The lack of production from Patrick Kane had been a major storyline surrounding the Hawks the past couple days. So naturally, double-overtime in an elimination game on the road would be the time for the NHL’s leading scorer to finally hit the back of the net.
This is a simply miraculous play by Kane, one that highlights not only his remarkable skill and athleticism, but his ability to pace himself. The forward had played over 31 minutes before putting together this sequence, where his skates just kept churning while some other players seemed to be moving in molasses. Eventually, Kane got around the net and found an opening that Brian Elliott — in the middle of an amazing series — couldn’t cover.
This is what superstars do, and after Kane, Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa went quiet — at least in terms of goal production — for the first four games of this series, they made their impact felt in Game 5. Hossa scored a huge shorthanded goal in the second period to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead before Kane broke his own slump with the winner.
Now the Hawks trail 3-2 in the series, but things head to Chicago for Game 6 on Saturday. If the Hawks can force things back to St. Louis for Game 7, then it’ll get REALLY interesting.