OTD: Gutwrenching Game 7 Loss

PUBLICATION

James
June 1, 2022 (2:37)

SHARE THIS STORY

By 2014, the Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks were the unquestioned co-heavyweight champions of the Western Conference. The Hawks had hung banners in 2010 and 2013, while the Kings won the 2012 title and lost to Chicago in the 2013 WCF. 12 months later, it was rematch time.

The Kings who actually fell behind 3-0 in their first-round series to San Jose and 3-2 in Round 2 versus Anaheim, jumped out to a 3-1 series advantage, before Chicago won Games 5 and 6 to force a winner-take-all contest in the Windy City. Sometimes the bounces go your way. On this night eight years ago, the bounces went LA's way as they won Game 7 5-4 in overtime, becoming the first team ever to win three consecutive Game 7s on the road.

For Blackhawks fans, this contest represents the sorest of sore spots. A game that with the right bounce, would have likely sent Chicago on their way to a second consecutive Stanley Cup title and a possible three-peat that would have served as an unmatched achievement in the salary cap era. This one still hurts eight years later.

The Game 7 winner was slated to play the New York Rangers in what would be a rather easy path towards hoisting the Stanley Cup, which LA did after five games.

Things were looking up for the Hawks on home ice at the United Center.

Chicago was leading 2-0 late in the first period off of a Brandon Saad goal and a power-play marker from Jonathan Toews. Then, Jeff Carter scored at 16:31 of the opening frame to get the Kings on the board.

Justin Williams (Mr. Game Seven) struck less than a minute later to tie it 2-2 and Patrick Sharp would give the Hawks a 3-2 lead just 12 seconds after Williams' goal to see Chicago exit the first ahead by one. It was the first Game 7 EVER with a five-goal first period. Sharp led the team in scoring during the regular season with 78 points.

The game turned into a tighter contest in the second period with just a goal apiece for the opposing teams. Tyler Toffoli tied it 3-3 at 10:31 of the second and Sharp again scored late in the period to have the Hawks exit the frame ahead, this time off a power-play goal.

Marian Gaborik scored at 12:43 of the third to tie it 4-4 and the Hawks couldn't answer back through the end of regulation. To overtime it went.

In overtime, nail-biting, edge-of-your seat suspense filled the arena with a sellout crowd of 22,315.

The home crowd would sink into their seats in despair and the Kings would triumphantly leap into each other's arms after Alec Martinez scored 5:47 into OT with the puck bouncing off Hawks defenseman Nick Leddy's sweater and past Corey Crawford to win the game 5-4.

Jonathan Quick made 37 saves for the Kings and Crawford stopped 27 shots for the Blackhawks.

Chicago had been 32-0-0 that season when leading after two periods. Kane led the playoff scoring for the Hawks with 20 points. The series between the Hawks and the Kings was named the best of the 2010 decade by the NHL.