After being scratched the previous game, Antoine Vermette become a hero with a double overtime goal. The 5-4 Blackhawks victory tied the series at two games.
“We’re effective when we move our feet,” said Vermette. “We get the puck going in their end a little bit and we stuck with it. Lucky enough we put it in. Emotionally it was pretty fun.”
An 87-second stretch in the third period, was as crazy as you will ever see in hockey. At 7:38 Brent Seakbrook’s laser beam of a shot gave the Blackhawks a 3-1 lead. The Duck responded in historical fashion.
Ryan Kesler cut the lead in half at 8:42 with his fifth goal of the playoffs. Only 17-seconds later, Matt Belesky ripped a shot past the glove of Corey Crawford, tying the game and silencing the United Center’s crowd.
On the very next shift, Corey Perry found space in front of the net and made Chicago pay, giving Anaheim their first lead of the game. The Ducks three-goals in 37-seconds were the second fastest in NHL playoff history.
“I guess when it rains it pours, especially for us in that third period,” said Chicago captain Johnathan Toews.
As things looked bleak, Chicago turned to a guy the call Showtime for help. Patrick Kane found a sliver of space in the five-hole and scored a power play goal to tie the game at 12:39 of the third period.
Chicago came out with a purpose in the first period, but couldn’t find a way to light the lamp. Momentum looked to change in the late stages of the opening period with Anaheim heading to the power play. Instead, in was the Blackhawks who went on the offense.
Brandon Saad used a little help from the referee and found a loose puck in the neutral zone. Referee Chris Rooney inadvertently tripped Clayton Stoner, allowing Saad to spring free. With only open ice ahead, he beat goalie Frederick Andersen on the blocker side for the shorthanded tally.
Anaheim slowly built pressure throughout the last half of the second period. A power play sparked them as the Ducks peppered Corey Crawford with shots, but couldn’t score. Following the power play, the Blackhawks had trouble getting the puck out of the zone.
Niklas Hjalmarsson threw a lazy clearing attempt up the boards that Francios Beauchemin held the puck and the blue line and in one motion delivered a perfect pass to Kyle Palmieri. With Emerson Etem parked in front of the crease, Palmieri threw the puck at the net, and Etem redirected it in, tying the game at one.
Multiple overtime games seem to be a time to shine for the Hawks. They have been involved in eight of the past 15 occasion and hold a 7-1 record in those contests.
“I think that our mindset is to stay with it,” said Hawks coach Joel Quenneville. “Someone will make a great play. Can’t be too in a hurry to make it or else it will bite you.”
The series shifts back to the West Coast Monday night. The Memorial Day puck will drop inside the Honda Center is at 6 p.m. Pacific Time.
Follow Adam on Twitter @Adam_PHN and you can always reach him at adam.minnick@prohockeynews.com
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