Chicago Blackhawks: 5 Things We Learned From Game 1 Win

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The Chicago Blackhawks didn’t play a tremendous game, but all it took was two goals by Teuvo Teravainen and Antoine Vermette in a span of 1:58 for the Hawks to steal a 2-1 victory on the road in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final.

Chicago trailed most of the way and didn’t get too many golden opportunities, but they made the most of the ones they generated to silence the Tampa faithful late in the third period.

Although the game itself wasn’t very explosive, there is still plenty to talk about from the opening game of the 2015 finals. Here are five things from Chicago’s Game 1 triumph.

Teuvo Time

It’s incredible to think that Joel Quenneville sat the young Teravainen out of Game 3 in the Western Conference finals. Teravainen was the key in his team’s victory. He rifled a precise wrist shot past Tampa’s Ben Bishop on a perfect shot that flew over Bishop’s right shoulder and just under the crossbar.

Teravainen certainly got some help from Marcus Kruger, who blanketed the 6-foot-7 Bishop in front of the net, but he also set himself up for success with great positioning after Duncan Keith cycled the puck around the left boards.

The 20-year-old’s best play came nearly two minutes later. Many will remember Vermette sniping a bullet past Bishop’s glove side shoulder, but the play started with an exceptional forecheck by Teravainen.

The play starts when Patrick Sharp and Victor Hedman chased a dump-in from Duncan Keith. After Hedman slaps the puck off the boards to teammate J.T. Brown, Teravainen ties up his stick and knocks the puck over to an anxious Vermette, who buries the clean look.

Teravainen showed just how talented he is on offense, but his assist on the game winner showed how he has matured as a defender as well. The Hawks saw a truly special performance from their young prospect.

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