Hitchcock: 1st-round series with Blackhawks 'feels very much like a Final'

Hockey fans are in luck, as it appears the Stanley Cup Final has come early.

The St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks are through just three games of the opening round, but the intensity of three one-goal contests has begun to mimic something much greater.

"This feels very much like a Final and it's the first round," Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock said. "Both teams are laying it out there."

The Blues used a third-period rally Sunday to top the Blackhawks 3-2, something the head coach wasn't surprised to see from his club.

"We've come back so many times," Hitchcock said, according to The Athletic Chicago's Scott Powers. "It doesn't seem to be a problem with this group."

Unfortunately for both clubs, the winner will still have to endure three more grueling series before they can lay claim to Lord Stanley. Game 4 of the thrilling quarterfinal matchup goes Tuesday.