Toews completes journey with Conn Smythe Trophy

PHILADELPHIA - About a half-hour had passed since Patrick Kane scored the goal that snapped Chicago's longest drought (outside of the Cubs' streak of course) and Jonathan Toews was conducting interviews in both English and French.

While his mind was racing, still trying to comprehend what had just taken place, he kept scanning the Wachovia Center stands, desperately searching for the people who matter most.

Moments later, Toews, captain of the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, and winner of the prestigious Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' MVP, finally saw his family and shared the embrace of a lifetime.

"It's unbelievable," grinned the 22-year-old Toews, who first passed Lord Stanley's silver mug to Marian Hossa - finally making the third time the charm in his own pursuit of the Cup - then former Flyer Patrick Sharp.

"I'm exhausted right now.

"I feel more tired than I did during the game."

Yet at the same time, more thrilled than he could've ever imagined.

"Oh, My God, it's incredible," gushed Toews, who assisted on Dustin Byfuglien's first goal, only his third point of the Final, but playoffs best 29th overall.

"We really didn't want to get into it before the game.

"We just wanted to focus on the game."

As for winning the Smythe, Toews just added it to his 2010 list of achievements, right alongside winning the Olympic gold medal in Vancouver when Sidney Crosby scored in overtime on a play remarkably similar to Kan's Cup winner here.

"It didn't really matter who got it," said a jubilant Toews, whose parents and brother David were all here for the occasion. "So many guys deserved that trophy."

His coach, though, was thrilled to see Toews win it.

"Jonathan Toews is a special human being," said Joel Quenneville. "The bigger the setting, the bigger the game, the bigger he seems to rise to that challenge and that occasion.

"He was a big factor tonight."

Not to mention throughout the entire postseason.

"I know a lot of people talked about me winning it in the previous series, not so much this one," said Toews. "This just adds to everything else.

"Just the icing on the cake."

But make no mistake, the cake was the only thing that mattered, as Toews skated to the carpet where NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and that big silver trophy were sitting, posed for pictures with Bettman for a moment, then lifted the prize he's been dreaming of since he was a little boy.

"I'm so excited for our fans,' said Toews, who conceded he'd probably be up all night, before he and the Hawks would head back to Chicago with the Cup. "And especially my teammates, who've worked so hard for it.

"I can't wait to get home."

But first he had to thank Kane, who seemed to be the only one on - or off - the ice who realized his quick shot from a bad angle had sneaked through Flyers' goalie Michael Leighton's pads into the net.

"I was on the bench, so I didn't see much," said Toews, reconstructing the scene, which wasn't confirmed until replay showed the puck had indeed entered the net.

"I guess only Patrick knew for sure.

"I was just hoping to God it was an actual goal or we would be celebrating for nothing."

The fact that the game was in overtime in the first place had to be staggering to Toews and the Hawks, who dominating play throughout the night. Yet when Scott Hartnell beat Antti Niemi from close range with just 3:59 left in regulation, then neither side could connect down the stretch, it meant overtime.

After some anxious moments around Niemi, suddenly it was all over.

"We just kept telling ourselves this was meant to be," said Toews, about the 15-minute intermission. "Then we came out and did it. "

In the process fulfilling a quest that began nine months ago.

"We knew from day one of this season we had the potential to do it," said Toews, while the rest of his teammates kept passing the Cup among themselves. "To realize our goal, it's an amazing feeling.

"Right now I'm just so happy."

Yes, once again, Jonathan Toews, gold medal winner, Conn Smythe winner and captain of the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks is on top of the world.

If this isn't heaven, he can't wait to find what can top it.