Bruins Encounter Hotel Issues As Stanley Cup Final Begins

The Bruins-Blackhawks Stanley Cup Final begins tonight with coverage on NBC at 8:00pm ET, and the "hotel situation in Chicago has had some in the Bruins camp grumbling a little bit." A couple of conventions "have the downtown hotel rooms at a premium and the Bruins will be switching hotels after tonight's game." As of yesterday, "some of the B's staff was staying separately from the team" (BOSTON HERALD, 6/12). 

With the first Stanley Cup Final matchup of Original Six franchises since Canadiens-Rangers in '79, the series is "gift wrapped in a bow for a league still trying to recover from a bitter lockout." Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said, "The tradition of the Bruins and the 'Hawks is special. I think it's good for the league. ... Two great hockey markets" (AP, 6/10). The TORONTO SUN's Rob Longley writes the "compelling matchup" could "make everyone forget about the ridiculous lockout" (TORONTO SUN, 6/12).