Darling, Hossa team up to give Chicago Blackhawks OT win
The net was wide open.
The puck, it was on the stick of Patrick Eaves.
The game-winning shot - and 2 points for the Dallas Stars - was inevitable.
But somehow, someway, Chicago Blackhawks goalie Scott Darling lurched to his right and used every inch of his 6-foot-6 frame to get his right skate on Eaves' shot 1:26 into overtime and keep Sunday night's tilt with Dallas tied at 3-3.
"It took every inch of me to get that one," Darling said.
Well, get it he did, and the Blackhawks took full advantage when Marian Hossa made up for a bad turnover and scored the winning goal with 29 seconds left in OT.
It was the Hawks' sixth straight victory and improved their record to 9-3-1.
"(Eaves) probably thought he had a goal no matter what and put it along the ice," said Hawks captain Jonathan Toews. "Scotty's foot comes out of nowhere. That was a huge one."
Toews and Artem Anisimov scored 56 seconds apart early in the third period to give the Hawks a 3-2 lead, but Gemel Smith scored his second goal of the game on a redirect with 1:20 to go to force overtime.
Anisimov extended his career-best point streak to 11 games, and Darling finished with 32 saves.
Dallas, which got its other goal from Tyler Seguin, is 4-5-3.
Hawks forward Tyler Motte left the game in the second period after being ridden into the boards by Radek Faska. The rookie did not return and might miss several games with a lower-body injury.
Eaves' shot attempt came with Dallas on a 4-on-3 power play as Patrick Kane was sent off for hooking Johnny Oduya. Jamie Benn faked a shot attempt, then fed Eaves for what looked like an easy goal.
"He had a good fake," Darling said of Benn. "I just tried to get something over there. Luckily it hit me."
Said Benn: "He made a great save on me. We had the look we wanted. It just didn't go in."
Darling has allowed 10 goals in his three starts but is nonetheless 3-0 on the season. He said last season's late run as an every-game starter gave him more and more confidence, and it has carried into this season.
"I feel like I've been here a little bit (now) and know everybody really well," Darling said, "and I'm proving to the boys what I can do for them and it takes a little bit of the stress off."
Dallas had taken a 2-0 lead when Smith scored 8:29 into the second period, but the Hawks managed to storm back with 3 straight goals.
Smith made 21,000-plus at the UC sweat, but Darling and Hossa saved the day and the Hawks were victorious again.
"The good thing is this team never quits," said Hossa, who has 5 goals in the last six games. "We find a way to get the 2 points, and that's huge. Now we've got 6 wins in a row and we're on the right path."