Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

05/28/2015 at 10:48am EDT

WEDNESDAY’S RESULT
Home Team in Caps
CHICAGO 5, Anaheim 2 – series tied 3-3

BLACKHAWKS HOLD OFF DUCKS, FORCE GAME 7 ON SATURDAY
The Blackhawks notched three goals in a 3:45 span of the second period – on three straight shots – to break open a scoreless deadlock and force a Game 7 in the Western Conference Final.


* The Blackhawks moved within one victory of their 13th all-time appearance in the Stanley Cup Final and third in the past six seasons (also 2010 and 2013).

* The Blackhawks improved to 12-1 in Game 6s since the start of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They also improved to 10-4 when facing elimination in that span.

* The Blackhawks, who lost Game 5 after forcing overtime with two goals in the final two minutes of regulation, have yet to suffer consecutive defeats this postseason, responding with a win in all five such instances (including Games 2, 4 and 6 of this series).

* The Blackhawks improved to 31-0-0 when leading after two periods this season (regular season and playoffs), including a 6-0 record during the postseason. They are the only team that has not suffered a loss of any kind in that scenario.

* The Blackhawks also improved to 7-1 at home during the playoffs, outscoring opponents 30-19. Their lone such loss came in Game 3 vs. ANA (2-1 L).

KEITH (AGAIN) LOGS BIG MINUTES WHILE SPARKING OFFENSE
Duncan Keith (0-3—3) sparked the Blackhawks’ offense with assists on all three of their goals in the second period. He also led all players with 28:35 of ice-time and finished the game with a +3 rating.

* Per Elias, Keith became the fourth player in Blackhawks history to register three assists in one period of a playoff game. The others: defenseman Pat Stapleton (Game 1 of 1973 F at MTL: 1st period), defenseman Chris Chelios (Game 2 of 1992 CF vs. EDM: 3rd period) and forward Patrick Kane (Game 5 of 2014 CF vs. LAK: 1st period).

* Keith’s three assists equaled a career high in the postseason, achieved two other times: in Game 4 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final at PHI (0-3—3) and Game 6 of the 2014 First Round vs. STL (1-3—4).

* Elias adds that Keith became the first defenseman in Blackhawks history to recordthree assists in a game with the team facing elimination. He also was the last Blackhawks defenseman to post three or more points in a game with the club facing elimination, in Game 5 of the 2011 Western Conference Quarterfinals at VAN (2-2—4).

* Keith registered his fourth multi-point game of this postseason, including his second with three points (also Game 6 of FR vs. NSH: 1-2—3). Overall, he leads all defensemen with 14 assists and 16 points (16 GP), one shy of his career highs established in 2010 (2-15—17 in 22 GP).

* Keith paces all skaters in total time on ice this postseason (509:13). His average of 31:49 per game also is tops in the NHL.

* Keith also leads all players with a +11 rating during the playoffs. He posted a career-high +10 rating when the team captured the Stanley Cup in 2013 (22 GP).

* “There’s nights where you look at the score sheet and you see how great he can be, how pivotal, how much he means to our team, especially in these big games,” captainJonathan Toews said of Keith. “But I think whether he’s on the score sheet, whether he’s making those plays, he’s there every night making that difference no matter what. I think we always know that in the locker room. We’ve seen it in previous years in the playoffs, games like tonight where it’s must-win. You can definitely count on him stepping up and being one of our best players, if not our best player. He’s all over the rink. Seems like he never runs out of energy. Pretty amazing game tonight.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: GAME 6
A closer look at the Blackhawks’ Game 6 victory:

* Beyond Duncan Keith (0-3—3), three other Blackhawks players registered multiple points: Andrew Shaw (2-0—2), Patrick Kane (1-1—2) and Andrew Desjardins (0-2—2).

* With the team clinging to a 3-2 lead late in the third period, Shaw scored twice in the final 3:32 of regulation (including an ENG) to seal the victory. It stood as his second career multi-goal game in the playoffs (also Game 5 of 2013 CSF vs. DET: 2-0—2) and sixth career multi-point performance in the postseason (54 GP).

