The 2012–13 Chicago Blackhawks season was the 87th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on September 25, 1926. The regular season was reduced from its usual 82 games to 48 due to a lockout. The Blackhawks captured the Western Conference championship and went on to defeat the Eastern Conference playoff champion Boston Bruins in six games to capture their fifth Stanley Cup in team history. The Blackhawks also became just the eighth team to win both the Cup and the Presidents' Trophy (as the team with the best regular season record) in the same season, as well as the first team to win multiple championships during the NHL’s salary cap era. Chicago's Patrick Kane was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs. Off-season Sheldon Brookbank, and Michal Rozsival re-signed with the Chicago Blackhawks during the off-season. Sean O'Donnell, and Andrew Brunette retired. Rostislav Olesz, and Steve Montador both had a Compliance buyout. Blackhawks made a trade with the San Jose Sharks, as the Blackhawks got a 4th round 2012 draft pick, and a 7th round 2013 draft pick; in exchange the Sharks got a 4th round 2012 pick. Pre-season Due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout, the NHL pre-season was cancelled. Regular season The 48-game, shortened season was limited to conference and divisional games only. The Blackhawks did not play any teams from the Eastern Conference until they advanced to the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals against the Boston Bruins. The Blackhawks played three games each against non-divisional teams. Against their own division, the Blackhawks played four games against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings and five games against the Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues. On January 26 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Blackhawks tied a franchise record by starting the season 5–0–0 for the first time since the 1971–72 season. On the very next night, against the Detroit Red Wings, the Blackhawks set a new franchise record by starting the season 6–0–0. On February 19, against the Vancouver Canucks, the Blackhawks tied the NHL record set by the Anaheim Ducks in 2006–07 with a 16-game unbeaten streak to start the season, and beat the Ducks' record (28 points) by one point. On February 22 against the San Jose Sharks, the Blackhawks set a new NHL record with a 17 game unbeaten streak to start a season.