by Christopher BottaFiled under: Blackhawks
The Play of the Year in the National Hockey League was so transcendent, so spectacular, so bound-to-be iconic, it ... well, hardly anyone realized what happened. As a gimpy Kirk Gibson's extra innings playoff home run sailed into the right field seats at Dodgers Stadium, announcer Jack Buck famously intoned, "I don't believe what I just saw." When Patrick Kane's medium-speed shot sailed through the five-hole of Flyers goalie Michael Leighton and ended the Chicago Blackhawks' Stanley Cup drought at 49 years, history was made. Trouble is, only Kane seemed to know he'd made it.There was a slightly empty feeling about The Goal, so much so that it probably hasn't earned the capital letters. Since almost no one knew Kane scored, none of the broadcast calls are legendary. But as time goes on, the silence in the Flyers' home rink -- broken only by a few whoops by Kane and a few teammates who wanted to believe -- will be remembered as one of the most unique moments in NHL history. When you're waiting since 1961 for another championship, what's another minute or two for video review?
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