Keys to victory for the Ducks and Blackhawks in West finals Game 7

Duncan Keith and Ryan Getzlaf are likely to pivotal players in the Blackhawks-Ducks Western finals series finale.

Allan Muir | May 29, 2015

Keys to victory for the Ducks and Blackhawks in West finals Game 7 /

With Game 7 of the Western Conference finals coming up on Saturday night (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, TVA), here’s a look at three keys to victory for both the Anaheim Ducks and the Chicago Blackhawks:

Ducks

1. Minimize Duncan Keith.

Easier said than done, right? The indefatigable defender has thrived despite heavy physical pressure throughout the series, making the big plays you notice—pulling Corey Perry’s potential equalizer off the goal line in Game 6—along with too many little ones that get taken for granted.

“We’ve seen it in previous years in the playoffs, games like [this game] where it's must-win,” Chicago’s Jonathan Toews said of Keith. “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.”

Unshakeable Keith, Blackhawks down Ducks to stay alive for Game 7

It’s a safe bet that Keith will make his presence felt again in Game 7. The key for Anaheim then is limiting his impact to the defensive zone.

Keith carved up the Ducks with his precision passing in Game 6, making the critical plays that created each of Chicago’s first three goals in its series-extending 5–2 win. It was a display that highlighted his remarkable ability to execute with minimal time and space. And it served as a reminder that the smart play is to focus not on him, but on his intended target. Tight defensive coverage on his receivers, especially in the middle of the ice, could make the difference.

2. Get something out of Ryan Getzlaf.

“I was terrible,” Anaheim’s captain said after Game 6. “I’ve got to be better on the ice. It doesn’t matter what I say if I go out there and play like that. That’s on me, to be ready to play and make better plays with the puck.”

Getzlaf might have been too kind in his self-assessment. He was an empty sweater in the potential close-out game, putting up zero points and a –3 rating while going a miserable 27% in the face-off circle.

He wasn’t alone in his struggles. Ryan Kesler and Corey Perry, two other players who are expected to step up in big games melted into the backdrop as well. But Getzlaf has more than the C on his chest to deal with. He has the weight of past failures on his back. Last spring, in blowing a similar 3-2 series lead to the Kings, he put up one assist, another –3 and was beaten on more than 70% of his draws. Two years ago against Detroit, it was the same story.

Getzlaf has been part of winning teams before, but always in a support role. He needs to prove that he can be an important player when the spotlight is shining directly on him.

3. Seize the moment.

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“I think we were too tentative last night,” Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said on Thursday. “We were waiting for something to happen. What makes you play at your best is when you know you haven’t played well and you know you’re capable of doing much more.

“We maybe [let] something slip away.”

That’s a solid assessment. Anaheim had its share of moments in the early going but never seemed entirely up to the challenge of eliminating the Hawks. The desperation and commitment that should have been obvious in puck battles won and drives to the net weren’t there. Boudreau says his team got “out-willed and out-wanted” by Chicago and that seems pretty accurate. Finding the intensity out of the gate and flipping that narrative is critical to the Anaheim’s chances.

THE NHL'S GREAT GAME 7s

The NHL's Great Game 7s

2013 Eastern Conference quarterfinals

Playing in their first playoff series in nine years, the Maple Leafs looked like they had things sewn up with a 4-1 lead and 14 minutes remaining in the third period. That's when Boston found the magic. The Bruins scored three straight to close the third, with Patrice Bergeron hitting the tying goal as well as the winner six minutes into a tense overtime period. For the Maple Leafs, who came back from 3-1 down in the series to force a Game 7, it was perhaps the cruelest end to a playoff run that had the city of Toronto on its collective toes.

2012 Eastern Conference quarterfinals

The Devils wasted a 2-0 lead in the third period, then recovered as Adam Henrique scored his second goal of the game at 3:47 of the second overtime. Henrique picked up a loose puck in the right circle, skated toward the slot and beat Jose Theodore with a low shot. The Devils mobbed Henrique, as Theodore knelt on the ice in disbelief. Martin Brodeur made 43 saves for the Devils in a game that ended on April 27 -- the 20th anniversary of Brodeur's first playoff appearance for New Jersey.

