Rozner: Blackhawks now in command after 3 OT thriller
Peter Laviolette has seen this movie before.
Patrick Kane ragging the puck and creating something spectacular in overtime is not new for him. As Flyers coach he witnessed a pretty devastating goal in 2010.
But to hear him at 1:45 a.m. Wednesday, the Nashville coach was about as disconsolate as an NHL boss will let you see in public.
"The game just ended," Laviolette said. "There's no words after a triple-overtime loss."
It was Kane's pass to Brent Seabrook at the blueline and the screen from Bryan Bickell in front of Pekka Rinne that allowed Seabrook to be the triple-OT hero at 1:16 a.m. Wednesday, 60 seconds into the sixth period, giving the Blackhawks a hard-earned 3-2 victory and a commanding 3-1 lead in the series, which heads back to Nashville for another West Coast start time Thursday.
"We'll start the process tomorrow," Laviolette said, meaning Wednesday after both teams get a little rest. "I have no doubt the guys will bounce back. The sun will come up tomorrow."
Again, he meant Wednesday, but you'll forgive anyone in attendance for being confused after a game that consumed nearly five hours and dozens of gallons of fluids.
"Our guys will not cave," Laviolette insisted. "They will not go away quietly, I promise you that."
The Hawks are well aware of what the Preds will bring early in Game 5, and they also know that if they weather that storm, they have a good chance to end the series and get some extra rest while they await the winner of Minnesota-St. Louis.
"We have a lot of experience trying to close teams out," Seabrook said. "The fourth one's always the toughest. They're gonna come flying and we have to be prepared and push back.
"They're a good starting team in their own building, so we'll prepare the next two days and we have plenty of time to get ready with another 8:30 (p.m.) game."
It's been a pretty good week for Seabrook, who scored the Hawks' last goal Sunday, celebrated his 30th birthday Monday and celebrated again Wednesday morning with the Hawks' final goal.
"Scored my last goal in my 20s and my first goal in my 30s. Not bad," Seabrook said. "I don't know if guys were excited that I scored or just excited that the game was over."
Seabrook's most memorable tally since the Game 7 OT winner against Detroit in 2013 came while on the ice with a line that saw Bickell replace the ineffective Kris Versteeg alongside Kane and Brad Richards.
You can expect to see that combination again in Game 5.
"(Bickell) had some good pace to his game," said Hawks coach Joel Quenneville. "Good net presence and that's probably the reason we scored the game-winner."
The Hawks only survived that long because goalie Scott Darling was absolutely brilliant again, stopping 50 of 52 Nashville shots. Rinne was also terrific, but the 100th shot of the night ended the marathon and Nashville's chance to take out the Hawks.
"He's been great. He's consistent, composed," Quenneville said of the Hawks' new star in goal. "Guys have responded in front of him as well. It's been a good story."
That story will continue at least into the next round, though Darling remains staggeringly humble.
"Just a classic game, a great ice hockey game and I'm thrilled we won," Darling said. "It was great to be a part of it, great to watch one of the best goalies in the world at the other end."
But through the humility, Darling has been incredibly steady, squaring up every shot and shockingly calm in spite of his meteoric rise.
"Overtime is crazy. Every shot is do or die, but the guys played great in front of me and kept all the chances outside and made it easy on me," Darling said. "Game like that with 50 shots apiece, just exciting to be part of it."
There's little doubt the next one will be a thriller as well. The Preds will be on the Hawks early and often, hoping to stay alive and bring the series back to Chicago.
But the Hawks have been here before and they know how to respond to a physically taxing night.
"I don't think I've played a game this late ever," Quenneville said, though it doesn't sound like he'll make any lineup changes. "We have depth. We have options and fresh legs. We'll take a look, but we have time to recover."
With the clock ticking, the Preds can hardly say the same.
brozner@dailyherald.com
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