The Blackhawks were down two goals entering the third period and, given their state of affairs recently, any positivity expressed in the dressing room at the second intermission ran the risk of seeming hollow if not futile.
It was another game and another deficit the Hawks to overcome. And because they were “snakebit” in the scoring department, as coach Joel Quenneville described it, the prospects of a comeback were dim against Scott Darling, their former backup goaltender.
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Still, it was luminous in the room because according to Brandon Saad, “Once you’re in that position, it really can’t get any worse.”
For a change, it actually got better. It was Saad who capped the rally Saturday night in a 4-3 overtime victory with a goal 1 minute, 44 seconds into the extra session.
His first goal in 11 games was only possible because of the breakout night rookie winger Alex DeBrincat had in scoring two goals before defenseman Gustav Forsling put in the equalizer 11:29 into the third period.
It’s only November, but the Hawks needed this victory, if only for their sanity.
“Sometimes these wins when you’re down and come back (can give you) a little confidence,” winger Patrick Kane said. “Hopefully it can provide a spark for us.”
The Hurricanes drowned any sparks in the opening minutes.
The Hurricanes had 14 shots in the first 10 minutes, scoring two goals. The first came when the Hawks left Hurricanes winger Brock McGinn connected on a backhand swipe of a rebound to beat Hawks backup Anton Forsberg 6:53 into the game.
The Hurricanes kept mounting the pressure after McGinn’s goal and got on the board at 9:01 again thanks to Jeff Skinner, who rang one in from the right circle off the far post.
Following their pattern from the last few games, the Hawks then started playing for real. They carried some momentum over into the second period when DeBrincat scored his first of the night off a picture-perfect pass from captain Jonathan Toews as a power play expired at 7:34.
McGinn kept the Hawks in check with another backhanded goal at 9:58 to give the Hurricanes a two-goal lead headed into the third and the Hawks looking at another glum road effort. But Saturday they didn’t sulk.
“It was really positive (before the third period),” winger Patrick Kane said. “We’re thinking, ‘We’ve had these chances … we’ve played well, but let’s see if we can dig ourselves out of a hole.'”
DeBrincat lifted their spirits with his second goal of the night, from the slot off a pass from Kane at 3:16. The score marked the first multi-goal game of DeBrincat’s career.
Later, Forsling’s slap shot from the point somehow made it untouched through a sea of bodies in front of Darling at 11:29.
“A few puck bounces and I get lucky it goes in. It was good timing for me,” DeBrincat said. “We definitely needed that win.”
Saad capped it off in the 3-on-3 overtime with a wrist shot from the left circle off a pass from DeBrincat. For one night, at least, staying optimistic paid off.
“Not very often we’ve been in this spot,” Quenneville said. “e try to be positive when it’s time.”
The time was finally right Saturday.
Twitter @ChristopherHine
Chris Hine’s three stars
1. Alex DeBrincat, Blackhawks: Rookie had his first two-goal game.
2. Brandon Saad, Hawks: Won it with his first goal in 11 games.
3. Jonathan Toews, Hawks: Pretty pass set up DeBrincat’s first goal.
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*Up next: Vs. Devils, 6 p.m. Sunday, NBCSCH.
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