* With 5-4—9 this year (16 GP), Shaw has equaled playoff career highs in goals and points, set in 2013 (5-4—9 in 23 GP).

* Kane posted his fifth multi-point game of this postseason (16 GP) – he ranks second in the NHL in goals (10) and tied for fourth in points (17).

* Kane scored a dazzling goal to cap the Blackhawks’ second-period outburst. His 10 goals match a playoff career high, established in 2010 (10-18—28 in 22 GP).

* Kane recorded his 10th career game-winning goal in the postseason (and third this year) – only Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita (both w/ 11) have scored more such goals in Blackhawks history. Nine of Kane’s 10 career playoff game-winning goals have come in the past three years (58 GP); he had one such goal in his first 51 career postseason appearances.

* Desjardins added his second career multi-point performance in the postseason (40 GP). His other: in Game 2 of the 2014 First Round vs. LAK (0-2—2 w/ SJS). Desjardins has 1-2—3 in 14 playoff games this year after collecting 0-2—2 in 13 regular-season outings following his acquisition by the Blackhawks at the 2015 NHL Trade Deadline.

* Corey Crawford made 30 saves, including 12 in the third period, to improve to 8-4 this postseason (2.53 GAA, .918 SV%, 1 SO). He also improved to 26-9 in 36 career playoff games at United Center (2.00 GAA, .926 SV%, 1 SO), including a 5-1 record this year (1.94 GAA, .936 SV%).

* Per Elias, Crawford improved to 10-3 in 13 career games when facing elimination (2.23 GAA, .922 SV%). That includes a 6-2 record at United Center (2.51 GAA, .908 SV%).

* Marian Hossa notched his second goal of the series, giving him 3-9—12 this postseason (16 GP). Elias says the Blackhawks are 15-0 all-time when Hossa scores in the playoffs.

* Overall, Hossa (48-91—139 in 187 GP) tied Jacques Lemaire (61-78—139 in 145 GP) for 34th place on the NHL’s all-time postseason points list. Only Jaromir Jagr (78-121—199 in 202 GP) has more such points among active players.

* Brandon Saad recorded his fifth goal of the playoffs (16 GP), one shy of his career high set last year (19 GP). Three of his goals this postseason have opened the scoring; the Blackhawks improved to 8-1 when registering the first goal.

DID YOU KNOW?
Both series in the Conference Finals (or Semifinals) will require a Game 7 for just the third time in Stanley Cup Playoffs history – and second time during the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68).

The other instances:

2000 Conference Finals
NJD won Game 7 at PHI (2-1 W)
DAL won Game 7 vs. COL (3-2 W)
* The Devils ultimately won the Stanley Cup

1964 Semifinals
TOR won Game 7 at MTL (3-1 W)
DET won Game 7 at CHI (4-2 W)
* The Maple Leafs ultimately won the Stanley Cup

LOOSE PUCKS
The Ducks suffered their first loss in regulation this postseason (11-4). Their 14 straight games without a regulation defeat to open the playoffs equaled an NHL record, set by the 1979 Rangers (also 11-3, w/ 3 OT L) . . . The Blackhawks won the game following an overtime contest for the first time this postseason (1-4) . . . Ducks forward Patrick Maroon scored his seventh goal of the playoffs (15 GP). He had nine goals during the regular season (71 GP) . . . Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson led all players with a +4 rating, matching a career high (in the regular season and playoffs) . . . Ducks defenseman Clayton Stoner recorded his second career postseason goal (29 GP). His lone other playoff goal also came against the Blackhawks at United Center, in Game 1 of the 2014 Second Round (w/ MIN) . . . Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toewswon 10-of-12 face-offs (83.3%) . . . Ducks goaltender Frederik Andersen made 18 saves, but fell to 11-4 this postseason (2.18 GAA, .919 SV%, 1 SO) . . . ICYMI: Click here for an all-access look at Game 6 between the Rangers and Lightning . . . The NHL announced that Game 7 between the Ducks and Blackhawks will be broadcast on NBC in the U.S.

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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