Redwood Shores, CA - April 13, 2009 – The Chicago Blackhawks will win the Stanley Cup for the first time since the 1960-61 season, according to the official EA SPORTS simulation of the 2010 NHL playoffs on the award-winning NHL 10 videogame. The Blackhawks defeated the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins in a seven game series to end a 49 year Stanley Cup drought.
Chicago all-star forward Jonathan Toews scored the series-clinching goal seven minutes into overtime of the seventh game, and Cristobal Huet stopped 43 of 44 shots to knock-off the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins. Conn Smythe Trophy winner Duncan Keith was a force on the blue line both offensively and defensively, potting four goals and netting a +5 rating in the match up against the Penguins. He finished with 25 points in the playoffs, including 17 assists. Patrick Kane led the Hawks in playoff scoring with 27 points while Pittsburgh centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin tied for the lead in playoff scoring with 31 points apiece.
2010 Stanley Cup Finals:
Game 1 – Chicago 3 Pittsburgh 2 OT
Game 2 – Pittsburgh 2 Chicago 1
Game 3 – Chicago 4 Pittsburgh 1
Game 4 – Pittsburgh 5 Chicago 2
Game 5 – Chicago 5 Pittsburgh 1
Game 6 – Pittsburgh 4 Chicago 3 OT
Game 7 – Chicago 2 Pittsburgh 1 OT
Notable 2010 Playoff Highlights:
- The Vancouver Canucks will reach the conference finals for the first time since their improbable Cup run in 1993-1994 NHL playoffs, but are eliminated by the Chicago Blackhawks for the second consecutive post-season.
- The Phoenix Coyotes make the playoffs for the first time since the 2002 season, but are eliminated in their first round match-up against the Detroit Red Wings.
- The 2009 Stanley Cup Finalist, Detroit Red Wings are handed an early exit by the Vancouver Canucks in the conference semi-finals.
- Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin face off in the Eastern Conference Final.
- Crosby’s Penguins walk away with the victory in this high scoring seven game series.
The NHL 10 computerized simulation is conducted using artificial intelligence that uses real-life data from each team, such as player ratings and line combinations, and includes variances such as injuries and hot streaks to predict a realistic outcome of each game and series.
The EA SPORTS NHL franchise has won over 20 Sports Game of the Year awards over the past three years and is one of the highest rated* sports game on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Feel what it’s like to be an NHL superstar in Be A Pro mode. Create yourself in game, choose your position, insert yourself onto the roster of your favorite team and then lead them to the Stanley Cup in NHL 10.
All information contained in this news post comes directly from a press release sent out by EA Sports.
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