OTD In 2010: Hawks 49 Year Cup Drought Ends!

Patrick Kane and a few other players on the ice knew the puck was in, while the crowd, the Flyers, and broadcasters had thought Leighton had made the save. After further video review, it was confirmed that the puck crossed the line, clinching the Blackhawks first Stanley Cup since 1961.

The Blackhawks roster during that 2010 Stanley Cup run had the perfect balance of youth and veteran players, as well as skilled and gritty players. Some key pieces to the 2010 Stanley Cup team included Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Brian Campbell, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Andrew Ladd, Troy Brouwer, Dave Bolland, Dustin Byfuglien, and Anti Niemi. All of these players stepped up in one way or another during the 2010 playoffs, scoring big goals, making big hits, or making huge saves to close out a series.

When Patrick Kane deked out the Flyers defensemen and buried the cup-clinching goal, he was only 21 years old. Since that moment, Kane has totaled a jaw-dropping 90 playoff points, a Conn Smythe, numerous NHL awards, and continues to climb the Blackhawks all-time scoring list. When it is all said and done, Kane will undoubtedly go down as the greatest American-born player ever, and possibly the best Blackhawk ever. The 2010 Stanley Cup Final was the arrival of the Chicago Blackhawks and the beginning of their dynasty, which was one of the best periods of Blackhawks hockey in the history of the storied franchise.