CHICAGO

You know a player is doing something special when sworn enemies in a playoff series want to reach over and pat him on the back.

With the magnitude of Minnesota Wild goalie Josh Harding’s heroic Game 1 performance setting overnight, the Chicago Blackhawks spent a good part of Wednesday morning saluting the man they’re ultimately trying to beat.

“You have to tip your hat to what Josh is going through on their side,” said Chicago winger Patrick Sharp. “It’s pretty amazing that he’s able to play at the level he does, it’s an inspiration for a lot of people.”

Sidelined for nearly three months while his body adjusted to medication prescribed to help him combat Multiple Sclerosis, Harding found out 15 minutes before puckdrop Tuesday that Nik Backstrom was out and he was in.

His first start since Feb.7 had heartbreak written all over it.

Instead, Harding stopped 35 of 37 shots, took the Presidents’ Trophy winners deep into overtime and came a Jason Zucker goal post away from a stunning upset victory.

“It’s nothing short of amazing,” said ‘Hawks captain Jonathan Toews. “I have a lot of respect for a guy like that ... I read his quotes about not wanting any sympathy, he’s going to keep working, keep playing. You have to respect an opponent like that, especially when he’s going through something like that. Seeing the way he played, the stops he made, was pretty cool.”

But not so cool that the Chicago wants to be pushed to the brink like that again.

“We know he’s stepping into that spotlight and assuming that responsibility, which isn’t an easy thing to do,” said Toews. “But what we want to do as a team is be tougher on their goaltender. We need to do that.”

Harding wasn’t expecting to do anything but take some shots in practice and watch the ‘Hawks and Wild from the bench. But with an uncertain prognosis for Backstrom’s lower body injury, Harding might go the distance for Minnesota.

“Obviously there’s a lot of emotions going through your head,” said the 28-year-old Masterton Trophy nominee. “But like I was saying, I’ve been a backup goalie for a bit and I know how important it is to get ready for every game.

“An unfortunate circumstance, but I thought I was ready and prepared myself right.”

He says he feels fine, despite the fact his first full game since Jan. 25 went late into the first overtime period.

“I felt great last night, and I felt good today,” said Harding, making a point to stay clear of any maudlin story angles. “So I have no worries about that.”

That’s hockey.

In baseball, players get wheeled off the field in golf carts with tears in their eyes after spraining an ankle.

In hockey, Erik Karlsson limps to the bench after a skate blade tears through 70 per cent of his Achilles tendon and is back from what was supposed to be a season-ending injury 10 weeks later.

“It seems commonplace in today’s game to play through injuries and different situations,” said Sharp. “My personal story would probably be Duncan Keith in the playoffs in 2010. I don’t even know if he missed a shift, maybe one or two, after he lost nine teeth. That’s one thing that was pretty impressive to me.

“Sometimes when you have bumps and bruises or minor injuries you look to the guy next to you that is dealing with something much worse and it makes it a little easier.”

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ROBERT.TYCHKOWSKI@Sunmedia.ca