Anaheim Ducks lose in third overtime

The NHL Western Conference Finals got under way Sunday, here at the Honda Center in Anaheim. The Ducks started the series by dominating their opponents, the Chicago Blackhawks. This was a game in which the stars from both teams were shut out of the scoring, but for Anaheim, they rallied in all three periods to score.

Hampus Lindholm, Kyle Palmieri, Nate Thompson and Jakob Silfverberg all put pucks in the net, The last one an empty net goal by Silfverberg.

Brad Richards’ goal in the second period was the only score for Chicago.

Now the Blackhawks have the difficult task of proving they can keep up with the very disciplined Anaheim Ducks. So far in these playoffs, the Ducks have dominated face-offs and in Sunday’s game they won the face-off battle again. If Chicago was going to get back into this series and win one on the road, they would need to start by winning the face-offs.

They also needed to take advantage of the power plays; the Blackhawks had three opportunities to score on special teams in Game One, but didn’t. They would also need to penetrate the defense of the Ducks, especially goalie Frederik Andersen. He had 32 saves in Game One.

The challenge for the Ducks wwas to keep up their high level of play. They lost one game in these playoffs, to the Calgary Flames, and they have scored 39 goals in these playoffs, an average of almost 4 goals per game so they are playing their best hockey right now.

If Game One exposed the weaknesses of the Chicago Blackhawks, in this series, Game Two was about how the Hawks fixed some of those problems.

Chicago got off to a quick start, scoring two goals in the first seven minutes of the game. Both were on power plays, the first by Andrew Shaw at the 2:14 mark and the second coming from Marian Hossa at 6:19. It was one of the problems the Hawks had in Game One.

But Anaheim wasn’t going to be denied. Still in the first period Andrew Cogliano scored on a deflected shot from nine feet out at 9:14 in the period. But there wouldn’t be another goal scored until the 17:30 mark in the second period when Corey Perry got a 10-foot tip in.

The third period saw two tough defenses and goalies defending their nets perfectly.

After three periods the game was tied up at two goals each. This was a tough, physical game, with 116 hits recorded in the game.

The first overtime period remained scoreless. But it was in the second period that fans got the best moment of the three overtime periods. When the game went into the second overtime both teams began to skate stronger. By the time the period was over there had been over 100 shots on the goals. But there was one puck that made it into the net.

Forward Andrew Shaw of the Blackhawks saw the puck pop up in the air. He gave it a head butt and the puck hit the back of the net. The refs ruled it an illegal goal because it was a deliberate head butt. If the puck had naturally bounced off Shaw’s helmet into the net it would have counted. It was definitely one of the high points of the game.

The long night finally came to an end with just over 16 minutes into the third overtime when Marcus Krüger found himself in front of the net with Frederik Anderson’s back turned. He tapped the puck into the net after a shot by Brent Seabrook was bounced into the air.

Final score in Anaheim: 3-2 Chicago. It was the first home loss for the Ducks in the playoffs. Regardless of the score, both goalies played great in this game.

Game three will be in Chicago on Thursday, May 21.

 (All photos by Claudia Gestro)