Saturday, May 30, 2015

NHL Western Conference Final: Anaheim Ducks VS. Chicago Blackhawks

We're down to the Conference Finals, and this post will cover all of the games in the Western Conference Final.

Game 1: Honda Center, Anaheim, California. In goal: Corey Crawford and Frederik Andersen. Anaheim led off in the first period on a Hampus Lindholm goal, his second of the postseason, passed from Jakob Silfverberg and Matt Beleskey. The Ducks added on in the second period on a Kyle Palmieri goal, made possible by Nate Thompson. Chicago got on the board with a Brad Richards goal, his second of the playoffs, going in unassisted. Anaheim retook the lead on a Thompson goal, his second of the postseason, passed from Andrew Cogliano and Lindholm. The Ducks extended the lead with a Silfverberg empty net goal, his fourth of the playoffs, guided in by Simon Despres and Ryan Getzlaf.  The three stars of the 4-1 game were Lindholm, Thompson, and Andersen (32 for 33 in saves), while Silfverberg gets an honorable mention. The Ducks hold a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2: Honda Center, Anaheim, California. In goal: Corey Crawford and Frederik Andersen. Chicago began in the first period on an Andrew Shaw power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews. The Blackhawks added on with a Marian Hossa power play goal, his second of the playoffs, via Bryan Bickell and Brad Richards. Anaheim got on the board with an Andrew Cogliano goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Nate Thompson and Cam Fowler. The Ducks tied it in the second period with a Corey Perry goal, his eighth of the playoffs, fueled by Ryan Getzlaf and Sami Vatanen. Chicago won 3-2 in the third overtime on a Marcus Kruger goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by Brent Seabrook and Johnny Oduya. The three stars were Kruger, Crawford (60 for 62 in saves), and Andersen (53 for 56 in saves). The series is tied at 1 now, although since they played nearly two games it should really count for two.

Game 3: United Center, Chicago, Illinois. In goal: Frederik Andersen and Corey Crawford. Anaheim started in the first period on a Patrick Maroon power play goal, his fifth of the postseason, powered by Hampus Lindholm and Ryan Getzlaf. Chicago tied it on a Patrick Kane goal, his eighth of the playoffs, via Brad Richards and Niklas Hjalmarsson. The Ducks retook the lead as Simon Despres scored in the second period, thanks to Getzlaf and Cam Fowler. This stood for a 2-1 win, with the three stars going to Andersen (27 for 28 in saves), Getzlaf, and Despres. The Ducks now hold a 2-1 series lead.

Game 4: United Center, Chicago, Illinois. In goal: Frederik Andersen and Corey Crawford. Chicago opened in the first period on a Brandon Saad shorthanded goal, his fourth of the postseason, going in unassisted. Anaheim tied it in the second period as Emerson Etem scored his third of the playoffs, thanks to Kyle Palmieri and Francois Beauchemin. The Blackhawks retook the lead in the third period on a Jonathan Toews goal, his fifth of the postseason, guided in by Marian Hossa and Saad. Chicago added on with a Brent Seabrook goal, his fourth of the playoffs, fueled by Saad and Toews. The Ducks pulled back with a Ryan Kesler goal, his fifth of the postseason, coming off of Jakob Silfverberg and Andrew Cogliano. Anaheim tied it on an unassisted Matt Beleskey goal, his sixth of the playoffs. The Ducks edged ahead on a Corey Perry goal, his ninth of the postseason, via Ryan Getzlaf. The Blackhawks retied it with a Patrick Kane power play goal, his ninth of the playoffs, powered by Brad Richards and Duncan Keith. Chicago won 5-4 in the second overtime (fifth period) with an Antoine Vermette goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by Patrick Sharp and Teuvo Teravainen. The three stars were Saad, Toews, and Vermette. The series is again tied, this time at 2, with the teams heading back to California.

