Darling reflects on 'save of the game' in playoff opener 5 years ago

Blackhawks goalie Scott Darling hoists the Stanley Cup in 2015 at the United Center. Darling made that win possible with his stellar play in round one of the playoffs against Nashville. John Starks | Staff Photographer

Scott Darling blocks a shot as Nashville's Roman Josi (59) and Viktor Stalberg look for a rebound in the third period of Game 1 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series in April 2015 in Nashville. Associated Press

Think about some of the greatest relief appearances in Chicago history.

Jim McMahon's 3-touchdown barrage in Minnesota on national television Sept. 19, 1985, is one we'll never forget.

Same goes for Mitch Williams' Cubs debut in the 1989 season opener when the Phillies loaded the bases with nobody out in the ninth inning. Williams proceeds to strike out the next three batters to secure a 5-4 victory.

Oh, and let's not forget Mark Buehrle saving Game 3 of the World Series in 2005 for the White Sox. With two runners on and the Sox leading 7-5 in the 14th inning, Buehrle retired Adam Everett to give Ozzie Guillen's squad a 3-0 series lead over the Astros.

But No. 1 on the list -- believe it or not -- probably belongs to a goalie. And it came five years ago Wednesday when Scott Darling stopped 42 shots during a 4-3 double overtime victory over the Nashville Predators in Game 1 of their opening-round Stanley Cup playoff series.

"I remember it like it was yesterday," Darling said in a recent phone interview. "But it does feel like a long time ago at the same time."

• • •

The Blackhawks went 48-28-6 in 2014-15, but they scored just 5 goals in their last four regular-season games -- all losses. That dropped coach Joel Quenneville's squad into third place in the Central Division and forced the Hawks to open on the road at Nashville.

Still, this was a team that won the 2013 Stanley Cup, was barely eliminated by the Kings in the Western Conference finals the next season and -- most importantly -- was getting Patrick Kane back from a broken clavicle he suffered in February.

When the playoffs began, Darling was prepared to do all the little things that backup goalies do behind the scenes between games. Never in his wildest dreams -- or nightmares, for that matter -- did Darling think he would be thrust into the most intense part of the NHL season after just one period.

But that's what happened after:

• Colin Wilson roofed a shot that beat Corey Crawford just 6:07 into the game.

• Crawford lost control of the puck far behind his net, setting up an easy goal by Viktor Stalberg at 17:20.

• And Seth Jones beat Crawford with a wrist shot at 19:27 to make it 3-0.

Head-pounding screams echoed through Bridgestone Arena as the fans celebrated their team's absolute domination of their hated rivals to the north.

Game over?

Not so fast.

• • •

As Darling took his seat next to Crawford in the Hawks' dressing room during intermission, he saw a strange sight: Quenneville was headed right for him.

"Darls," the veteran coach said, "You're in."

Darling immediately jumped up, made a beeline for the bathroom and promptly threw up.

It's important to remember that the 6-foot-6 Lemont product had just 14 NHL games under his belt to this point. Two seasons before, he was playing in the ECHL -- a full two levels below the NHL.

Yet, here he was about to make his Stanley Cup playoff debut. For his hometown team, no less.

"Usually coaches come in later in the intermission," Darling said. "But (Quenneville) came in right when we got into the locker room and told me I was going in. I instantly stood up and walked to the bathroom."

• • •

Darling didn't feel a whole lot of pressure as the teams hit the ice for the beginning of the second period. After all, the Hawks were trailing 3-0 and were being completely outplayed.

Just don't let things get out of control and hope for a Game 2 victory.

That was basically his thought process in the beginning. But suddenly the tide began to turn.

Niklas Hjalmarsson charged the net, took a pass from Teuvo Teravainen and -- boom! -- the Hawks narrowed the gap just 1:43 into the period.

Nashville then took a pair of penalties at 7:16 and 8:21, and the Hawks capitalized on the two-man advantage when Patrick Sharp banged a shot home to make it 3-2 at 8:32.

A little more than five minutes later -- with the Hawks on another power play -- Jonathan Toews stuffed home a shot to completely silence the shellshocked crowd.

Bam. Bam. Bam.

Just like that it was 3-3 and a new game. And suddenly, that rookie goaltender on the other side of the ice had an entirely new mindset.

"I felt more pressure once we tied it up, for sure. And we did that pretty quick," Darling said. "When you go in, you're just trying to stop the bleeding. It's like: 'We're going to lose, so just finish the game.' Then when it was 3-3, I was like, 'OK, this is my game now.'

"That's when it set in and there was more pressure."

