Rozner: Small play sparks big Blackhawks comeback

Only 11 minutes into Game 6, the Blues had a 3-1 lead and were pressing hard for the fourth goal.

They knew what that would mean.

It would be the dagger. It would be the margin the Blackhawks couldn't overcome. It would be the end for the defending Stanley Cup champs.

It would be over for 2016.

But Corey Crawford somehow weathered a ferocious St. Louis storm and a few minutes into the second period, Artemi Panarin made a play he couldn't have made had he been freelancing or looking to be the hero.

Panarin was exactly where he was supposed to be.

He counted numbers and looked for the open space, and he was already on his way there when he saw a puck come from behind the Blues' net and along the boards near the end of a power play.

Panarin kept it in, squeezed it against the boards and quickly located Marian Hossa in front. Hossa took the pass and shot, Artem Anisimov batted in the rebound and the Hawks were back in business, down only a goal with more than half a game to play.

Panarin made the play that saved the season.

"Every player knows where they are supposed to be and when I saw the puck come around the boards, I made sure to get there," Panarin said. "It's not just me. It's what every player on this team does."

That was the start of 5 straight Hawks goals after being down a pair and the home team stayed alive with a 6-3 victory at the UC Saturday night, tying the series at 3-3 and sending it back to St. Louis for Game 7 Monday.

"We were confident after the first period, even with the score," Crawford said. "We played a good period and the guys were playing hard and getting chances. There was no panic."

There was, however, a Richard Panik.

Still down 3-2, the Hawks tied it on a pretty play from Panik to Jonathan Toews to Trevor van Riemsdyk, and then took the lead with their third goal of the second period after Dale Weise buried Kevin Shattenkirk behind the net and Panarin found Weise, who roofed it from the doorstep to put the Hawks back in front.

"It took a little longer than I expected to get comfortable here," said Weise, who also had 4 hits on the night. "But last game I thought I had some good chances and played physical and used my speed, and things are coming for me."

The third period was mostly St. Louis until a late power play goal from Andrew Shaw and an empty-netter from Hossa put the game away.

Blues coach Ken Hitchcock has spoken frequently during the series about how the Hawks have knowledge the Blues don't yet possess. It's knowing how to win series, how to put teams away, how to finish the job.

It's the most valuable knowledge in hockey and it only comes from having done it over and over and over again.

Hitchcock feared this very scenario when the Blues were up 3-1 in the series, blowing a big lead, failing to clinch and being forced to play a Game 7 with the season on the line.

He doesn't know how his team will react, while Joel Quenneville has seen it many times before and knows his players will embrace the stage.

The Hawks' ability to get back in series they appear to be out of is legendary at this point, and their track record with their backs firmly against the wall is remarkable.

The Hawks have now done that again, forcing a Game 7 when seemingly cooked just a few days ago, and all the pressure resides in St. Louis.

Honestly, what else is new?

brozner@dailyherald.com

• Listen to Barry Rozner from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on the Score's "Hit and Run" show at WSCR 670-AM.