You never want the officials to determine the outcome of a game, and you especially don’t want to see it happen in Game 7 of a playoff series.
That was almost the case Wednesday night in Chicago, when Niklas Hjalmarsson‘s goal that would have put the Blackhawks ahead with 1:47 to play in regulation was disallowed. Detroit’s Kyle Quincey had gotten tangled up with Chicago’s Brandon Saad in front of the Red Wings bench, prompting referee Stephen Walkom to blow the play dead seconds before Hjalmarsson’s shot.
The call stunned the capacity crowd at United Center, but Brent Seabrook prevented a full-scale riot by potting the game-winner for the Blackhawks just 3:35 into overtime. Seabrook’s goal completed an incredible comeback by the top-seeded Hawks, who erased a 3-1 series deficit to clinch a spot in the Western Conference finals. They’ll meet the defending champion Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 on Saturday.
Check out both Hjalmarsson’s would-be winner and Seabrook’s overtime tally in the video below.
