Western Conference Final, Game 4: Blackhawks 5, Ducks 4 (2OT)

After a 2-1 loss to give Anaheim a 2-1 lead in the series, the Hawks were back on home ice Saturday, looking to even the series. The Hawks controlled the action early on, but their early play did not lead to any goals. We would see 4-on-4 play 9:08 into the game when Patrick Marron was sent off for roughing and Patrick Sharp was sent off for a slash. Neither team would score during the 4-on-4. The Hawks would go to the power play 1:40 after Sharp and Maroon’s penalties ended, the result of a hold by Jakob Silfverberg. The Hawks would have a couple nice looks, and more shots than all five power plays from game 3 combined, but ultimately came away empty. Save for a couple nice Anaheim possessions, the Hawks continued to control the action, until Brent Seabrook was sent off for slashing 17:40 in. The Hawks would prevent the Ducks from scoring during the penalty, and would score a goal of their own, courtesy of Brandon Saad 19:13 in. This would be the only goal scored in the period, and after the first, the Hawks led 1-0.

The start of the second period was more even than the first, though the Hawks would still get the better looks. The Hawks would go to the power play 10:38 into the period after Corey Perry was sent off for roughing. The Hawks would get a few nice looks, but no goals. The Hawks would go to the penalty kill 15:15 into the period after Jonathan Toews was sent off for high-sticking. The Hawks would be able to kill off the penalty, but the Ducks would retain the momentum and tie the game 18:14 into the period on a shot Kyle Palmieri that was redirected by Emerson Etem. This would be the only goal scored in the second, and going into the second intermission, the teams were tied at 1.

The Hawks got out to a good start in the third and took a 2-1 lead 2:38 into the period on a goal by Jonathan Toews. Exactly five minutes later, Brent Seabrook would make the lead 3-1 Hawks. Ryan Kesler would cut the lead to one 1:04 later. Twenty-three seconds later, Matt Beleskey tied the game. Fourteen seconds after that, Corey Perry gave the Ducks a 4-3 lead. The Hawks would get a power play 12:23 into the period when Silfverberg was sent off for holding. Patrick Kane would score 16 seconds into the power play to tie the game at 4. Though both teams would have their chances the rest of the way, neither would score, and we would go to overtime.

The Ducks got the first ten shots of overtime, but none went in. After the first chance the Hawks got, they would go to the power play, as Sami Vatanen was sent off for hooking. The penalty came 9:44 into OT. The Hawks would get a couple nice looks, but come away empty on the power play. After the power play ended, the Ducks went back to controlling the action, but they would not score, nor would the Hawks, and we would go to a second overtime.

The second period saw more back-and-forth action than did the first. The game-winner would come 5:37 into the period when Antoine Vermette found his own rebound and put it into an open net to give the Hawks the 5-4 win and tie the series at 2.

My picks for 3 stars:

★★★ Corey Perry, RW, ANA (1 G)

★★ Patrick Kane, RW, CHI (1 G (GTG))

★ Jonathan Toews, C, CHI (1 G, 1 A)

Twitter: @KSchroeder2325

E-mail: schroeder.giig@gmail.com