Kane's Two Goals Puts Blackhawks A Win Away From Stanley Cup

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 23, 2013 2:45PM

The old sports adage holds that a team’s superstar players perform when they’re needed most. And Patrick Kane has certainly responded in the Stanley Cup Finals. Much like he did against Los Angeles’ Jonathan Quick in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, Kane played Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask like a harp and burned him for two goals as the Hawks won 3-12 in Game 5 Saturday night at the United Center. The Hawks now hold a 3-2 lead in the series and can win their second Cup in four years Monday in Boston.

After a high-scoring game 4, the play at the United Center returned to the great mix of styles, defense and physical play that has been the calling card of the series. Boston challenged Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford early and often. Crawford, as he’s done all season, brushed off criticism after a rough Game 4 and simply held tough in goal.

The Bruins held an 11-8 advantage in shots on goal in the first period, but it was Chicago who went into the first intermission with a 1-0 lead courtesy of Kane, who placed a well-timed backhand past Rask, set up by a slap shot from Johnny Oduya that broke the stick of Boston's Dennis Seidenberg.

Chicago came out of the intermission dictating the pace of the game, allowing the Bruins to out-hit them and be called for penalties and chase the Hawks around the ice. Kane made them pay with another backhand at the 5:13 mark. Toews and Bryan Bickell played amazing fast break hockey and Bickell stayed with his missed shot, grabbed the rebound, skated behind the net and found Kane waiting.

Chicago ended up with an 11-5 advantage in shots on goal and, more important, had the momentum heading into the final period. But Boston showed why they should never be taken lightly when Zdeno Chara finally put the Bruins on the board early with a slap shot over Crawford's gloveset up by a pass behind the net from David Krejci.

Crawford maintained his composure and the Hawks went on to play keep away the rest of the period. When the Bruins pulled Rask for an extra skater in the hopes of forcing overtime, Dave Bolland made them pay.

Crawford finished the game with 24 saves. Toews assisted on both of Kane's goals and won nine of his 12 faceoffs before leaving the game with an upper body injury and, when the Hawks needed to get physical, Bickell answered the call with a team high six hits. Coach Joel Quenneville said after the game he hopes Toews will be ready for Game 6, but the injury only adds to a growing infirmary list that includes Marian Hossa. Boston didn't leave this game unscathed on the health front. Patrice Bergeron left the game in the second period and was taken to a hospital for observation. Bruins coach Claude Julien had no updates on Bergeron's condition.

But the story of the game was the Hawks' Batman and Robin. Kane, the top pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, was clutch when his team needed him to perform. He took six shots in the game and finished with a plus-1 in nearly 21 minutes on the ice, the type of performance that has some mentioning him as the face of North American hockey.