Chicago Blackhawks: Ranking the 15 Best Moments from Blackhawks' Cup Run

The Chicago Blackhawks cemented a dynasty in winning their third Stanley Cup in six seasons over the Tampa Bay Lightning. From thrilling finishes to comeback victories, the Blackhawks had many memorable moments this season.

When ranking the top moments from this championship season, a few factors came into account. The timing of the moment and the impact it had on the season going forward were considered in this list.

Here are 15 of the top moments during Chicago's run to a championship during the 2014-15 season.

Patrick Kane isn’t known for slow starts, but he struggled to start the 2014-15 season. His struggles came to an end when he scored for the third straight game in a tough win against Calgary.

The two teams battled and were tied at three goals apiece after two periods of play. Kane made the play of the night in the third period after a mistake by Calgary’s defense.

Kane scored on a turnover by Flames goalkeeper Jonas Hiller. Kane moved hard to the net and capitalized on the turnover with an unassisted goal.

Chicago center Brad Richards had his fair share of big-time goals at Madison Square Garden, but this time he was on the visiting side of the competition.

Richards, who played with the New York Rangers from 2011 to 2014, scored the winning goal against his former team in the Blackhawks' 1-0 victory. After Rangers defenseman Dan Boyle nearly gave the Rangers the lead, Richards took the puck the other way and slapped a shot past Rangers goalkeeper Cam Talbot for his 11th goal of the season.

The Blackhawks had their share of struggles against Winnipeg this season, but they earned a thrilling overtime victory on Brandon Saad’s goal right in front of the net.

The game had an intensity equal to a postseason game. The Jets used physical play to harass the Blackhawks early in the game, but Chicago found its rhythm late, which led to the winning goal on the road.

The goal ended a two-game losing streak and a skid in which the team lost three of its previous five games.

Center Jonathan Toews had his way of dragging his team out of early deficits this season. He scored two goals in 47 seconds to give Chicago a 4-3 lead over the Buffalo Sabres.

The Blackhawks took an early 2-1 lead before a late surge by the Sabres gave them a 3-2 lead. Toews responded with two quick goals to give Chicago the victory. The win came just days after he spearheaded a comeback against Winnipeg.

Chicago faced another tough early regular-season matchup against Dallas, but a huge third period gave the Blackhawks a dominating 6-2 victory over the Stars at the United Center.

The two teams battled in the first period and were tied at 2-2 headed to the second period. After a dormant second period, the Blackhawks exploded for four goals in the third to gain momentum before they went on a six-game road trip in November.

The win sparked one of the best runs by any team in the NHL, as the Blackhawks won 13 out of 15 games including 10 on the road.

The Blackhawks faced one of their worst deficits all season down 3-0 to the Predators in the middle of the regular season. Chicago’s fight shined through as the team came back twice to beat the Predators in a shootout.

Center Jonathan Toews put an impressive slap shot in the back of the net to give the Blackhawks the victory in the shootout.

Chicago erased an early 3-0 deficit with three quick goals in the second period. Nashville reclaimed the lead 4-3 after winger James Neal scored with seconds left in the period. Chicago tied it when winger Bryan Bickell scored with just over a minute left in regulation.

The win kept the Blackhawks atop the Central Division and in control in the Western Conference.

The Blackhawks took the lead in the Stanley Cup Final after Antoine Vermette scored the winning goal in the 2-1 victory over Tampa Bay in Game 5.

The two teams continued a defensive-fueled series and were tied 1-1 after the first two periods. Both goalies performed admirably before Vermette scored on a rebound save by Lightning goalie Ben Bishop.

The win gave the Blackhawks momentum after falling early 2-1 in the series. Thanks to this victory, they had the opportunity to win the championship at home in Game 6.

Chicago faced another three-goal deficit against Nashville in the postseason opener and once again overcame it in overtime. The Blackhawks erased an early 3-0 deficit to force overtime and win on a game-winning goal in double overtime by defenseman Duncan Keith.

In a game led by backup goalie Scott Darling, the Blackhawks offense game alive in the second period to regain momentum in the series opener. Nashville was led by center Colin Wilson, who scored two goals in the game.

The win helped give Chicago early momentum in a series in which it would defeat Nashville in six games.

Chicago won three out of five games against the Wild in the regular season. After Minnesota upset the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the playoffs, many believed it could give the Blackhawks trouble in the conference semifinal.

The Blackhawks dominated the beginning of Game 1 and looked like they were about to blow out the Wild. After taking a 3-0 lead after the first period, the Wild rallied to tie the game with three goals in the second period. Twenty-year-old winger Teuvo Teravainen scored the tie-breaking goal late in the second period to give the Blackhawks a 4-3 victory.

Chicago would go on to sweep the series against the Wild. Game 1 was a huge early momentum swing in the series that led to the Blackhawks advancing to the Western Conference Final once again.

Chicago center Antoine Vermette was left out of the starting lineup in Game 4 against Anaheim, but he made the play of the night to give the Blackhawks a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Ducks in the second overtime period.

The Blackhawks led 3-1 in the third period before a frantic rally by the Ducks tied the game at four goals apiece heading into another overtime in the series. The two teams battled through the first overtime period before Vermette scored just five minutes, 37 seconds into the second overtime period.

Backup goalie Scott Darling took over for Corey Crawford after the starter allowed three goals against Nashville in the postseason opener.

Down 3-0 after the first period, Darling stopped all 42 shots that Nashville took against him. His impressive play led a comeback for the ages as the Blackhawks came back to defeat the Predators in overtime 4-3.

Game 1 of the first-round series set the tone for the Blackhawks the rest of the way. Darling started four of the following five games to lead Chicago to the conference semifinal. Crawford would eventually play better as the playoffs went on, but Darling arguably saved the season in relief of Crawford.

Center Jonathan Toews came up big numerous times during the 2014-15 season for the Blackhawks, but no moment was bigger than in Game 7 of the Western Conference Final against Anaheim.

Toews scored two goals in Chicago's 5-3 win to send the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup Final. Toews and the Blackhawks overcame a raucous crowd at the Honda Center to earn the clinching victory.

The team reached its third NHL championship series in six seasons.

Many experts and fans believed that the Blackhawks were in deep trouble down 2-1 in the Western Conference Final against Anaheim. In a crucial Game 5 in Anaheim, the Blackhawks survived an up-and-down affair to defeat the Ducks in three overtime periods.

Chicago took a 2-1 lead after the first period, but the Ducks tied the game at two after a second-period score by winger Corey Perry. The Ducks remained scoreless for the final 78:42 of play.

The game was the longest at the Honda Center and the 17th-longest in NHL history. Chicago center Marcus Kruger scored the winning goal right in front of the net to even the series at two games apiece.

The Ducks had an opportunity to clinch the series and move on to the Stanley Cup Final in Chicago, but the Blackhawks had other plans.

With its back to the wall once again, Chicago dominated the second and third periods against Anaheim to win by a score of 5-2. The Blackhawks were led by arguably the best player in the playoffs, defenseman Duncan Keith, who had three assists to carry his team.

Center Andrew Shaw scored two goals late in the second period to give the Blackhawks a comfortable lead. With the victory, Chicago forced a Game 7 in Anaheim.

The Blackhawks had the opportunity to clinch their first Stanley Cup at home in 77 years and made the most out of the moment.

Corey Crawford recorded his fifth career postseason shutout as the Blackhawks defeated the Lightning 2-0 at the United Center. Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane scored one goal apiece to lead the way for the Blackhawks.

Chicago utilized its dominant defense to blank Tampa Bay from the beginning. Crawford recorded 25 saves in the win.

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