Watch Vermette’s game-winning goal that gives Chicago 3-2 Stanley Cup final lead
At the trade deadline, the Chicago Blackhawks shipped defensive prospect Klas Dahlbeck and a first-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes for center Antoine Vermette. Through five games of the post-season, that deal couldn’t look better for the Blackhawks.
In Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final, Vermette notched a tally late in the third period to lift Chicago to a 1-0 series lead. He came up clutch again in Game 5, scoring two minutes into the third period and giving the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead that they would hold to take a 3-2 series advantage as the series gets set to shift back to Chicago. Check out the goal:
Both of Vermette’s goals in the final – both of the game-winning variety – aren’t the only two game-deciding goals he’s scored in the post-season. In Game 4 of the Western Conference final, Vermette scored the overtime-winning goal. This is the second time this series he has been in the right place at the right time, too. In Game 1, he followed up Teuvo Teravainen forcing a turnover for the winner and in Game 5, Vermette followed up a rebound off of a Kris Versteeg opportunity to notch the winner.
Coming into the playoffs, Vermette had played 68 games and scored a total of nine goals and 18 points. Through 18 games this post-season, he has four goals and seven points, only three points off of his career high of five goals and 10 points in 2011-12.