Dut. Dutta Dut. Dutta Dut. Dutta Dutta Dutta Dut.
Tonight the Chicago Blackhawks opened the NHL regular season by raising their latest Stanley Cup Championship banner. Then they did something I bet $10 they would not. They won the game against the Washington Capitals. Holy Cow! After an emotional pre-game ceremony, the Blackhawks found a way to come back in the 3rd period and start the season with a big 6-4 victory. It’s rare for teams to win on banner raising night. Very impressive.
It was their second banner raising in the last few years. Some say 4 years. Some say 3 years. Which brings me to tonight’s question. Is it 3 years or 4 years? I’ve been struggling with this question for almost 6 months. Ever since the Blackhawks started preparing for their latest playoff run with the best record in the NHL, pundits proactively pontificated that if they claimed the Cup…”it would be their 2nd championship in 4 years”.
But wait a second. The Blackhawks won the 2010 Stanley Cup on June 9th. They won the 2013 Stanley Cup on June 24th. Give or take a couple weeks, that is 3 calendar years in between cup clinching victories. On the other side of the equation, the Blackhawks won the 2010 Stanley Cup. The Boston Bruins won the 2011 Stanley Cup. The LA Kings won the 2012 Stanley Cup. Then the Blackhawks won the 2013 Stanley Cup. So that is 2 Stanley Cups in the last 4 NHL seasons.
So that is how I want the world to conform. Stop using the word “years”. Only use the word “seasons”. So if/when the Blackhawks win another Stanley Cup next Spring, it will be their 3rd championship in the last 5 seasons. End of story…as they begin the journey.
Go Hawks!