Still long way to go, but Hawks deserve to enjoy this one

It wasn't quite Troy Murray scoring in overtime to clinch a playoff berth in 1989 with just a few minutes left in the season.

But dramatic it was at the UC Friday night when Martin Havlat slipped a nifty pass to Jonathan Toews from behind the net with 7:34 left in the second period.

Toews buried it for his 32nd of the year and to this point the most important goal of his very young career.

It gave the Blackhawks a 2-1 Hawks lead over the Preds they would not relinquish, and when Havlat sealed it with an open-netter, the fans stood for the final 73 seconds and one could nearly remember the roar.

"I had chills up and down my spine,'' said Patrick Kane. "I'm glad we had the chance to clinch tonight.''

The 3-1 victory over Nashville earned the Hawks their first trip to the postseason since 2002, and the fact that it didn't happen Thursday night - when both St. Louis and Anaheim were victorious - was somehow fitting.

It put off the clinching for another night and allowed the Hawks faithful to celebrate with their team Friday, a team they have embraced this season after the club was ignored by so many, for so long, for such good reason.

When it concluded Friday and the young group saluted the 21,628 on hand, the team officially had taken the first step toward the ultimate goal.

"It's something to be excited about, but not satisfied,'' said coach Joel Quenneville, whose job it is now to keep the Hawks grinding for another nine days. "We're still shooting for fourth place (in the West) and home ice.''

The grind of a very long season having worn on these youngsters, they had every right to celebrate the completion of the journey's first leg, knowing the ending lay many miles ahead.

And for some who have been here the longest - Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Nikolai Khabibulin - it was a monumental relief.

A player like Keith had never known losing until he arrived on West Madison four years ago, and being among the three longest-tenured Hawks, Keith got an especially big and emotional hug from his captain at game's end.

"Yeah, he's one of the guys who's been through some disappointment here, and you feel good for him,'' Toews said with a huge grin. "There's a few guys who have been here a few years and have had some disappointing seasons.''

This has not been one of them, and the fans had every right to rejoice in a moment that seemed impossible only a couple of years ago.

So when the Hawks did their traditional, center-ice tribute to the fans following a victory, Friday's carried considerably more meaning.

"It's always a good feeling to get to center ice after the game and salute the fans,'' Toews said. "But this was really special tonight.

"Everyone in the building knew what it meant, and that last minute was a pretty good feeling in front of your own fans.''

To a man, however, the Hawks said the right things, admitting they've only just begun, and with much work remaining.

"All we've done is clinch a playoff position, and we want to keep moving up,'' Kane said. "But this was a night to remember.''

Murray's goal, 48 seconds into overtime on April 2, 1989, is one of the most remembered in Hawks history, as his steal and score gave the Hawks a 4-3 victory over Toronto and a chance to play more hockey after a very tough season under first-year coach Mike Keenan.

"Honestly, people still come up to me all the time and talk about that goal. It was one of the highlights of my career,'' Murray said Friday night. "But back then we were used to going to the playoffs every year. We always got in.

"This year is different. This is special because it's been so long since the Hawks have been in the playoffs.

"The goal when the year started was to make the playoffs, and they've done that. It's an accomplishment. It's not easy and there are some good teams in the West who won't get in.

"The players should be excited. They've worked hard. I think they understand there's more to accomplish than making the playoffs, but I also think they should enjoy this.''

The huge smile on Toews' face postgame was proof enough they did.

brozner@dailyherald.com