people suspected after his first championship, another victory would surely be a step in the right direction.

 

The Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 2011 but had a pretty marginal 2013. With more of a team effort, the Bruins don’t rely on just several stars, and have been catapulted to a hot postseason following a dramatic game 7 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins now sit 2-0 up on the New York Rangers and could be spurred on to another Cup with most of the same players from the 2011 team. That was a tight year though, and with the Blackhawks and Penguins more dominant this season, the talent gap could prove to be too high.

 

One last contender to examine is the reigning champion Los Angeles Kings, who are currently up 2-1 in their series with the San Jose Sharks. Seeded 8^th last year, they stunned everyone with a dramatic postseason run to the Stanley Cup, and the Kings may just do it again this year. They showed that dreams can become a reality! Could they do it again?

 

It’s doubtful. Because of the lopsided results in the regular season, I feel that this Stanley Cup will be contested between the Penguins and Blackhawks. But ice hockey is a tricky sport, and with game 7 playoff matches a common theme this year, perhaps a lower-seeded team can pull an upset. Let’s see how the rest of the NHL Playoffs shape up!

 

No matter which NHL team ends up with the Stanley Cup this year, AAA Sports Memorabilia will have a great selection of sports collectibles commemorating the accomplishment. We specialize in authentic autographed sports memorabilia and officially licensed sports collectibles. No matter what you are looking for, we probably have it. Our autographs are obtained through private signings with the athletes and are guaranteed for life to be authentic. We have been helping collectors since 2006 with their collecting needs and will continue to do so for years to come.

Early NHL Standings as Hockey Season begins to Take Shape

Boston Bruins Signature Rink

After many hours of frustration, speculation, and general sadness throughout the ice hockey world during the painful strike that occurred in recent months, the NHL has returned and ice hockey is being played again. The season has now reached a point of roughly 15 games for most teams, and this provides a decent starting point to look towards which teams will be competing for the Stanley Cup finals this summer. Through the early goings of this NHL season, the most serious contenders appear to be the Chicago Blackhawks, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Vancouver Canucks, the Boston Bruins and the Anaheim Ducks. Let’s see whom of these early darlings will go on to great success.

 

The team currently looking the most dominant is the Chicago Blackhawks. Their team is led by the sensational right winger, Patrick Kane. Kane is 4^th in the NHL with 21 points, and has helped the Blackhawks to an impressive 12-0-3 start. Having not lost a single game during regulation time, this team looks destined for greatness. The Blackhawks also won a Stanley Cup in 2010, with Kane providing a dramatic overtime goal to win the cup in the famous game 6.

 

The Blackhawks will have an early-season test tonight facing the Vancouver Canucks. Harboring a mighty defence with a veteran goalie in Roberto Luongo, the Canucks have proved tough to break down for opposing teams. With an 8-3-3 record they are the best team in the Northwest and will be a tough nut to crack for any high-scoring team.

 

Also impressive in the Western Conference of the NHL is the Anaheim Ducks, who have marched on to a solid 11-2-1 record. With the 4^th highest amount of goals in the NHL, the Ducks are in free-flowing form and are led by right-winger Teemu Selanne, a player from Finland who is still performing at the age of 42. Defying all logic and reason, this hot start from the Anaheim Ducks could lead to an incredible run. The Ducks last won the Stanley Cup in 2007, but Selanne would love another to cap off his career in style.

 

One team from the Eastern Conference that looks powerful is the Pittsburgh Penguins, led by the once-in-a-generation type of player Sidney Crosby. Although injuries have been detrimental to Crosby in recent seasons, he has played great thus far this year, and is 2^nd in the NHL in points. If he can just stay healthy, the Penguins will contend.

 

Another team to look out for is the Boston Bruins. With a 9-2-2 record, the Bruins aren’t built around stellar statistics or superstar players. The Bruins simply play and win as a team. They also have shown great determination in achieving a 94% penalty kill percentage. With their backs to the wall, they are a team that doesn’t give in, and their impressive start bodes well.

 

So how does the current NHL season look to pan out? It is far too early to make any clear predictions, but I do have a belief in “Sid the Kid” and fully suspect that the Pittsburgh Penguins have the best shot of lifting the Stanley Cup trophy at season’s end.

 

No matter which team you are rooting for to make it to the Stanley Cup, AAA Sports Memorabilia has a collectible for your team. We specialize in authentic autographed sports memorabilia and also have non-autographed officially licensed sports collectibles. All of our autographs are obtained through private signings with the athletes and are guaranteed for life to be authentic.