• • •

Blackhawks goalie Scott Darling celebrates with goalie Corey Crawford and left wing Teuvo Teravainen after the Hawks defeated the host Nashville Predators 4-3 in two overtimes in Game 1 of a Western Conference playoff April 15, 2015. - Associated Press

What many of us might forget about Darling's sensational performance this night is that he faced just 4 shots in the second period. His save total was still just 8 midway through the third period.

Then came the stop of the game. Of the series. And, perhaps, of the entire postseason.

With 9:17 remaining and Nashville on the power play, Colin Wilson backhands a pass to a wide-open Ryan Ellis on the other side of the crease.

Ellis winds up. Shoots. And has to figure he's just given the Predators a 4-3 lead.

One problem: Darling has done the splits, getting his right leg over in the nick of time to somehow keep the puck out of the net.

"That is the best save of the game by a mile," says NBCSN announcer Joe Micheletti when the replay is shown. "Unbelievable save to keep this a tie game."

But Darling's magical night is just getting started.

Three minutes later, Darling fends off a long shot from the point and then lays down flat on his back hoping to smother the puck.

Instead, it's swept in front to Hjalmarsson, whose clearing attempt fails.

Six seconds later, Mike Ribeiro has a bouncing puck come right to him and fires a point-blank shot that barely grazes Darling's left shoulder.

Six inches to the right and it's a goal.

Ribeiro then tries to bank a shot off Darling, but to no avail.

With less than four minutes remaining in regulation, Stalberg races around Duncan Keith and tries feeding a charging Roman Josi right at the doorstep of the net. The puck bounces off Josi's skates and right into Darling's outstretched right leg.

"What a clinic being put on by Scott Darling here in the third period!" exclaimed play-by-play announcer Gord Miller.

Darling finished with 15 third-period saves, giving him 19 in all to this point, and retreated to the locker room knowing the next goal by either team would end the game.

• • •

One thing that sticks out in Darling's mind was the utter and complete sense of calm in the dressing room between periods. He doesn't remember any rah-rah speeches or teammates trying to pump him up. Plenty of the veterans had already overcome incredible odds -- in games and series -- so they certainly weren't going to be fazed by a 3-0 deficit or a game headed to overtime.

"(I) was watching the guys who had won two Cups," Darling said. "They were so calm. They'd been through this and they know how it works. They know something I don't, so I'm just going to follow them."

Nashville wasn't going to go quietly, however, and peppered Darling with 17 shots in the first overtime. He thwarted them all, including a tough pad stop on a blast from Filip Forsberg with 10:32 remaining.

In the second overtime, Darling soaked up a rocket from Jones with 16:21 remaining for save No. 40.

Four minutes and 10 seconds later, Keith snapped off a shot that Pekka Rinne never saw to give the Hawks a 4-3 victory.

Crawford was one of the first players to reach Darling as Keith was being mobbed at center ice.

"I think about that goal being scored and realizing that we won, and the relief I felt that I did my job," Darling said.

• • •

Blackhawks goalie Scott Darling covers up after stopping a shot by Nashville's James Neal in Game 4 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series in April 2015 at the United Center. - John Starks | Staff Photographer

Darling would go on to make 35 saves in a 4-2 victory over Nashville in Game 3 and then turn away 50 in a 3-2 triple-overtime victory in Game 4.

After losing Game 5, he allowed 3 goals on 12 first-period shots in Game 6 and was replaced by Crawford. The Hawks stormed back to win that game to claim the series and eventually won their third Stanley Cup in six years.

Darling never played again, but admits to being a nervous wreck at times -- and especially during the grueling, energy-sapping seven-game Western Conference finals against Anaheim.

"Honest to God, the Anaheim series was the most stressful series of my life," Darling said, "and I didn't touch the ice. It's hard when you have no impact and I was still newish.

"I wanted to do the right stuff (being) the backup goalie. I was trying to be motivator, but I don't want to be over the top and annoying. That series had a lot of swings in it. I wanted to be there for Corey. I didn't know how to do the job that a backup goalie's supposed to do that well yet. ... That's why I was so stressed out."

The thrill of lifting the Stanley Cup in front of the United Center crowd is something Darling will obviously never forget. But it's Kane's goal that made it 2-0 in Game 6 against Tampa Bay that really sticks out in his mind.

"I tried the whole time to not think about (winning it all) because I didn't want to be let down if we didn't win," Darling said. "But when he scored the second goal, I was like, 'Oh my God. We're gonna win. This is gonna happen.'

"So for me I always remember that feeling when he scored. It was obviously amazing to be out there and carry the Cup and have my family on the ice. But when he scored that second goal, it was one of the most real moments of my life."