Game 5: Honda Center, Anaheim, California. In goal: Corey Crawford and Frederik Andersen. Anaheim struck first in the first period on a Cam Fowler goal, his second of the postseason, via Nate Thompson and Andrew Cogliano. The Ducks added on with a Ryan Kesler goal, his sixth of the playoffs, courtesy of Jakob Silfverberg and Francois Beauchemin. Anaheim extended the lead as Sami Vatanen scored his third of the postseason, thanks to Ryan Getzlaf. Chicago got on the board in the second period with a Teuvo Teravainen goal, his second of the playoffs, coming off of Antoine Vermette and Patrick Sharp. The Blackhawks pulled closer on a Brent Seabrook goal, his fifth of the postseason, assisted by Teravainen and Sharp. The Ducks answered with a Patrick Maroon goal in the third period, his sixth of the playoffs, made possible by Vatanen and Getzlaf. Chicago pulled back with a Jonathan Toews goal, his sixth of the postseason, passed from Marian Hossa and Duncan Keith. The Blackhawks tied it on another Toews goal, his second of the game and seventh of the playoffs, with helpers from Andrew Shaw and Seabrook. Anaheim won 5-4 on a Matt Beleskey overtime goal, his seventh of the postseason, dished from Kesler and Silfverberg. The three stars were Toews, Kesler, and Teravainen, while Silfverberg, Vatanen, Getzlaf, Sharp, and Seabrook get the honorable mention. Anaheim is up to 3-2 in the series, with a chance to advance in the next game.

Game 6: United Center, Chicago, Illinois. In goal: Frederik Andersen and Corey Crawford. Chicago got going in the second period on a Brandon Saad goal, his fifth of the postseason, courtesy of Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith. The Blackhawks added on with a Marian Hossa goal, his third of the playoffs, made possible by Keith and Brad Richards. Chicago extended the lead as Kane scored his tenth of the postseason, with a lone helper from Keith, who got a natural sock trick. Anaheim got on the board with a Patrick Maroon power play goal, his seventh of the playoffs, powered by Cam Fowler and Sami Vatanen. The Ducks edged closer on a Clayton Stoner goal, via Nate Thompson and Jakob Silfverberg. The Blackhawks replied with an Andrew Shaw goal, his third of the postseason, assisted by Andrew Desjardins and Antoine Vermette. Chicago finished it at 5-2 on a Shaw empty net goal, his second of the game and fourth of the playoffs, set up by Desjardins and Marcus Kruger. The three stars were Kane, Keith, and Shaw, while Desjardins gets an honorable mention. The series is tied at 3 now and will move to California again for Game 7. 

Game 7: Honda Center, Anaheim, California. In goal: Corey Crawford and Frederik Andersen. Chicago was first to score in the first period with a Jonathan Toews goal, his eighth of the postseason, assisted by Niklas Hjalmarsson and Patrick Kane. The Blackhawks added on with another Toews goal, his second of the game and ninth of the playoffs, via Brad Richards and Duncan Keith on the power play. Chicago extended the lead in the second period as Brandon Saad scored his sixth of the postseason, thanks to Kane and Johnny Oduya. The Blackhawks padded the lead on a Marian Hossa goal, his fourth of the playoffs, with a lone assist by Richards. Anaheim got on the board with a Ryan Kesler goal, his seventh of the postseason, fueled by Jakob Silfverberg and Francois Beauchemin. The Ducks pulled closer in the third period on a Corey Perry goal, his tenth of the playoffs, guided in by Patrick Maroon and Ryan Getzlaf. Chicago replied with a Brent Seabrook power play goal, his sixth of the postseason, powered by Kane, who got a sock trick and Keith. Anaheim chipped back on a Matt Beleskey power play goal, his eighth of the playoffs, coming off of Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm. The final stood at 5-3, with the three stars being Toews, Kane, and Richards, while Keith gets an honorable mention. The Blackhawks will face the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Stanley Cup, starting on Wednesday.

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