2012 Eastern Conference quarterfinals

It was fitting that perhaps the closest playoff series in NHL history -- all seven games were decided by one goal -- ended in overtime. Matt Hendricks and Joel Ward, two forwards who combined for all of 10 goals in 151 regular-season games, were all the offense Washington needed as rookie goalie Braden Holtby came through in a thrilling 2-1 win at TD Garden that ended Boston's defense of the Stanley Cup. The winning goal came after Mike Knuble blocked Benoit Pouliot's dump-in to Washington's zone. Knuble raced down the ice, shot, and bumped into goaltender Tim Thomas as the rebound came out to Ward, who backhanded the puck into the net. It was a remarkable outcome given that few people thought the Capitals had much of a chance after their up-and-down season that saw coach Bruce Boudreau replaced by Dale Hunter in November.

2011 Eastern Conference finals

Eventual Conn Smythe Trophy-winner (as playoff MVP) Tim Thomas stopped all 24 shots he faced, Nathan Horton scored with 7:33 left in regulation, and the Bruins hung on to beat the upstart Lightning 1-0 and reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1990.

2011 Western Conference semifinals

For all the blame Patrick Marleau has shouldered for San Jose's postseason failures, it was only fitting that his winning goal helped the Sharks avoid one of their biggest collapses. Marleau got his first point of the series when he knocked home a rebound with 7:47 to play and then made the key defensive play in the closing seconds of an amazing Game 7 -- the sixth one-goal outcome in their series. San Jose advanced to its third conference final in franchise history; but of similar importance avoided becoming the fourth team in NHL history to blow a 3-0 series lead in the playoffs.

2011 Eastern Conference quarterfinals

Nathan Horton scored 5:43 into overtime with a slap shot off a pass from Milan Lucic, setting off a celebration on the Bruins' bench and in the stands. It was Boston's third OT win in the series, including Game 5 when Horton scored 9:03 into the second extra period. The Canadiens won the first two games in Boston to swipe home-ice advantage, but the Bruins came back to win three straight -- including the first two in Montreal, and then Game 5 at home.

2011 Western Conference quarterfinals

After being eliminated the previous two years by Chicago, Vancouver finally returned the favor. Alex Burrows scored his second goal 5:22 into overtime, Roberto Luongo made 31 saves, and the Canucks avoided an historic playoff collapse by knocking the defending Stanley Cup champions out in the first round. Burrows, who took a penalty early in OT, pounced on a Chris Campoli turnover and fired a slapper over the right shoulder of rookie goalie Corey Crawford. Burrows had opened the scoring 2:43 in, but Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews scored his first goal of the playoffs shorthanded with 1:56 left, forcing OT. Vancouver had won the first three games before the Hawks roared back with three straight victories, threatening to spoil the Canucks' Presidents Trophy-winning season by becoming just the fourth team in NHL history to erase an 0-3 series deficit.

2010 Eastern Conference semifinals

Down 3-0 in games, Philadelphia rallied to tie the series. Down 3-0 in Game 7, Philadelphia rallied again and Simon Gagne's power-play goal in the third period lifted the Flyers to an improbable 4-3 win over the Bruins. It was a humiliating defeat for Boston, which became the third team in NHL history to flush a series after winning the first three games. The Flyers thus joined the exclusive ranks of the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, who beat Detroit, and the 1975 New York Islanders, who eliminated Pittsburgh, by climbing out of an 0-3 coffin. The other 159 teams that had won the first three games of a series had prevailed.

2009 Eastern Conference semifinals

Up 3-2 on home ice with the great Martin Brodeur in net and less than two minutes left to play, the Devils were sitting pretty, or so it seemed. Then Jussi Jokinen (left) scored for the Hurricanes with 1:20 to go and Eric Staal (right) shocked New Jersey by beating Brodeur with 32 ticks to spare on the clock. "This is as sweet as it comes," said Carolina goaltender Cam Ward, who made 32 saves. "That's why you never give up and play until the final buzzer."

