David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Blackhawks have played in as many multiple overtime games as any team in history this season. With Saturday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks going to double overtime, they tied the 1994 New Jersey Devils with most games going to multiple overtimes with four. There are plenty of opportunities for heroics to be had. Saturday night was no different.
Antoine Vermette was an unlikely hero. His time with the Blackhawks has been atrocious. He was on the team for 19 games after being traded from the Arizona Coyotes. He scored zero goals in that time. That isn’t an exaggeration, he literally scored no goals in the regular season for the Hawks. He has been a healthy scratch multiple times this postseason, including once this series. Now, he showed he could be the guy to go to when you need a goal.
It wasn’t the prettiest of goals, but it was one where Vermette did everything right. He raced towards the net from between the circles, and he took a pass from Patrick Sharp, who was behind the net. He took a shot straight away on Ducks goalie Frederick Andersen, which he stopped dead. That shot put him on his behind, and the rebound went right back to Vermette. He had a sprawling Andersen desperately trying to stop the second opportunity, but it wasn’t enough to save the game.
Vermette came to the Hawks for a first-round pick and Klas Dahlbeck. It was a decent haul for the Blackhawks to give. Before Saturday, it looked like they gave it away. Now that Vermette had this moment, everything is worth it. If this ends up sending the Hawks to the Cup, then everything that happened before will be forgotten. Vermette can change his legacy in a Blackhawks jersey if he can continue to score at opportune times.
This game meant everything to the Hawks. Their home-ice advantage is one of the best in the NHL. If they weren’t able to win a game at the United Center, this series was as close to over as it could be. Salvaging this game means that the series is now down to the final three games. Instead of having to go on a streak, they could win one game dirty with much less pressure. They have Vermette to thank for that.
Nick Villano is the NHL feature writer for Rant Sports. He also adds to the site’s NBA, MLB and NFL content. You can follow him on Twitter or add him to your Google circle.
