Beleskey’s ‘biggest goal’ puts Anaheim a win from Stanley Cup
Overtime victory against Blackhawks sees the Ducks leading play-off series 3-2
M att Beleskey scored the game winner 45 seconds into overtime to lift the Anaheim Ducks over Chicago 5-4, putting the Blackhawks on the brink of elimination from the NHL Western Conference finals.
Cam Fowler and Ryan Kesler scored just 32 seconds apart in the first period and Sami Vatanen and Patrick Maroon also notched goals for the Ducks, who took a 3-2 lead in the bestof-seven play-off series.
Beleskey collected a rebound off a Kesler shot and then dropped to one knee and punched the puck into the back of the net before tripping over goaltender Corey Crawford and crashing into the end boards.
“That’s the biggest goal I’ve ever scored. It’s a great feeling any time you do that, especially at home,” said Beleskey. “We’re one game away from a Stanley Cup berth. It was a huge goal and it felt unbelievable.”
His seventh goal of the postseason, in front of a crowd of 17,200 at the Honda Center arena, touched off a celebration for the Ducks, who can wrap up the series with a victory today.
Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews scored his second goal of the game with just 38 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the contest at 4-4 and force overtime. Toews also scored at 18:10 of the third to cut the Ducks lead to 4-3.
Toews’ second goal capped a furious rally by the Blackhawks, who gave up three goals in the opening period to go down 3-0 heading into the second.
Chicago didn’t record their first shot on the Ducks’ net until Toews got one with just under four minutes left in the first period.
“I think we always show that we can dig ourselves out of those holes,” said Toews. “I think going into overtime we were feeling that the game was in our hands and we’re going to get that next break so it’s unfortunate that we couldn’t take advantage of it.”
Fowler scored on a long blast from the point and Kesler on a deflection as the Ducks scored twice on their first three shots of the game.