from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

It was, first-and-foremost, a purely fascinating study in the art of playoff hockey, all momentum swings and desperation plays, almost two games for the price of one. These were two teams – the Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins - presumably aware that whoever drew first blood in the Stanley Cup final would have a significant leg-up in the ultimate outcome.

All the things that sometimes make the NHL must-see TV were on display during Wednesday night’s opener, won 4-3 in triple overtime by the Blackhawks over the Bruins, the first Original Six match-up in the Stanley Cup final since 1979 and one that genuinely lived up to its advance billing.

Chicago overcame a two-goal third-period deficit on goals by Dave Bolland and Johnny Oduya a little over four minutes apart midway through the third period and that’s when the Madhouse on Madison went completely mad. There were 22,110 spectators crammed into the United Center, hanging on every twist and turn, waiting to see how it would turn out, as the teams ramped it up in overtime, trading chances, forcing the goaltenders to match each other, save for save.

Fatigue eventually took its toll on the aesthetics of the game, but heightened the tension, like two boxers, punchy after a fight that went the distance, but neither giving any quarter.

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from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

When you sit ringside, up close, for the best nights of championship boxing, the historical fights, there is no way to identify the winner without a knockout punch or in the end the ring announcer reads out the scorecard.

There was no need for a ring announcer Wednesday night at the United Center, with the kind of feeling common to those who have experienced the gut-wrenching drama when sport is at its best.

It was that way in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final.

Round 1 to Muhammad Ali.

Round 2 to Joe Frazier.

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