Blackhawks come all the way back to keep hopes alive
The Blackhawks were dead and buried. Season over. Wait til next year.
That's what many of us were thinking after Luke Kunin scored 58 seconds into the third period to give Nashville a 4-1 lead Wednesday at the United Center.
The Predators were totally dominating to that point, having unloaded 31 shots on Malcolm Subban. Many were high quality and it was a miracle the Hawks weren't down 6-1 or 7-1.
But then something truly miraculous happened.
The Hawks, who had not scored more than 2 goals in any game this season vs. the Preds, scored THREE TIMES in two minutes and 41 seconds to make it 4-4. Wyatt Kalynuk made it 4-2 with 9:56 remaining, Vinnie Hinostroza made it 4-3 with 8:47 left and Dominik Kubalik knotted it up with 7:05 on the clock off a perfect pass from Pius Suter.
Brandon Hagel scored with 2:00 remaining in overtime to give the Hawks a 5-4 victory. It was his second OT winner in nine days, the other coming at Columbus on April 12.
"Oh my gosh," Subban said when asked what he thought after Hagel scored. "Just like, 'We did it. We did it.' It's an unbelievable feeling."
"Gutsy comeback," said coach Jeremy Colliton.
The Hawks (22-20-5) are now 3 points behind the Predators (25-21-2) in the Central Division, with another game against Nashville coming Friday at the UC. Dallas is 1 point ahead of the Hawks with two games in hand.
Nashville appeared on its way to a seventh straight victory over the Hawks after Kunin's goal. There were no feelings of despair on the Hawks' bench, though, according to Hinostroza.
"You look left and you look right - every guy's got the fire in their eyes," he said.
Kalnyuk's goal, off a feed from Patrick Kane, was the spark. Hinostroza's tally the gasoline. And Kubalik's one-timer the explosion that completed an improbable comeback.
And speaking of explosions, think about how the United Center would have sounded like after Hagel's goal. Because Subban certainly was.
"I just wish there fans here to see it too," he said. "That would've been unbelievable, just hearing the crowd cheer on that overtime goal."
Subban (37 saves) was unbelievable all night, with perhaps his biggest stop coming on Matt Duchene with 1:22 left in regulation. He has stopped 74 of 77 shots over his last three appearances.
Hagel added 2 assists for a 3-point night, Kirby Dach had 2 assists - 1 coming on the game-winner - and Suter scored the Hawks' first goal.
Friday is another must-win for the Hawks, who know they must stop making so many silly mistakes if they're to beat out the Predators and Stars for a playoff spot.
"(This win) could be a big boost, but we've got to make that the case," Colliton said. "We've got to use that energy, build on it.
"There's definitely some things we can clean up in our game that would help us have a little more success. The effort was there, but we turned the puck over in tough situations. Got caught on the wrong side a few times, vacated the slot a couple times and then they scored.
"It was a big hole to dig out of, but you've got to be pretty proud of how our guys didn't quit (and) didn't throw in the towel."