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Expertly crafted: Blackhawks' pressure on Canadiens creates Kane's snipe

Dennis Wierzbicki / Reuters

Patrick Kane is no stranger to jaw-dropping goals, but he scored another sensational one Sunday night that needs to be broken down to be fully appreciated.

Related: Watch: Kane burns Canadiens for incredible goal

Max Pacioretty was involved in a pair of Montreal Canadiens miscues in the moments leading up to the decisive marker in the Chicago Blackhawks' victory, and Kane took full advantage.

How it happened

Let's wind the entire sequence back to fully illustrate how turnovers in multiple zones gave Kane the opportunity to work his magic.

Kane controls the puck behind the net, looking to find Jonathan Toews (No. 19), who Kane likely assumes is going to make a beeline for the goal.

Kane's pass out front is picked off by Canadiens forward Andrew Shaw, who looks to feed Pacioretty.

That turns out to be an ill-advised decision, as Pacioretty is immediately met by Blackhawks winger Vincent Hinostroza, who is supported by Gustav Forsling (42) and Niklas Hjalmarsson (4).

The Blackhawks control it and Toews makes the turn for the counter-attack.

Toews finds Hinostroza as he enters the Canadiens' zone.

Hinostroza spots Kane all alone in the faceoff circle.

Kane receives the pass, and fans at the United Center rise to their feet.

Canadiens goaltender Al Montoya is up to the task (for now), and Montreal regroups.

Pacioretty has a chance to carry the puck out of the zone, but he makes another poor decision, attempting a short pass into a crowd.

Toews intercepts it and feeds Kane.

Kane carries the puck between the circles, with Pacioretty (67) trailing and Canadiens defenseman Jeff Petry in front of Kane.

Kane dangles Petry and finds himself with a clear path to the net.

Pacioretty catches up with Kane and checks him to the ice, but the Blackhawks star gets a shot off as he's falling down.

Kane roofs it glove-side over Montoya and skids triumphantly along the ice.

The sequence was a textbook example of how forechecking and pressure in the neutral zone can lead to turnovers, which are likely to precede goals when players as dynamic as Kane are involved.

(Images courtesy: NHL.com)

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