From the press box to the penthouse.
Antoine Vermette scored the game-winning goal 5:37 into the second overtime of Game 4 of the Western Conference final to even up the series at two games apiece.
The final score: 5-4. But how did we get here?
The message circulating through the home team’s locker room in the United Center before Game 4 was to be more aggressive after scoring only one goal in Game 3’s loss despite five chances on the man-advantage. Two-time Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith took it upon himself early on in Saturday’s contest to enforce that message at both ends of the ice.
In the first period, #2 in red and black was providing a spark for his team both defensively and offensively. Within his own zone, Keith forced the Anaheim Ducks out of their element by swiftly and calmly transiting the puck up ice. He was getting his stick in the lanes of Ducks shooters and bodied the opposition, forcing several turnovers.
Two hundred feet away from his goaltender, Keith danced across the blue line to dictate the pace and allow his fellow teammates to set up in front of Anaheim goaltender Frederik Andersen. The 31-year-old defenseman made precise passes to maintain possession and pressure on the visitors early and often.
Keith’s teammates followed suit, resulting in a dominating opening frame from the Blackhawks. There was more traffic in front of Andersen and shots were getting through, but the game remained scoreless. The Danish goalie stopped all shots when his team was at even-strength and on the penalty kill. However, when his team was on the man-advantage, Brandon Saad managed to split both Francois Beauchemin and Ryan Kesler.
On the ensuing breakaway, Saad went backhand-forehand and ripped a shot over the blocker of Andersen with 46.5 seconds left. The 22-year-old forward’s fourth goal of the playoffs sent the Blackhawks into the intermission with momentum, and lots of it. Chicago outshot Anaheim 14-6 and led by a score of 1-0 after 20 minutes.
Bruce Boudreau’s club bounced back in the second frame, outshooting the Blackhawks 13-6. After Nicklas Hjalmarsson failed to clear the zone, Kyle Palmieri sent a shot towards the glove of Corey Crawford, but Emerson Etem’s pant leg deflected it into the net with 1:46 left in the second. Etem’s third postseason tally tied the game at one and rewarded a hockey club who had adapted well to the Hawks run-and-gun style of play. After the second period concluded, Chicago and Anaheim were tied 1-1.
Then the fun began.
Chicago’s top line went to work in the early minutes of the last period of regulation, and put the Hawks ahead in the process. Keith kept in a puck at the top of the zone and funneled it along the boards where Marian Hossa received a pass from the skate of Saad. After Hossa’s initial drive to the net was blocked, he threw it across to captain Jonathan Toews, who exemplified an aspect of his game that only few possess in the National Hockey League. Instead of one-timing the shot once the puck was on his stick, Toews patiently waited until Andersen sprawled from left to right.
Once this happened, Toews blasted one underneath his glove for his first of the series just 2:38 in. Brent Seabrook found an open puck in between the circles and his howitzer beat Andersen at 7:38, giving the Hawks a commanding 3-1 advantage in the hockey game. The 22,404 in the United Center were up for grabs, the building was shaking with excitement.
Then silenced.
Ryan Kesler scored at 8:42, Matt Beleskey at 9:05, Corey Perry at 9:19. The Ducks trio of goals in 37 seconds was the second-fastest in NHL postseason history. In 1979, the Toronto Maple Leafs scored three times in 23 seconds. Who assisted on the third goal? None other than Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville. It was 4-3 in favor of Anaheim, the comeback kings had done it again.
When Kyle Cumiskey drew a holding penalty on Jakob Silfverberg at 12:23, the Blackhawks recognized the fact that they had a golden opportunity to even up the score. Patrick Kane did exactly that with his 9th goal of the playoffs off a terrific pass from Brad Richards.
Despite the three quick strikes by Anaheim that seemed to take the life out of the home squad, regulation ended with the game tied 4-4. Similar to Game 2, we would need overtime to decide the outcome.
Patrick Sharp had a breakaway opportunity to end the game, but Andersen stood tall with the right pad. Chicago had the only powerplay in the first overtime, although they couldn’t break through. A second OT would then be required after 20 minutes without a goal.
Enter Game 3 healthy scratch Antoine Vermette. The OT winner came to fruition when Sharp wrapped around the net and tossed one towards the front where Vermette skated on in. His first shot was knocked away by the glove of Andersen. The puck then came back to him while three Ducks dove toward him in an attempt to block his rebound chance, including Andersen. Vermette made no mistake despite the pressure and buried the game-deciding goal.
“Chelsea Dagger” roared, the red light shined, and the Blackhawks had tied the series after another marathon playoff game.
Absolute bedlam.
With tonight’s win, the Blackhawks have not lost back-to-back playoff games in their last 30 postseason contests.
