Goal of the Decade: Kane's 2010 Stanley Cup winner in OT for Blackhawks

In the runup to the unveiling of the NHL First and Second All-Decade Teams on Jan. 24 (6:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN), the NHL will be announcing its best plays, moments, events, coaches and team of the 2010s.
One selection, chosen by NHL.com and NHL.com International staff members, will be unveiled each day in the runup to the release of the all-decade teams. Today is Goal of the Decade, which was scored by Patrick Kane in Game 6 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Patrick Kane has scored a lot of memorable goals in his NHL career.
But the Chicago Blackhawks forward's goal 4:06 into overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final, the one that ended the Blackhawks' championship drought after 49 years with a 4-3 victory, is one he'll never forget.
"I mean, obviously it was a great run throughout the [Stanley Cup] Playoffs and you think you're sitting pretty at 3-2 and they tie it up," Kane said of the 4-3 win. "It seems like they have a lot of the momentum going into overtime. We had a couple of chances early, I think [Kris] Versteeg had a chance in the slot."
Flyers forward Scott Hartnell scored with 3:59 remaining in regulation to tie the game 3-3. With less than 16 minutes remaining in the first overtime, Kane made his move toward Flyers goalie Michael Leighton.
"I was calling for the puck, trying to make a play on the defenseman [Kimmo] Timonen," Kane said. "I just got around him and saw a path to be able to get a puck on net. I wasn't really thinking I'd score on that shot but maybe you're shooting for a rebound, create some havoc. I just saw it go through his legs, hit the pad and stick in the inside of the net there."

There was a lot of uncertainty. Was it a goal? Was the game over? Kane was one of the few who knew immediately. He quickly skated to goalie Antti Niemi, throwing his stick and gloves away and shaking his fists in the air.
"I don't know, it didn't seem like there was much reaction from anyone, so I think that's why I celebrated the way I did," he said. "I went kind of crazy, threw the gloves off, skated down the ice. I don't know, you dream of scoring an overtime goal to win the Stanley Cup as a kid. To be able to do that at 21 years old, in my third season in the League, and for a franchise that hadn't won a Cup in 49 years, it was a pretty special moment."
Former Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said, "when [Kane] went by and he was jumping up and down and I'm sitting there waiting, I'm waiting. I was just making sure, that, 'Hey, I want to see some verification from the official to make sure this is over with.' And it took forever. But they came in with the video and it was clear it went into the net."
The Blackhawks had a memorable decade, winning the Stanley Cup three times, but it was Kane's overtime goal in Philadelphia that started the great run.
"That was great that it ended the way it ended," Quenneville said. "For the whole city of Chicago, and the Blackhawks fans who waited a long time in between championships, that was definitely the highlight of all the championships we won."

All-Decade schedule:

Jan. 15:
Save of the Decade
-- Braden Holtby, Game 2, 2018 Stanley Cup Final
Jan. 16:
Coach of the Decade
-- Joel Quennevile
Jan. 17:
Franchise of the Decade
-- Chicago Blackhawks
Jan. 18:
Playoff Series of the Decade
-- 2014 Western Conference Final, Los Angeles Kings vs. Chicago Blackhawks.
Jan. 19:
Game of the Decade
-- 2013 Eastern Conference First Round, Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins
Jan. 20:
Event of the Decade
-- 2014 Winter Classic, Michigan Stadium, Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings
Jan. 21:
Moment of the Decade
-- NHL100 Gala, Los Angeles
Wednesday: Goal of the Decade -- Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks, Game 6 of 2010 Stanley Cup Final
Friday: First and Second All-Decade Teams