Hawks move on to Stanley Cup Finals
The last time Patrick Kane scored a hat trick in a clinching game he made Vancouver's Roberto Luongo cry.
There were no tears from Kings goalie Jonathan Quick on Saturday night, only frustration as Kane's third goal at 11:40 of double overtime sailed past his glove and gave the Hawks a 4-3 win.
The dramatic victory sends the Hawks back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second time in four years to play the Boston Bruins in a series that starts Wednesday at the United Center.
It's going to be the first meeting of Original Six teams for the Cup in 34 years.
Kane beat Quick from inside the right circle on a 2-on-1 with Jonathan Toews for his second career playoff hat trick. His first came in Game 6 against Luongo and the Canucks on May 11, 2009.
"Right now I think it's almost like I'm in a different zone, like in the twilight zone or something," Kane said. "I'm kind of out of it. It's definitely a good feeling."
Kane snapped off a shot into an open net for his fourth goal in the last two games.
"It was certainly an outstanding game by him," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "A great play on the winning goal by Johnny. I thought Kaner played a heck of a game in Games 4 and 5 for us. He stepped up. He took on the responsibility of leading the team. He proved he's a top player in the game."
Even Kings coach Darryl Sutter agreed it was a great play by two of the game's biggest stars.
"In the end, probably their two best offensive guys made a great play to score a goal," Sutter said.
"He's an awesome player," Hawks goalie Corey Crawford said of Kane. "Obviously, I don't know what to say right now. That was awesome.
"I've dreamed about (going to the Finals) my whole life. It's nice, man. It's nice to finally get there after all the work, but there's still a lot to do."
The Hawks failed to hold an early 2-0 lead, as well as a 3-2 with less than a minute to play, with the Kings getting a goal from Mike Richards with 9.4 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.
"Man, nine seconds left and they score," Crawford said.
"We've been there before and you just keep playing," Patrick Sharp said. "It's playoff hockey. No lead is safe. You can't really change the way you play. It's a tough situation emotionally, giving up that goal, but you keep playing hockey."
The Kings finished the postseason 1-8 on the road, losing their last six straight.
"We just didn't have it against these guys," Kings center Jarret Stoll said. "We just couldn't find a way to win a road game."
The Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead less than six minutes into the first period on goals by Duncan Keith and Kane.
Sutter called both goals soft.
The Hawks looked like they were going to win and advance to the Finals when Kane scored his second goal of the night with 3:52 to play in the third period, taking a pass from Bickell behind the net and beating Quick.
But the Kings had other ideas. With Quick pulled for a sixth attacker, Richards tied the game on a tip-in from in front after Toews lost a faceoff to Stoll following a disastrous icing against Bickell.
Richards won the draw and headed to the net to deflect a shot by Anze Kopitar past Crawford.
Now it's the Bruins who come to town ready to try and beat the Hawks.
"I've been watching Boston play in the East, they look like they're rolling," Sharp said. "Another tough series ahead of us, but it's an exciting time.
"I really don't know what to expect. It's going to be fun to play against a team that we haven't seen all year. Our scouts and coaches will prepare us, but until you get out and play against those guys, you don't really know what to expect."
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