Imrem: Kane's Game 3 penalty costly for Blackhawks
You'll never guess who contributed mightily to the Blackhawks' loss on Sunday in the United Center.
No, seriously, you'll never guess.
Patrick Kane, that's who.
That's like an Iron Chef cooking up a stinker.
The Hawks' all-everything right winger, the NHL's scoring champion, the favorite to be voted the league's most valuable player … that same guy's penalty put the Hawks in a predicament they couldn't get out of and the Blues capitalized for a 3-2 victory.
What's next, Jake Arrieta giving up a run at Wrigley Field?
St. Louis now owns a 2-1 edge in the opening-round, best-of-seven, Stanley Cup playoff series with home-ice advantage shifting back to the Blues.
"You can't take that penalty there," Kane said as he stood up to all the questions.
The score was tied 2-2 in the third period when Kane's high stick drew traces of blood from the face of Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo.
Kane was assessed a double minor, went off the ice for four minutes and watched the Blues score the game winner 1:31 later.
Kane deserves a pass for his transgression, considering that his scoring pretty much carried the Hawks to where they are and just might carry them further from here.
Actually, as a very good player who has evolved into a great player, Kane is as responsible as anyone for the Hawks' three Stanley Cup championships over the past six seasons.
Those titles represent why the Hawks aren't overly frightened by the current situation.
Team captain Jonathan Toews summed up the Hawks' key now as "staying relaxed, staying calm" and allowing their experience to prevail as it has in the past when they were "down one goal, down one game."
As close as the series has been so far, expectations are the same as from the start: Seven games or bust.
"All three games could've gone each way," Hawks head coach Joel Quenneville said.
Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock added, "It's going to be a long series."
Long on games, long on action, long on drama, long on ups, long on downs, long on everything.
"Both teams are laying it out there," Hitchcock said.
In Game 3 alone, the Hawks registered 46 shots on goal - including 24 in the second period - and the Blues took 36.
The goalies must be spectacular when teams combine for 82 shots and only 5 go in.
Corey Crawford of the Blackhawks and Brian Elliott of the Blues fit that description.
Hitchcock said, "Quite frankly we looked like the Washington Generals at times," meaning when the Hawks looked like the Harlem Globetrotters on offense.
The Blues also had a spell where they peppered Crawford with shots only to be turned away.
Hitchcock said the Blues looked deflated but took a breath after the second period.
The breath must have been a deep one because the Hawks don't often lose by surrendering a lead in the third period.
The Blues tied the score at 2 early in the final period and it stayed that way until Kane provided St. Louis with a great opportunity.
"We're going to need everything to win the series from here," Hitchcock said. "(The Hawks are) a great hockey team."
You'll never guess which great player will have to make a difference for that great hockey team from here.
Oh ... you got it ... Patrick Kane.
mimrem@dailyherald.com