So far, the Western Conference Finals have been a roller-coaster ride of thrills and chills. Game five was no exception. The Anaheim Ducks and the Chicago Blackhawks continue to make hockey fans wonder which team will cross the finish line.
Anaheim built a three goal lead in the first period. The Ducks quick-strike offense made an early statement. Cam Fowler and Ryan Kesler each scored 32 seconds apart. Minutes later, Sami Vatanen notched his third of the playoffs.
However, Chicago did not succumb to the Anaheim barrier. Goals by Teuvo Teravainen and Brent Seabrook pulled the Blackhawks to within one. After being outshot, 11-3, in the first period, the Blackhawks turned the tide in the second, outshooting the Ducks, 13-5.
Patrick Maroon gave the Ducks a two goal lead with 5:15 remaining in regulation. The game was all but over. It appeared that all of the Anaheim fans would go home happy. However, the Cardiac Hawks came back once again and tied the score.
With Corey Crawford pulled from the net, Jonathan Toews scored with 1:50 remaining. The Hawks continued applying pressure and Toews struck again with 38 seconds remaining. The Chicago captain attempted to pass the puck, which bounced off of Frederik Andersen’s leg and into the net.
For the third time in this series, both teams needed to decide the outcome in overtime. On a two-on-one break, Kesler’s shot was stopped by Crawford. Luckily, Matt Beleskey was in the right spot to collect the rebound and score the game-winning goal just 45 seconds into sudden death.
The Ducks 5-4 victory may have been nerve-racking, but it was meaningful. Meaningful in the sense that they are only one win away from their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals since 2007. They have a chance to clinch the series in Chicago on Wednesday night.
Kesler recorded a goal and an assist. Ryan Getzlaf and Jakob Silfverberg each tallied two assists. For Chicago’s side of the statsheet, Seabrook and Teravainen each notched a goal and an assist. Patrick Sharp had two assists of his own.
Andersen and Crawford faced 28 shots each. Andersen made 24 saves while Crawford made 23. Both teams have combined for 31 goals in this series. The Blackhawks dropped their first overtime game in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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