NEWSLETTER
In this period of transition for the Blackhawks, we’ve reminisced a lot about the dynasty era. The on-ice heroics of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews have been poured over all year, as they played their final seasons in Chicago.
When I saw the date on the calendar, one of Kane’s incredible moments immediately came to mind. So let’s jump into the way-back machine.
In the 2010 postseason, I will forever believe that the one team that stood between the Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup Final in the entire Western Conference was the Nashville Predators. They had Pekka Rinne in net and their top defensive pair of Shea Weber and Ryan Suter was as good as any in the entire NHL. At the time, they were a really good team.
On April 24, 2010, the series returned to the United Center tied at two games apiece. I was sitting in my usual spot: Section 302, row 2. With my buddy Dennis, we watched an all-time game that changed the trajectory of the franchise.
The Blackhawks took a 3-2 lead to the third period behind goals from Andrew Ladd, Niklas Hjalmarsson (of course) and Tomáš Kopecký (sure, why not). But Martin Erat, who seemed to be a pain in the side of the Blackhawks every time they played, scored twice in the first 12 minutes of the third period to give the Preds a 4-3 lead.
The Blackhawks were doing everything they could to climb back into the game but couldn’t beat Rinne. When Marian Hossa took a terrible, five-minute boarding penalty with 63 seconds left in regulation, the mood in the UC was somber. It felt like the game was over.
But the Hawks had one more ace in their back pocket. Head coach Joel Quenneville, as desperate as he ever was during a game in Chicago, sent Kane out on penalty killing duty in the closing minute of the game. The rest is history.
Kane’s goal tied the game and the United Center went absolutely crazy. Insane. When Hossa emerged from the box, went straight to the front of the net and scored the improbably game-winner, it was the loudest I EVER remember the United Center. I was knocked back in my seat by the roar. The roof wanted to come off that place, and the energy didn’t stop. People around me were crying in the 300 level.
After that game, the Blackhawks finished off the series in six and then swept the San Jose Sharks to advance to the Stanley Cup Final where they beat the Flyers in six games to clinch a championship for the first time in 49 years.
That goal still stands as the only short-handed goal in Patrick Kane’s career — regular or postseason. He has zero (0) short-handed goals in 1,180 regular season games and just this one (1) in 139 playoff games. In fact, Kane has only one other short-handed point in his career, an assist, in the regular or postseason.
