Patrick Kane makes decider in shootout for Chicago Blackhawks against the Minnesota Wild 4-3 -NHL
Patrick Kane proved to be the go-to guy for Chicago as he made the deciding goal in a shootout, lifting the Blackhawks to a 4-3 victory over Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night, December 14, 2011, at the sold out Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States.
Veteran shooter, Patrick Kane, has been at a whole different level in the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season for Chicago, making game-winners, either it be in the third and final period of regulation, or an overtime extension, and now in a shootout.
"Just the way it's going to be. The NHL's so tight these days, you've got to be ready for it," Kane said.
The opening period was scoreless and without a single penalty which had both teams gliding up and down the ice, back and forth, without yielding any results until nearly midway through the second period when Marian Hossa potted his 13th of the season on Chicago's first proper power play opportunity.
Michael Frolik added another for the Blackhawks, a little over a minute later for his fifth, which gave them some momentum to build on, in the remaining time of the contest.
Minnesota was quick to answer back and potted two straight with Kyle Brodziak and Matt Cullen getting into the Chicago net, nearly two minutes apart, equalising the match before entering the final 20 minutes.
Jonathan Toews made the tie-breaker in the first half of the period but Minnesota's captain, Mikko Koivu, was not going to let his team stay behind for long and levelled it once again at the 14:56 mark, forcing overtime.
Toews and Kane potted on Chicago’s first two attempts to win the match and Minnesota’s Matt Cullen and Dany Heatley failed on both.
"It's definitely a team we have to keep on our radar," said Jonathan Toews about the leading team in the Western Conference, that is in the first position ahead of Chicago by two points, with 44.
Chicago will be looking for their fourth straight victory against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, while Minnesota hopes to snap their two-game losing streak on Saturday.
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