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Prep for Game 1! News and notes to know from NBC Sports Research

Corey Crawford

Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks hoists the Stanley Cup Trophy after defeating the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on June 24, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Boston Bruins 3-2. (June 23, 2013 - Source: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America)

A host of news and notes as Chicago and Boston prepare for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final tonight (watch 8 p.m. ET on NBC and live online).

PLAYOFF HISTORY


  • 7th postseason meeting (BOS won 5 of previous 6 series, leads )
  • 1927 NHL Quarterfinals (Blackhawks’ 1st NHL season) – BOS won on goal differential in 2 games
  • 1942 NHL Quarterfinals – BOS won in 3 (best-of-3)
  • 1970 NHL Semifinals – BOS won in 4 (best-of-7) … BOS later won Cup
  • 1974 NHL Semifinals – BOS won in 6 (best-of-7)
  • 1975 NHL Preliminary Round – CHI won in 3 (best-of-3) … April 11, 1975, last CHI postseason win vs. BOS
  • 1978 NHL Quarterfinals – BOS won in 4 (best-of-7) … April 23, 1978, last postseason meeting
  • Blackhawks (58th postseason appearance, 12th Cup Final appearance – won in 1934, 1938, 1961, 2010)
  • Bruins (68th postseason appearance, 19th Cup Final appearance – won in 1929, 1939, 1941, 1970, 1972, 2011)

DID NOT MEET DURING 2012-13 REGULAR SEASON


  • Last meeting at the United Center: October 15, 2011 (won by BOS, 3-2 in shootout)
  • Last meeting at TD Garden: March 29, 2011 (won by BOS, 3-0)
  • Jaromir Jagr (BOS) is the only player on either team who has faced his team’s Stanley Cup Final opponent during the 2012-13 regular season. His Dallas Stars lost to the Blackhawks on Jan. 24 (3-2 loss) and Mar. 16 (8-1 loss), both at Dallas

FROM TEAMMATES TO RIVALS

International
Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook (CHI) & Patrice Bergeron (BOS) were teammates on gold medal-winning Canada at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver … Bergeron also became a Stanley Cup champion on the same ice (Rogers Arena) in 2011 … Toews & Bergeron are the two most recent members of the Triple Gold Club (Stanley Cup, Olympic & World gold medals) … Jaromir Jagr has also won all three major hockey titles, with the Penguins & Czech Republic
Zdeno Chara (BOS), Marian Hossa & Michal Handzus (CHI) were teammates on Slovakia in 2010.

NHL
Zdeno Chara (2001-06), Wade Redden (1996-2008), Chris Kelly (2003-Feb. 2011), Marian Hossa (1997-2004) and Ray Emery (2002-08) were all teammates on Senators ... Redden, Kelly & Emery played on losing side in 2007 Stanley Cup Final
Shawn Thornton (BOS) played first 31 NHL games with Blackhawks (2002-06), was teammates with Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Corey Crawford (CHI) in 2005-06 … Thornton played four seasons with AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals (2001-06), was teammates with Keith for two seasons (2003-05) and Seabrook (2004-05) and Crawford (2005-06) for one each
Jaromir Jagr (BOS) & Michal Rozsival (CHI) were teammates on Penguins (1999-2001), Rangers (2005-07) and gold medal-winning Czech Republic at 2010 IIHF World Championships
Johnny Oduya (CHI) played rookie season (2006-07) under Claude Julien (BOS) with the Devils before the latter was fired by GM Lou Lamoriello with three games remaining in the season … Oduya was also teammates with Jay Pandolfo (BOS) from 2006-10
Johnny Boychuk (BOS) played four games under Joel Quenneville (CHI) with Avs in 2007-08
Nathan Horton, Gregory Campbell, Dennis Seidenberg (BOS) & Michael Frolik (CHI) were teammates on Panthers in 2009-10
Patrick Sharp, Michal Handzus (CHI) & Dennis Seidenberg (BOS) were teammates on Flyers 2002-06
Dennis Seidenberg (BOS) & Dan Carcillo (CHI) were teammates on Coyotes in 2006-07
Johnny Oduya (CHI) & Rich Peverley (BOS) were teammates on Thrashers from 2009-Feb. 2011 Rich Peverley (BOS) & Sheldon Brookbank (CHI) were teammates on Predators in 2006-07 and AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals from 2005-07
Joel Quenneville (CHI) & Doug Jarvis (BOS) were teammates on Hartford Whalers from 1985-88

