Patrick Kane had the lone goal in the Chicago Blackhawks' 3-2 shootout victory against the Detroit Red Wings; which was only appropriate, because topping the awesomeness of this goal was going to be difficult:
Via Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago, Kane said: "I just thought of the move real quick, put it through my legs and bring it back. Luckily it worked out."
Nasty stuff … but the important aspects of this game were decided in the third period.
Pavel Datsyuk's goal at 19:13 of the third period, with Jimmy Howard pulled, tied the game at 2-2. That gave Detroit the No. 5 seed and a first-round matchup with the Nashville Predators, who earned the No. 4 seed by virtue of the Red Wings' loss to Chicago. Their game against Colorado tonight won't affect anything except the Avs' draft position.
While this is a tough matchup for the Wings, it's a preferable travel schedule, especially if a second-round matchup means facing a Pacific team.
Said Mike Babcock after the game, via the Red Wings:
"I thought it was an important point for us here today. It's great. We don't have to travel across the country, which for me is the biggest thing.
"It's always fun going down to that building (Nashville). We've had some good games down there with them."
The Red Wings and Predators split their six-game series this season.