It took nearly 117 minutes of play to decide Game 2 but Marcus Kruger‘s goal at 16:21 put an end to the longest game Chicago Blackhawks history and evened their series with the Anaheim Ducks at a game a-piece.
The 3-2 decision came as both teams traded pushes and forays throughout the night and early morning hours.
“I lost the puck there when it went D to D [from Johnny Oduya to Brent Seabrook at the right point]; it hit my glove first, and then I tried to get a stick on it,” Kruger said. “Happy to put it in.”
Going to a third extra session is nothing new for Chicago; did it in the Cup Final with the Boston Bruins in Game 1.
“We’ve been through that a few times now in the last couple of years, and I think the idea is more relief, some excitement,” Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp said. “I know [Kruger] scored that goal, but it seems like every time [Seabrook] handles that puck in overtime, he’s dangerous and something’s gonna happen. It was a big goal for us. We’re excited to go back home.”
Corey Crawford made 60 saves in the win.
Chicago’s Joel Quenneville if the game made him feel a little older.
“I’m not getting any younger for sure,” Quenneville quipped after the game. “One of those games; you have the adrenaline, coming out there for the first, second, third. Got a break.
“It was one of those games, it was so intense, you know, I didn’t feel fatigued at all. I was maybe a little stressed. But I think the game kept you into it, your mind into it. The players stuck with it. The bench was sharp. Everybody was focused on playing the right way as long as we had to play.”
Frederik Andersen made 53 saves in the loss.
“They got all three of their goals the same way: going to the net,” Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. “That’s what they do well. They went to the net, they hit them. I think obviously before it crossed the line, he got his stick on it to put it in.
“You know, what can you say? I mean, we had the puck on our stick quite a few times. We had enough posts and everything.”
The Ducks had their opportunities but Crawford was there when needed.
“I thought the last 10 minutes of the second period was our best part of the game,” Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. “After they took the first two goals, they didn’t score for another five periods. I thought we played pretty well.
“But those things happen. That’s hockey. It’s back to the drawing board for Thursday.”
The Blackhawks head home with a sense of momentum now.
“That’s going to take the wind out of their sails, definitely,” Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell said. “Now, we need to back it up in Chicago. We’ve got the momentum, [though] it doesn’t feel like we do, because I’m really tired.”
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