Gotta See It: Datsyuk’s dart impresses Kessel

Chicago Blackhawks netminder Corey Crawford is still looking forward as the puck -- lasered by Pavel Datsyuk -- exits the back of the net.

It takes something special to happen for Toronto Maple Leafs sniper and infrequent tweeter Phil Kessel to volunteer his hockey analysis.

So on Monday night, when Pavel Datsyuk stretched to his arms’ limit to corral a Johan Franzen pass and fired a wrister that traveled about as fast as a car in the far-left lane over Corey Crawford’s right shoulder, even Kessel — a wristshot specialist in his own right — took notice.

Datsyuk’s dart — eerily similar to the forward’s Round 1 laser — enters and exits the net so fast, a photograph of the goal shows the Chicago Blackhawks goalie still looking forward at Datsyuk as the puck is leaving the back of the net.

The marker capped off the Wings’ Game 3 victory and sealed their surprising 2-1 series lead over the favoured Presidents’ Trophy champs. It also provided assist man Franzen with some small vengeance, as the big Swede was crunched into the boards on a play that led to the Blackhawks’ goal earlier int he period:

If for nothing else than providing a steady stream of Gotta See It fodder, we hope Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock is correct in betting that Datsyuk will not bolt for the Kontinental Hockey League after next season.

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