If, in any way, you are taken aback by this Stanley Cup matchup, you are missing the point.
Having the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning as the last two teams standing is completely on-trend.
For the sixth time this decade, hockey’s ultimate series pits a dominant puck-possession team against a club that is, at the very least, above-average in the play-driving department.
The Blackhawks and Lightning this year ranked second and fourth, respectively, in regular-season SAT%, otherwise known as Corsi.
Neither won a division title, yet Chicago and Tampa joined the Los Angeles Kings (first) and Detroit Red Wings (third) as the only clubs whose end-of-season possession rating stood at 53% or higher.