SI cover: Chicago Blackhawks are the NHL's modern dynasty

On June 13, 1997, the Chicago Bulls beat the Utah Jazz for the franchise's fifth NBA title. That was the last time the Windy City saw a championship in any sport won within its confines ... until Monday night.

The last three sports titles won by the city now belong to the Blackhawks, who dispatched the Tampa Bay Lightning at the United Center to the win the Stanley Cup, four games to two, and hoist Lord Stanley's hallowed chalice in front of 22,000 roaring faithful. It was the first time that the Hawks had clinched the Cup on home ice since 1938.

The Blackhawks win was all but secured when Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane found the back of the net at 14:46 of the third period, setting off an eruption of cheers and celebration that was still felt in the early morning hours in the streets of Chicago. It was Kane’s only goal of the series.

Chicago's 2–0 victory, the only one of the six games in the series to be decided by more than one goal, helped cement the Blackhawks as hockey’s latest dynasty. They are the first team since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997, ’98 and 2002 to win three Cups in a six-year span.

The championship pedigree of the Blackhawks included outstanding goaltending and the ability to save leads, winning all 33 games this season when they were ahead after two periods.

• GRAPHIC: How the 2014-15 Blackhawks were built

​​Duncan Keith, the Conn Smythe Trophy-winner as the playoffs’ Most Valuable Player, opened the scoring in the second period of Game 6, recording the last of his 21 postseason points on a rebound off his own miss. Keith is the first defenseman in 18 years to win the Symthe.

“We wanted it for each other (and) for the city,” Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said after the game. “Winning a championship like this in your own city in some ways transcends the sport. Everyone wants to be a part of it. It’s amazing. You can feel the energy.”

For the Lightning, the off-season is going to be long and painful, haunted by an inability to score in the final. Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos, who potted 43 goals during the regular season (second in the NHL), was turned back time and time again, or simply missed on golden opportunities, during the last three weeks. He was held without a single goal in his last eight playoff games.

“I am here to produce, and that is what I am here for,” Stamkos said while accepting the blame for his team’s failure to win the championship. “Obviously, I wanted to be better. It wasn’t good enough.”

Fans in the United Center could be heard chanting, “We want the Cup! We want the Cup!” all night long, and though it was delayed in its arrival at the arena due to heavy weather that included a tornado watch, the Blackhawks obliged.

For more on the Blackhawks, check out Austin Murphy’s story in this week’s Sports Illustrated (subscribe here).

Also in this issue: Continuing coverage of the NBA Finals and a special report of the heroin epidemic in youth sports.

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