Chicago survival: Blackhawks' experience pays off in Game 2 win over Ducks
The thing about winning the Stanley Cup is that they you can't Google for directions on how it is done.
Part of the accomplishment is locating the path to success. Of the four remaining teams in the NHL playoffs, only the Chicago Blackhawks know how to get there.
The Blackhawks' postseason know-how was on display Tuesday when Marcus Kruger scored with 3:48 left in triple-overtime to give them a series-tying 3-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference final.
This was Chicago's third overtime victory in these playoffs, and their second triple-overtime win. This victory broke an 84-year-old record for longest overtime win in team history.
Defenseman Duncan Keith was nine seconds short of playing 50 minutes in this game. He was one of four Blackhawks defensemen who logged more than 40 minutes.
The Blackhawks believed they had won in double-overtime but Andrew Shaw's head-butted goal was disallowed because the game is hockey, not soccer.
Rule 78.5 (i) states: "Goals shall be disallowed when the puck has been directed, batted, or thrown into the net by an attacking player other than with a stick."
The key word is "directed." A goal can be counted it if deflects off a player's body, but a player can't purposely direct the puck into the net.
Instead of being deflated, the Blackhawks' persevered. That's who they are. That's what they do. That's why they have won 76 playoff games and two Stanley Cups since 2009.
The Blackhawks have the NHL's best survival skills. They know how to hang on until they can find a way to win.
It wasn't one of their stars who scored the game-winner, it was role player Kruger who tipped in Brent Seabrook's shot from the point.
Seabrook has a history of scoring overtime goals or being involved in them during the Blackhawks' incredible string of success. Kruger is a valuable contributor who always draws more notice in the playoffs.
Like most of the key Blackhawks, Seabrook wasn't out there trying to sort out what needs to be done. He knows what to do. They are very comfortable playing tight-checking, pressure-filled postseason hockey. That's the strength of this team.
This was a character win for the Blackhawks. It was an endurance win. It was a gritty win. It was a win that comes from knowing how to navigate through overtime pressure.
However, the Blackhawks have to have one concern this morning that they don't usually have.
Because of the season-ending injury suffered by Michal Rozsival and other factors, the Blackhawks don't have the depth on defense they have enjoyed in the past. Defensemen Kimmo Timonen and Kyle Cumiskey didn't play regularly in Game 2. How much did this win in Game 2 take out of their defensive group?
Will this defensive group start to wear down as the playoffs progress? Those are issues the Blackhawks have to address.
Plus, the Ducks are not going to be demoralized by this setback. Although they don't have the playoff experience that the Blackhawks have, they showed plenty of resiliency this season.
It was a big emotional win by the Blackhawks, but the series is tied 1-1. The true challenge for the Blackhawks is to build on this marathon win. But Chicago coach Joel Quenneville probably likes his chances this morning because his team has a recent history of playing at a high level when they face challenges.
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