2007 Western Conference semifinals

The series was a war, with the Stars climbing out of a three-games-to-one hole. Three of the seven games were settled in an extra session -- including a four-OT thriller in Game 1, won by the Canucks, 5-4, with goalie Roberto Luongo (inset) making 72 saves in his postseason debut. Vancouver advanced on home ice as its longtime hero Trevor Linden, a veteran of eight career Game 7s, broke a 1-1 tie by tipping a Mattias Ohlund shot past Stars goalie Marty Turco seven minutes into the third period. Bryan Smolinski and Taylor Pyatt later added empty-netters.

2006 Stanley Cup Final

Carolina's RBC Center was rocking as Cam Ward earned the Conn Smythe Trophy with a 22-save performance that held off the underdog Oilers' furious comeback from a three-games-to-one deficit. Aaron Ward, Frantisek Kaberle (power play) and Justin Williams (empty net) scored and Ward did the rest while becoming the first rookie goalie since Patrick Roy in 1986 to backstop his team to the Stanley Cup.

2006 Eastern Conference final

Hurricanes captain Rod Brind'Amour was the hero, pouncing on a rebound and beating Buffalo's Ryan Miller to snap a 2-2 tie at 11:22 of the third period. Brind'Amour also assisted on Justin Williams' tally in the final minute to seal the win before a delirious home crowd. Rookie goaltender Cam Ward continued to make his case for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP by making 22 saves.

2004 Eastern Conference final

Clinging to a one-goal lead, Nikolai Khabibulin stopped Keith Primeau on a second-period breakaway and the Lightning hung on to win their first Game 7 and advance to their first Stanley Cup Final. Former Flyer Ruslan Fedotenko scored a deflected power-play goal at 16:46 of the first period and Frederik Modin netted the winner at 4:57 of the second.

2004 Western Conference quarterfinals

After blowing a 4-0 lead, the Canucks got a goal from Brendan Morrison in triple OT of Game 6 and returned home for their decisive match. It was a hair-raising see-saw. Down 2-1 in the final minute and on a power play with their goalie pulled, the Canucks took a cross-checking penalty and then watched as Calgary's Jarome Iginla, who had scored twice, narrowly missed an empty net. Incredibly, Matt Cooke jammed home the tying goal off the rebound of a shot by Markus Naslund with only 5.7 seconds left. But the crowd went home unhappy when Calgary's Martin Gelinas scored 1:25 into OT.

2004 Eastern Conference quarterfinals

The Canadiens came all the way back from a three-games-to-one deficit for the first time in their storied history, winning a defensive battle in Boston. The Northeast Division champion Bruins held the underdog Habs to one shot in the third period -- until Richard Zednik broke the scoreless tie with 9:08 left by knocking home the rebound of Alex Kovalev's shot. Zednik also scored into an empty net.

2004 Stanley Cup Final

The Lightning held the Flames to a measly seven shots in the first two periods, but had to withstand a wild final stanza to make Ruslan Fedotenko's two goals stand up. Bolts goalie Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 16 shots in the third period, including a dazzler on Jordan Leopold with the net wide open. The Flames got a power play tally from Craig Conroy midway through the third, but that was it. "We just tried to get through it, and we found a way," Lightning coach John Tortorella said. "It's unbelievable. It's a great feeling."

2003 Eastern Conference final

After the Devils blew a three-games-to-one lead on the Presidents' Trophy-winners, winger Jeff Friesen had to redeem himself for a third-period turnover that allowed the Senators to tie the game at 2-2 in front of a roaring crowd in Ottawa. With 2:14 to play in regulation, Friesen scored the biggest goal of his career, beating goalie Patrick Lalime. "I couldn't even react, I couldn't even describe what that was like," Friesen said. "It just happened to work out that I got a chance to get that big goal."

