Four takeaways: Blackhawks-Maple Leafs combine for 13-goal outburst and dramatic finish

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Here are four takeaways from the Blackhawks' 7-6 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in Sunday's home opener at United Center:

1. An epic finish

For the first 40 minutes, the Blackhawks and Maple Leafs played some entertaining hockey. There were seven total goals and a pair of lead changes, which included three unanswered goals by Toronto after Chicago had scored the first two.

But none of that compared to the third period, one of the most exciting finishes you'll ever see in a regular season game.

The Maple Leafs and Blackhawks exchanged goals three times, highlighted by three in a 56-second span from Patrick Kane and Auston Matthews, then Kane again.

"I'm sure it's probably a nightmare game for the coaches where there's a lot of goals for and a lot of goals against," Kane said "Fun game to play in if you're an offensive player."

Morgan Rielly ended it in overtime, resulting in a 7-6 victory for the Maple Leafs and the first regular season loss for the Blackhawks, who are 2-0-1.

2. Patrick Kane and Auston Matthews trade celebrations

The best part about the 56-second three-goal trade-off between Kane and Matthews were the celebrations that followed. 

After Kane evened it up at 5-5 with 1:24 to go that electrified the United Center crowd, Matthews responded 22 seconds later and celebrated by holding his hand up to his ear.

Kane reciprocated after tying it back up at 6-6 with 29 seconds to play.

Here's what each of them had to say about it:

Matthews: "Just showed a little emotion and you think you, not have the game locked up, but 30 seconds left, a big goal after they just scored one, sometimes all you can do is just laugh. He’s a premiere player in this league and somebody I look up to. My favorite player growing up watching. When that happens, you gotta sit back and laugh. You’re in this position, it’s pretty funny. But we’re fortunate to get the win."

Kane: "That's entertainment right there. I wasn't really happy when he did it, it was nice to get a chance to score an do it back to him but he had a really good game. ... It was nice to go back and forth there. Wish we could've gotten another one there in overtime, get the win, and have this crowd into it, so it's a tough loss in that regard."

3. The hottest start of Jonathan Toews' career?

Historically, the Blackhawks captain takes a little while to get going. Last year he didn't score his fifth goal of the season until his 19th game, which was on Nov. 21. 

Through three games this season, Toews is tied for the league lead with five goals and ranks second with six points.

"However you want to call it, I think his play over three games is pretty amazing as far as his pace, possession time," coach Joel Quenneville said. "That line's been effective as well. But his quickness is noticeable. Has the puck more, he's around the net. Almost every one of his goals outside of his breakaway [at St. Louis] is him being around the net and we saw that in preseason as well."

4. No answer for John Tavares

The Maple Leafs were one of the best offensive teams in the league last season, but adding Tavares adds a different dimension, especially down the middle. It only took him three games into his Maple Leafs tenure to net his first hat trick in a blue and white sweater.

He logged a season-high 21:12 of ice time and added a game-high seven shots on goal to go along with the three of them that found the back of the net. That included a ridiculous shot that got past Cam Ward in the third period to complete the hat trick.

He's a difference-maker for Toronto and its chances at winning a Stanley Cup in the near future.

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