ON THIS DAY: Chicago's First Stanley Cup

There's nothing more exciting in hockey than hoisting Lord Stanley's Cup and it was certainly was the case for the Blackhawks when they did so for the very first time on April 10, 1934 at the Chicago Stadium.

The underdog Hawks had finished regular season just three games above .500 and were the lowest-scoring NHL team with just 83 goals in 48 games. But the team captain - goalie Charlie Gardiner - won his 2nd Vezina Trophy by allowing a league low 83 goals.

After the beating the Montreal Canadiens and the other Montreal squad - the Maroons - in the first two playoff rounds, the Hawks faced the favored Detroit Red Wings.

On the road, the Hawks captured the first two games in Detroit, 2-1 and 4-1 respectively, in the best-of-five Final. Back in Chicago for Game 3, the Red Wings prevailed 5-2. The Hawks wanted a win to clinch their first Cup engaged in a classic battle with the Red Wings. Midway into the second overtime of a scoreless duel, Harold "Mush" March - a 140-pound winger - scored the Cup clincher.

However, the celebration surrounding Chicago's first Stanley Cup would be tempered two months later.

The 29-year-old Gardiner had complained during the playoffs that he was not feeling well despite playing brilliantly. On June 13th, Gardiner died suddenly from a brain hemorrhage.

Despite a short career, Gardiner still ranks third among Hawk goalies with 42 shutouts behind Tony Esposito and Glenn Hall. He was the first NHL goalie ever to be named a team captain and first Hawk to win the Vezina Trophy. When the Hockey Hall of Fame opened in 1945, Gardiner was included among the first nine players inducted.