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With belief and depth, Chicago gets early jump on Lightning
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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — When the Chicago Blackhawks were seven minutes away from losing the Stanley Cup Final opener, it wasn’t Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane or Duncan Keith who stepped up and perpetuated this team’s reputation for big-game grit.Teuvo Teravainen, a 20-year-old Finn who suited up for the Blackhawks for the first time this season in January, scored the tying goal. He then set up the winner by Antoine Vermette — who didn’t pull on a Blackhawks sweater until March. Corey Crawford, the goalie who briefly lost his job six weeks ago, quietly shut out Tampa Bay for the final 55 minutes of a one-goal win.The Blackhawks are going for a third title in six seasons because they’re much more than a cluster of stars.No matter what style they must play to win, the Blackhawks have a culture that sets them up for steady success in the cauldron of the Stanley Cup Final, which continues with Game 2 on Saturday night.The Chicago captain thinks it’s about time to recognize his ever-changing supporting cast and the coaches who keep it all together.“Everyone wants to talk about this Blackhawks team that keeps coming back to the Stanley Cup Final, the common players that have been on those teams, what they do well,” Toews said.