Blackhawks 5, Ducks 2
CHICAGO -- After just two goals to date in the playoffs, center Andrew Shaw scored two third-period goals to ensure the Chicago Blackhawks would earn a 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night at the United Center.
Shaw's insurance goals tied the best-of-seven series at three games apiece, meaning the Western Conference finals will go to a deciding Game 7 on Saturday night at Honda Center in Anaheim.
The winner of that game will meet either the New York Rangers or Tampa Bay Lightning, who play Game 7 of the Eastern finals on Friday in the Stanley Cup finals.
Shaw scored on a wrist shot with 3:32 left in the third period, and then added an empty-net tally with 49 seconds remaining to give Chicago one last hope of reaching its third final since 2010.
Chicago goalie Corey Crawford stopped 30 of Anaheim's 32 shots while Anaheim goalie Frederik Andersen stopped just 18 of Chicago's 23 shots.
Chicago led 3-1 after the second period, but Anaheim defenseman Clayton Stoner scored his first goal of the playoffs at 1:57 of the third period, cutting Chicago's lead to 3-2 before Shaw's pair of goals sealed it late.
After a scoreless first period, Chicago erupted for three goals in less than four minutes in the second period to take control of the game before Anaheim countered with one goal.
Forward Brandon Saad zoomed in on Andersen, then flicked a quick wrist shot into the net for a 1-0 Chicago lead at 8:23. It was Saad's fifth goal of the playoffs.
Just over two minutes later, at 10:41, veteran forward Marian Hossa took advantage of Andersen playing the opposite post, slamming home a 15-foot wrist shot to give Chicago a 2-0 advantage.
The goal was particularly significant because Hossa has struggled to score in the playoffs. After being one of the team's top scorers (22 goals) during the regular season, Hossa's goal on Wednesday was only his third in 16 playoff games this postseason.
Chicago forward Patrick Kane scored his team-leading 10th goal of the playoffs with a 20-foot slap shot past Anderson at 12:08 to make it 3-0.
Left winger Patrick Maroon scored his seventh goal of the playoffs on a tip-in at 14:13 to get the Ducks on the board. It came on a power play just seven seconds after Chicago center Brad Richards was sent to the penalty box for hooking.
NOTES: Chicago coach Joel Quenneville decided to sit 40-year-old veteran D Kimmo Timonen, who has played in all 15 playoff games to date, in favor of D David Rundbald, who played in just one game in the playoffs. Timonen was acquired from Philadelphia in February and said the reason he agreed to the trade was to have one last shot at winning a Stanley Cup. ... LW Daniel Carcillo, RW Kris Versteeg, D Michal Rozsival and D Trevor Van Reimsdyk were among Chicago's healthy scratches. ... Anaheim's healthy scratches included RW Tim Jackman and RW Chris Wagner. ... Wednesday was Chicago C Marcus Kruger's 25th birthday. ... Anaheim C Ryan Getzlaf and D Francois Beauchemin tied Teemu Selanne for the Ducks' all-time lead in career playoff appearances (96 games). ... Attendance was 22,089.