Stanley Cup Finals 2013, Bruins vs. Blackhawks Game 1: Start Time, Live Stream, TV Schedule and More

On Monday, May 13, the Boston Bruins were just 9:18 away from blowing a 3-1 series lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs and losing in seven games to their division rival in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Needless to say, a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals wasn’t even on the mind of Bruins players, coaches, or fans. Everyone thought the series was over, and that the Maple Leafs were heading to the second round. But then the unthinkable happened.

In the final nine minutes, including twice in the final 90 seconds, the Bruins scored three times to send the game to overtime. Six minutes into the extra frame, Patrice Bergeron, who just so happened to be the man responsible for tying the game at four with 51 seconds left in the third, scored the series-winning OT goal to push Boston to the conference Semifinals.

From then on it seemed as if the Bruins were destined to make a run. They quickly disposed of the New York Rangers in five games, and then swept the “mighty” Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference finals. They reached the point where many didn’t expect them to be 5/6 of the way into game seven of the quarterfinals: for the second time in three years the Bruins are in the Stanley Cup Finals.

On the other side are the Chicago Blackhawks, a team who was expected to be here all along. They won the President’s Trophy as the team with the highest point total in the regular season, they made quick work of the Minnesota Wild in the first round, had a hard-fought battle with division rival Detroit in a semifinal series that went seven games, and took care of business in five games against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings. They made it to the place where they belonged with a roster so talented.

Now, the two juggernauts meet in game one of the NHL Stanley Cup finals just hours from now. It’s the first time since 1979 (New York Rangers v Montreal Canadiens) that members of the Original Six will face off for the Stanley Cup.

It’s Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane vs. Jaromir Jagr and David Krejci; Zdeno Chara and Milan Lucic vs. Duncan Keith and Bryan Bickell. It’s a battle of heavyweights who, if each team’s respective series up to this point are any indication, will have the Stanley Cup Final series of a lifetime.

What time do the Blackhawks and Bruins drop the puck? We’ve got all of the information you will need to know to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the action.

Start time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Venue: United Center
Series Record: Series tied, 0-0
TV Info: NBC
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra

Here is the schedule for the Bruins vs. Blackhawks best of seven series in the Eastern Conference Finals:

• Game 1 – Wednesday, June 12th – Boston @ Chicago 8 p.m. (NBC, CBC, RDS)
• Game 2 – Saturday, June 15th – Boston @ Chicago 8 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC, RDS)
• Game 3 – Monday, June 17th – Chicago @ Boston 8 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC, RDS)
• Game 4 – Wednesday, June 19th – Chicago @ Boston 8 p.m. (NBC, CBC, RDS)
• Game 5* – Saturday, June 22nd – Boston @ Chicago 8 p.m. (NBC, CBC, RDS)
• Game 6* – Monday, June 24th – Chicago @ Boston 8 p.m. (NBC, CBC, RDS)
• Game 7* – Wednesday, June 26th – Boston @ Chicago 8 p.m. (NBC, CBC, RDS)
• * if necessary

We hope that you enjoy the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals action and check back in with FanSided.com throughout the day and duration of the series as we keep you up to date with the latest news and rumors.