Blackhawks take it distance
Anaheim dealt first regulation loss to set up Game 7.
Duncan Keith had three assists and saved a goal in the third period, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 on Wednesday night to force a Game 7 in the Western Conference finals.
Brandon Saad, Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane scored in the second to help the Blackhawks hand the Ducks their first regulation loss of the playoffs. Andrew Shaw had two goals in the third, and Corey Crawford finished with 30 saves.
The Blackhawks improved to 31-0 when leading after two periods and erased some of the sting from Monday’s 5-4 overtime loss. Game 7 is Saturday night in Anaheim.
Patrick Maroon and Clayton Stoner scored for the Ducks, and Frederik Andersen made 18 saves.
Anaheim caught a break when Jakob Silfverberg brushed up against Crawford’s glove on Stoner’s first goal of the playoffs at 1:57 of the third, trimming Chicago’s lead to 3-2. There was no call on the play and Crawford threw up his hands in ex- asperation after Stoner’s slap shot went in the net.
But Crawford quickly put the play behind him, hanging tough while the Ducks made a frantic push for the tying goal. He got some help from Keith when the two-time Norris Trophy winner swept a shot away from the goal line about 3 1/2 minutes into the period.
Shaw finally got the Blackhawks some breathing room when he beat Andersen with a nifty backhander high into the net with 3:32 left. Andrew Desjardins made a nice hustle play to get the puck over to Shaw for his third playoff goal.
Shaw then added an empty-netter in the final minute as Chicago improved to 7-1 at home in the playoffs.
The Blackhawks’ biggest stars stepped up during a key stretch in the second, led by another terrific all-around performance for Keith.
Sharks: Will hire former New Jersey and Florida coach Peter DeBoer to replace the departed Todd McLellan.
Sabres: Interviewed former Penguins coach Dan Bylsma for their coaching vacancy.