2002 Western Conference semifinals

Patrick Roy was masterful in stopping 27 shots while the Avs nursed Peter Forsberg's second-period goal, especially during San Jose's two-man advantage in the final 55 seconds. Roy extended his NHL record with his 22nd career playoff shutout. "I said before Game 6, if there is one player I'm not worried about for Game 7, it's Patrick," said Colorado coach Bob Hartley. "He's our energy, he's the reason that every game we feel that we have a chance to win. He came up large tonight."

2001 Eastern Conference semifinals

Mario Lemieux's goal with 1 minute, 18 seconds left in Game 6 forced a decisive showdown against Dominik Hasek and the Sabres in Buffalo. "It's the most exciting thing in hockey," Hasek said. "We only have to win the game." Alas, Penguins blueliner Darius Kasparaitis prevented that by beating Hasek in OT for his first career playoff goal.

2000 Eastern Conference finals

After falling behind in the series, 3-1, the Devils slammed the door on the Flyers. Martin Brodeur was brilliant as the Devils won both Game 6 and Game 7 by 2-1 scores. Game 7 was played in Philadelphia and Flyers fans will never forget the sight of Devils defenseman Scott Stevens drilling Eric Lindros (inset) as the Flyers captain crossed the blue line with his head down early in the first period. Patrik Elias scored the decisive goal for the Devils in the third period.

1997 Western Conference Conference quarterfinals

The Oilers pulled off a huge upset when, after a dazzling save by goalie Curtis Joseph, Doug Weight found winger Todd Marchant with a pass. Stars defenseman Grant Ledyard fell and Marchant went on on a breakaway, beating Andy Moog with a high shot at 12:26 of the third extra session. "It was one of those games where you knew something weird was going to happen. Toddy scoring would likely be it," Oilers coach Ron Low told the Edmonton Journal. "He'd only had about 500 breakaways that year and scored on one percent of them."

1996 Western Conference semifinals

Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman (inset) ended an epic goaltending duel by grabbing a puck off Wayne Gretzky's stick, taking off and beating Jon Casey with a slap shot from the blue line at 1:15 of double overtime. "I couldn't believe it went in," Yzerman said after the game. "I don't score a whole lot of goals from out there. To score a goal in overtime, particularly in Game 7, is a tremendous thrill. Every player dreams of that."

1994 Stanley Cup Final

New York's 54-year quest to recapture Lord Stanley's old silver mug came to an electrifying conclusion in the deafening confines of Madison Square Garden. The Rangers saw their leads of 2-0 and 3-1 trimmed and had to hang on through a tight third period that ended when the Canucks couldn't convert off a face-off in New York's end in the final ticks.

1994 Eastern Conference finals

Mark Messier's famous guarantee of a Rangers victory in Game 6 set up this nail-biting defensive battle. New York led 1-0 until the Devils tied the game with only 7.7 seconds left in regulation at Madison Square Garden. The winner was scored on Devils goalie Martin Brodeur by Stephane Matteau (32) at 4:21 of the second extra session -- his second double-OT goal of the series. Rangers fans will never forget broadcaster Howie Rose's cries of "Matteau! Matteau!"

1993 Patrick Division final

The scrappy Isles dethroned the two-time defending Cup champion Penguins of Jaromir Jagr and Mario Lemieux as goaltender Glenn Healy (42 saves) weathered a first-period storm and hung tough after New York blew a 3-1 lead late in the third period. In OT, little-used winger David Volek was the unlikely hero, beating goalie Tom Barasso for his second tally of the game. Volek had scored only eight during the regular season.

1987 Patrick Division semifinals

Known as the Easter Epic, the Isles and Caps battled in Washington through 69 minutes of extra play after New York's Bryan Trottier tied the game 2-2 with 5:22 left in regulation. At 1:57 a.m. -- nearly seven hours after the opening face-off -- Pat LaFontaine beat Caps goalie Bob Mason with the game-winner. Some players lost up to 15 pounds during the game and were reduced to taking 20-second mini-shifts. Isles goalie Kelly Hrudey made a whopping 73 saves.

