Well, after tonight’s bad loss to the Philadelphia Flyers – their third loss in the last four games – it seems my beloved Chicago Blackhawks have entered their annual January swoon. As usual, Patrick Kane was right in the middle of the action, for good and ill.

With about 8 minutes left in the game, the Blackhawks were down 4-2. Then Patrick Sharp took a 4 minute high-sticking penalty. With the penalty nearly killed, Brent Seabrook wristed in a short-handed goal to the ‘Hawks hope. (Using ‘Hawks’ as their nickname always throws me for a moment. I grew up in Davenport, Iowa. ‘Hawks’ is short for Hawkeyes for me, and always will be.)

26 seconds later, Jonathon Toews created a turn over, Sharp corralled the puck and got it to Kane, who was alone in the slot. Kane waited a moment then rifled the puck over the right shoulder of Flyer’s goalie, Ilya Bryzgalov, to tie the game. My son and I were pumped! It was Kane’s first goal in seven games and just his third in the last 20. He was due, to say the least.

Then a few moments later, Kane took a high-sticking penalty and of course the Flyers scored with 30 seconds left and won the game. [Le sigh.]

All of that to say, I need a little Blackhawks detox. I need a reminder of better days. And that’s were the best goal of 2011 comes in. Also courtesy of Mr. Kane.

December 14 the Blackhawks went to a shoot-out against the Minnesota Wild. Chicago was up 1-0 in the shoot-out and the Wild had already missed twice. Meaning, if Kane scored it would be the game winner. Take a look at the magic he conjured:

Ladies and Gentlemen, there you have it – my favorite goal of 2011!

Hey, whaddya know, I feel a little bit better already.