Top 20 Cup Final games since 2000: No. 1

As the NHL prepares for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the NHL.com staff selected the best 20 Stanley Cup Final games since 2000. Our 15-writer panel nominated 44 games for consideration before each member voted for his or her favorite 20 from that list. Each favorite game was awarded 20 points, with the selections that followed receiving one fewer point each and so on, down to one point for each 20th-favorite game. Today, we look at Game 6 of the 2010 Cup Final between the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers. It was the only game to appear on each of the 15 ballots, receiving one first-place vote and 250 points.

2010 Game 6: Chicago Blackhawks 4, Philadelphia Flyers 3 (OT)

Patrick Kane was 21 when he established his reputation as one of the best clutch players in the NHL by scoring 4:06 into overtime of Game 6 to give the Blackhawks a 4-3 victory against the Flyers for their first Stanley Cup championship since 1961. Kane's goal, which was selected as the Goal of the Decade in the 2010s by NHL.com and NHL.com International staff members, capped a back-and-forth Cup Final and a back-and-forth Game 6. Kane was one of the few in Wachovia Center (now Wells Fargo Center) who initially realized he'd scored the Cup-winner.

The forward went wide around Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen in the left circle before taking a bad-angle shot that went between the pads of goalie Michael Leighton and lodged under the padding on the far side of the net. Kane immediately threw off his gloves and shook his fists in celebration, but most of the players on both teams did not react at first because they didn't see the puck go in.

It was a fitting end to a wild series. After the Blackhawks won the first two games in Chicago, the Flyers won the next two in Philadelphia to even the best-of-7 series. Chicago's 7-4 victory in Game 5 at United Center put the Blackhawks one win away from winning the Cup, but the Flyers did not go quietly in Game 6. Following Dustin Byfuglien's goal that gave Chicago a 1-0 lead with 3:11 left in the first period, Scott Hartnell scored with 27 seconds left in the period and Daniel Briere scored 8:00 into the second to give Philadelphia a 2-1 lead. Chicago answered with second-period goals by Patrick Sharp (9:58) and Andrew Ladd (17:43) to take a 3-2 lead that held up until Hartnell scored with 3:59 remaining in the third to force overtime.

They said it: "It didn't seem like there was much reaction from anyone, so I think that's why I celebrated the way I did. 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." -- Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane

Historical significance: Kane's goal gave the Blackhawks their fourth Stanley Cup championship (they also won in 1934, 1938 and 1961) and started a run of three championships in six seasons (2010, 2013, 2015). … It was the first time the Stanley Cup-winning goal was scored in overtime since Video: Memories: Blackhawks win first Cup in 49 years scored against the Dallas Stars in the second overtime of Game 6 of the 2000 Final to give the New Jersey Devils a 2-1 victory and their second championship. … The Blackhawks played in the Cup Final for the first time since being swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992. The Flyers played in the Cup Final for the first time since being swept by the Detroit Red Wings in 1997. … Chicago captain Jonathan Toews won the Video: Memories: Blackhawks win first Cup in 49 years as playoff MVP; he scored 29 points (seven goals, League-leading 22 assists) in 22 postseason games.

Iconic moment: In the confusion and celebration following Kane's goal, the question of what happened to the puck after it went in also became a mystery. Its whereabouts remain unknown.

Telling stat: Kane's overtime goal was the first of five he's scored in the Stanley Cup Playoffs during his career. He's tied with Video: Memories: Blackhawks win first Cup in 49 years for third in NHL history behind Video: Memories: Blackhawks win first Cup in 49 years (8) and Video: Memories: Blackhawks win first Cup in 49 years (6).