1986 Smythe Division finals

Steve Smith (5) probably still lies awake thinking about this one. The Oilers' bid for a third straight Stanley Cup was derailed when the young defenseman attempted a cross-ice pass from next to his own net early in the third period with the score tied 2-2. The puck hit Oilers goalie Grant Fuhr's leg and wound up in the net, giving Calgary the lead. Smith fell to the ice and buried his face in his gloves.

1979 Wales Conference final

Don Cherry probably still lies awake thinking about this one. His Bruins had a 4-3 lead against the three-time defending Stanley Cup champions with four minutes left, but got caught with too many on the ice. Guy Lafleur's subsequent power-play goal tied the game with 74 seconds to go. Yvon Lambert delivered the crushing blow with a goal at 9:33 of OT (inset).

1971 Stanley Cup Final

Montreal's rookie goalie Ken Dryden began cementing his legend by holding off the Blackhawks in Chicago long enough for his team to rally from a 2-0 hole late in the second period. Henri Richard scored the tying and decisive goals against Chicago's Hall of Fame netminder Tony Esposito (inset).

1954 Stanley Cup Final

Diminutive winger Tony "Mighty Mouse" Leswick (inset) ended a defensive struggle with a goal at 4:29 of OT to give Detroit the Cup. Goalies Terry Sawchuk (Detroit) and Gerry McNeil (Montreal) seemed locked in until Leswick floated a shot that glanced off Canadiens defenseman Doug Harvey's glove and into the net. The match remains the last Game 7 to decide the championship in OT.

1950 Stanley Cup Final

The Red Wings were without Gordie Howe, who was sidelined by a fractured cheekbone and nose, but hard-working left winger Pete Babando (left, with Harry Lumley) stepped up to play the hero in front of the home crowd. He beat Rangers goalie Chuck Rayner after 28 minutes and 31 seconds of extra play to settle the first Stanley Cup Final decided by a Game 7 overtime.

Blackhawks

1. Control the second period.

The middle frame was a problem for the Ducks all season long. Anaheim allowed 97 goals in the second period during the regular season, more than any other team, and its –23 goal differential ranked 28th in the league. That sudden malaise has manifested itself again in the past two games as the Hawks outscored Anaheim by a margin of 5-1 in the second periods of Games 5 and 6. It’s more than just the long line change that’s messing with the Ducks. There’s a flagging intensity that seems to leave them vulnerable to an opportunistic attack. If that door opens even slightly on Saturday night, the Hawks need to barge through it.

2. Use their mental edge.

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Sure, the Ducks have been pounding them physically throughout the series, hammering the Hawks to the tune of nearly 100 extra hits through the first six games. But if Chicago has a clear edge, it’s in their mentality. This is a team that has been in this exact situation many times during the past few years. More often than not, the Hawks have come out on top in the battle of wills.

“I credit the guys. Their focus, their preparation, their will to win, finding ways to win,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “They love the journey. They’re competitive beyond what you could want it to be.”

That focus will be under fire early as the Ducks are expected to come out hard at home. Good decisions, especially under physical pressure, will be a sign that this team is on its way to a win.

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3. Get a big game from big players.

The Hawks roared to victory in Game 6 on the backs of their three top stars: Keith, Toews and Patrick Kane. Each of those players has a history of rising to the occasion when his team needs him most, but none more-so than Kane. Since 2009, the flashy winger has scored 17 points in elimination games, fourth most during that time frame. He padded that total with a goal and an assist in Wednesday’s must-win contest.

Don’t be surprised to see Quenneville skate Kane with Toews in Game 7, at least occasionally. He slotted them together in the first period of Game 6 and while he didn’t stick with that pairing throughout the contest he went went back to it just often enough to throw the Ducks defense off balance. This duo doesn’t always click, but there’s usually magic when it gets down to the marrow. Expect them to take a big bite out of this game.

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Published May 29, 2015

ALLAN MUIR