Europe
Patrick Kane (CHI, 13 G, 23 P in 20 GP) & Tyler Seguin (BOS, 25 G, 40 P in 29 GP) were teammates on EHC Biel of the Swiss National League A during the 2012-13 NHL lockout
Viktor Stalberg (CHI, 3 G, 10 P in 14 GP) & Anton Khudobin (BOS, 2.97 GAA, 1 SO in 26 GP) were teammates on HC Atlant Mytishchi of the Russian KHL during the 2012-13 NHL lockout … Ray Emery (CHI) also played for Atlant after leaving the NHL for one season (2008-09), as did Chris Bourque (BOS), in 2010-11
Jaromir Jagr, David Krejci (BOS) & Michael Frolik (CHI) all came through Kladno program in Czech Republic … Jagr & Krejci were teammates on the 2010 Czech Olympic team
Zdeno Chara (BOS) & Marian Hossa (CHI) came through Trencin program in Slovakia
Minors Michal Rozsival (CHI) & Andrew Ference (BOS) – Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins (AHL) in 2000-01
Chris Kelly (BOS) & Sheldon Brookbank (CHI) – Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) in 2001-02
Dennis Seidenberg (BOS) & Patrick Sharp (CHI) – Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL) 2002-05 … won Calder Cup together in 2005

Juniors
Patrick Kane, Brandon Saad, Nick Leddy, Jimmy Hayes, Jeremy Morin (CHI) all came up through U.S. Development Program
Patrick Kane, Dave Bolland (CHI) and Chris Kelly (BOS) all played junior hockey with the London Knights (OHL) … Bolland was on the Dale Hunter-led squad that won the Memorial Cup in 2005
Brad Marchand (BOS) & Corey Crawford (CHI) – Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) in 2004-05
Andrew Shaw (CHI) & Dougie Hamilton (BOS) – Niagara IceDogs (OHL) in 2009-10
Matt Bartkowski (BOS), Brandon Bollig & Jimmy Hayes (CHI) – Lincoln Stars (USHL)

AMERICAN-BORN PLAYERS

Blackhawks
Patrick Kane – Buffalo
Brandon Saad – Pittsburgh
Nick Leddy – Eden Prairie, MN
Brandon Bollig – St. Charles, MO
Ben Smith – Winston-Salem, NC

Bruins
Torey Krug – Livonia, MI
Matt Bartkowski – Pittsburgh
Jay Pandolfo – Winchester, MA
Carter Camper – Rocky River, OH
Chris Bourque – Boston

UNIVERSITY PLAYERS

Blackhawks
Jimmy Hayes (Boston College - 09,10,11)
Ben Smith (Boston College - 07,08,09,10)
Duncan Keith (Michigan State - 02,03)
Nick Leddy (Minnesota - 10)
Jonathan Toews (North Dakota - 06,07)
Brandon Pirri (RPI - 10)
Brandon Bollig (St. Lawrence - 09,10)
Patrick Sharp (Vermont - 01,02)
Viktor Stalberg (Vermont - 07,08,09)
Jamal Mayers (Western Michigan - 93,94,95,96)

Bruins
Chris Bourque (Boston University - 05)
Jay Pandolfo (Boston University - 93,94,95,96)
Bob Essensa (Michigan State - 84,85,86,87)
Torey Krug (Michigan State - 10,11,12)
Matt Bartkowski (Ohio State - 09,10)
Rich Peverley (St. Lawrence - 01,02,03,04)

PREVIOUS STANLEY CUP WINNERS

with 2010 Blackhawks (8 players of 21, 2 coaches):
Dave Bolland, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Toews (captain, Conn Smythe winner), Joel Quenneville (head coach), Stephane Waite (asst)
with other franchises (1 coach):
Jamie Kompon (asst, 2012 Kings)

with 2011 Bruins (17 players of 21, 4 coaches):
Patrice Bergeron, Johnny Boychuk, Gregory Campbell, Zdeno Chara (captain), Andrew Ference, Nathan Horton, Chris Kelly, David Krejci, Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand, Adam McQuaid, Daniel Paille, Rich Peverley, Tuukka Rask, Dennis Seidenberg, Tyler Seguin, Shawn Thornton, Claude Julien (head coach), Doug Houda (asst), Doug Jarvis, Geoff Ward (asst), Bob Essensa (asst)
with other franchises (4 players, 1 coach):
Jaromir Jagr (1991, 1992 Penguins), Jay Pandolfo (2000, 2003 Devils), Shawn Thornton (with 2007 Ducks), Doug Jarvis (1976-79 Canadiens as player; 1999 Stars as asst coach)

SEEKING 1ST STANLEY CUP

Blackhawks

have played or coached one+ playoff game this postseason (15 players, 1 coach):
Bryan Bickell (name not etched), Brandon Bollig, Sheldon Brookbank, Daniel Carcillo, Corey Crawford, Ray Emery (back-up goalie), Michael Frolík, Michal Handzuš, Marcus Krüger, Nick Leddy, Johnny Oduya, Michal Rozsíval, Brandon Saad, Andrew Shaw, Viktor Stålberg, Mike Kitchen (asst)

Bruins

have played or coached one+ playoff game this postseason (6 players):
Matt Bartkowski, Kaspars Daugaviņš, Dougie Hamilton, Anton Khudobin (back-up goalie), Torey Krug, Wade Redden