Glass the hero in Chicago Blackhawks' OT victory
Thirteen years after being drafted by the Ottawa Senators, Jeff Glass finally got an opportunity to show what he can do in the NHL.
And boy did he not waste it.
Glass - a 32-year-old journeyman goalie who played in the KHL for six different teams from 2009-16 - stopped a whopping 42 shots in the Blackhawks' 4-3 overtime victory Friday night at Edmonton.
The Hawks watched a 3-1 lead evaporate in the final 2:19 thanks to goals by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl, but Patrick Kane saved the day with his 16th goal of the season 50 seconds into OT as the Hawks (18-14-5) snapped a three-game losing streak.
"It's exciting. It's something I've always dreamed of," Glass told reporters. "I never thought it would actually come true."
Ryan Hartman (7), Alex DeBrincat (13) and former Oilers D-man Jordan Oesterle (1) scored the Hawks' other goals, with DeBrincat and Oesterle converting on the power play. It was the first time the Hawks had 2 man-advantage goals in the same game since Nov. 27.
Glass' otherworldly performance included impressive first-period stops on Connor McDavid, Draisaitl on a breakaway and Milan Lucic on a 3-on-1 in the waning seconds. He made 26 saves in the first 27 minutes.
"How about him tonight? He was amazing," Kane said. "Little scary there at the end with giving up 2 late, but he played unbelievable.
"He was the only reason we were in that game, especially in that first period when they were buzzing pretty good. … Just seeing him smile after we won - how happy he was - that can make anyone's night."
The Hawks signed Glass to a two-year deal in February. He played 20 games for Rockford last season and 18 this season before being called up in the wake of Corey Crawford's upper-body injury.
Glass found out he was starting when the Hawks landed in Edmonton at 2 a.m. after they dropped a 5-2 decision to Vancouver on Thursday with Anton Forsberg in net.
"Right now I'm just trying to help this team," said Glass, who was 10-4-1 in Rockford with a .917 save percentage. "We're in a playoff hunt. Our star goalie's out, so my job is kind of to fill the gap. Tonight was just a step in the right direction."
Said Quenneville: "You can't say enough good things about his approach, his attitude, his competitiveness. Great teammate."
Edmonton looked like it might steal this game, but the Hawks won the faceoff in overtime and stayed patient before deciding to attack.
Kane finally brought the puck into the offensive zone, made a move around Draisaitl and beat Talbot with a nasty back-and-forth move in front of the net.
"I think they were a little bit tired out," Kane said. "Maybe they were even looking for a change at one point. I just saw an opportunity there and went for it."
Said Quenneville: "It was a real emotional win for us and much needed as well."