Scott Darling's redemption helped the Blackhawks win the 2015 Stanley Cup

The Chicago Blackhawks' run to the 2015 Stanley Cup got off to a rough start.

The Blackhawks were down 3-0 after the first period of Game 1 against the Nashville Predators in the first round. Blackhawks starting goaltender Corey Crawford had already let in three goals on 12 shots. The team looked finished. The game was slipping away from their hands, and a comeback seemed uncertain.

Then came Scott Darling.

A former ECHL backup goaltender, Darling stepped into the crease and delivered one of the greatest in-relief performances in Stanley Cup Playoff history. He stopped all 42 shots he faced, which included two overtimes.

The Blackhawks clawed back and won 4-3 in double overtime.

Who would've thought that putting in Scott Darling (a rookie goaltender) in the first game of the playoffs would be key for the Blackhawks to win Game 1. This was one of the best games from the Blackhawks during their 2015 playoff run.

But for Scott Darling, it wasn't just a game. It was redemption.

The Road to the NHL

Darling's path to the NHL wasn't easy. It was nearly impossible.

A native of Lemont, IL, he grew up watching the Blackhawks. He played college hockey at the University of Maine, but his career went downhill. He battled alcoholism and was suspended multiple times for breaking team rules. Eventually, he was kicked off the team.

By 2011, Darling was out of shape and was doing a lot of drinking. He weighed 250 pounds. His dreams of making the NHL were fading. Darling recalled to ESPN that things were getting bleak.

""I had no promising anything. I didn't have money in my bank account. I didn't have a college degree to fall back on. I had no idea how I was going to find a team to play for the next year. There were no real bright spots in my future. If I would have told someone I was a professional athlete, there's no way they would have believed me.""

Scott Darling

Darling had hit rock bottom. But one summer changed everything. He had gotten sober.

He had played for teams in the SPHL (Louisiana IceGators), ECHL (Wheeling Nailers, Florida Everblades), and AHL (Milwaukee Admirals).

With every stop and save, Darling got better. He lost weight and trained obsessively. He received professional coaching from goalie mentors like Brian Daccord and Mitch Korn. Slowly, his game and his life came back together.

Signing with Chicago

On July 1, 2014 — exactly three years after quitting alcohol — Darling signed a contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. It was a full-circle moment for the Illinois native. He went from the local kid whose hockey career was going down the toilet to a pro NHL goalie playing for his hometown team.

Darling made his NHL debut on October 26, 2014, stopping 32 shots in the Blackhawks' 2-1 win against the Ottawa Senators. Just a few months later, he signed a two-year contract extension. He was proving to everyone that he could play at the highest level of hockey.

Hawks fans loved him. His big frame, calm presence, demeanor, and underdog story made him an instant favorite. He was also the first player in NHL history to make it to the league after playing in the SPHL.

Still, Darling knew he wasn't in Chicago to take over as the starting goalie. He was the backup. But when the playoffs rolled around, things started to change.

2015 Playoffs

Game 1 against Nashville was the turning point. With Crawford struggling in the opening frame, head coach Joel Quenneville turned to Darling.

Darling had an impressive playoff debut, stopping all 42 shots in the Hawks' 4-3 comeback overtime win over the Predators. It was the longest relief appearance in playoff history — and maybe the most impressive.

Darling started Game 3 and made 35 saves in the Blackhawks' 4-2 win over the Predators on April 19. He gave the Blackhawks a 2-1 series lead and helped tilt the momentum toward Chicago.

Though Crawford was eventually inserted back as the starter, Darling's efforts in that series were critical.

Without him, the Blackhawks might not have survived the first round.

They went on to win the Stanley Cup that year. For the first time in NHL history, a former SPHL player was a Stanley Cup champion.

Legacy in Chicago

Darling was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2017 for a third-round pick that year. He played for the Canes for two seasons and had the chance to become a starting goalie. He finished with a 15-25-9 record with a 3.20 goals-against average and a .887 save percentage.

Though his time in Carolina didn't go too well, his legacy in Chicago will never be forgotten.

He wasn't the star. He didn't play every night. But when the team needed him most, Scott Darling showed up and was a wall in goal.

More important, his story gave hope to every player playing in the minors, and every person trying to rebuild their life from the ground up.

He proved that where you start doesn't define where you finish. Whether you're a goalie in the SPHL or a person with setbacks and obstacles in the way, there's always a way back.

All it takes is heart, grit, grind, and hard work.