90 jersey, made his way out of the dressing room, stepped up to the bench, then down to the ice, all Joel Quenneville could do was laugh. I think you just kind of black out after that," Foster said. When it was over, the Blackhawks poured onto the ice and mobbed Foster in the net. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski) (Associated Press) 
 
 CHICAGO (AP) — Scott Foster thought it was going to be just another night. When his beer-league playoffs begin next week, he’ll be the only guy on the ice who can say he stared down a slap shot by Patrik Laine, who swatted away a snap shot by Dustin Byfuglien, who stoned Paul Stastny on the doorstep. Foster was pressed into action when Chicago lost Anton Forsberg and Collin Delia to injuries, and the former college goalie stopped all seven shots he faced over the final 14 minutes of the Blackhawks' 6-2 victory over the playoff-bound Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. No money, but a lifetime of bragging rights at Johnny’s IceHouse and a heck of a story to tell his two young kids in Oak Park. What pressure is there for me?’’ 
 
 It was supposed to be defenseman Brent Seabrook’s night for playing in his 1,000th regular-season game. Tomas Jurco scored a career-high two goals in Seabrook's 1,000th regular-season game, and touted prospect Dylan Sikura had two assists in his NHL debut. Foster trumped them all. ‘‘It’s my night, and Scotty comes in and steals the spotlight.’’ 
 
 Foster is one of a few local goalies who are on call for home games, just in case something like this happens. He said he has been the designated emergency goalie for 12 or 15 games this season, but he usually just sits in the press box and enjoys the free food. Forsberg was expected to start, but he got hurt during a "pregame ritual," according to Quenneville. ‘‘The initial shock happened when I had to dress,’’ Foster said. It was a wild finish to one of Chicago's best performances in a lousy season. Delia, who was just recalled from the minors Wednesday, then stopped 25 of 27 shots in his NHL debut before he was helped off the ice with 14:01 left after he cramped up. Tomas Jurco had two goals, and Patrick Kane, Brandon Saad, Erik Gustafsson and Alex DeBrincat also scored for the Hawks.
– It's the stuff sports dreams are made of. A hockey player who has never played professionally—he usually shows off his talents in a beer league—not only took the ice for an actual NHL game Thursday but emerged the shining star. Scott Foster, a 36-year-old accountant who played hockey for Western Michigan University in the early to mid-2000s, was acting as the emergency back-up goalie for the Chicago Blackhawks Thursday. Foster had filled this role for about a dozen other games this season, which mostly meant enjoying free food in the United Center press box. This time would be different. Starting goaltender Anton Forsberg suffered a season-ending injury during practice, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. Six minutes into the third period of Thursday's game against the Winnipeg Jets, back-up goalie Collin Delia was injured, too. "The initial shock happened when I had to dress," says Foster. "And then I think you just kind of black out after that." Apparently blacking out is a good strategy. Foster made his first save after only a minute, reports the AP. With the crowd chanting his name, the father of two went on to stop all seven shots he faced over 14 minutes and one second, for a 6-2 Blackhawks victory. "Foster emerged a hockey legend, delivering a performance that left everyone who watched it in awe," as the Washington Post puts it. For his trouble, Foster was named player of the game and No. 1 star. "Who would have thought? You just keep grinding away in men's league and eventually you get your shot," Foster said after the big game. "This is something that no one can ever take away from me." Now it's time to rest: Foster's beer-league playoffs start next week.