Marcus Kruger redirected a shot from Brent Seabrook to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 3-2 win in triple overtime in Game 2 over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday morning to even the Western Conference Final series, 1-1.
Kruger scored the goal with three minutes and 48 seconds left in the third overtime of what’s now the longest game in Blackhawks history. The previous record was 53:30 of OT on April 9, 1931, in Montreal.
Corey Crawford saved 60 of 62 shots in the win, while Frederik Andersen stopped 53 of 56 shots.
This was the first loss in seven home games this postseason for the Ducks, who fell to 9-2 so far in the playoffs. The series now shifts to Chicago for Game 3. The Hawks are 5-0 at home this postseason.
The Hawks killed all five Ducks power plays, while covering two of their five chances.
A headbutt nearly ended it in the second overtime, but Andrew Shaw’s header into the net was ruled no goal with 11 minutes and 13 seconds left. According to Rule 78.5(i) “Apparent 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.”
That header is like the Tuck rule. Not a damn person alive knew the rule on it until the refs made up the rule after it happened lol
— Kevin Burkhardt (@kevinburkhardt) May 20, 2015
The Ducks also had their chances with one shot after another ringing off iron.
The Hawks killed off a Niklas Hjalmarsson tripping penalty, surviving two shots off iron by the Ducks — one by Corey Perry off the post and one by Sami Vatanen off the crossbar — and got past a tense sequence with Crawford without his stick. Andersen, meanwhile, made two big saves on Patrick Kane and another on Antoine Vermette.
The Hawks came out aggressively on defense, holding the Ducks to only three shots through the first 15 minutes. But they were unable to convert on a 65-second 5-on-3 power play early in the period, and they killed off two more penalties to force overtime.
Perry tied the score 2-2 on the power-play when he redirected Ryan Getzlaf’s shot past Corey Crawford with two minutes and 30 seconds left in the second period for his eighth goal of the postseason.
Perry is tied with the Lightning’s Tyler Johnson for most points in the playoffs with 16. The Ducks controlled the second period, out shooting the Hawks, 19-7, after being outshot, 12-7, in the first period. Two power-play goals in the first six-plus minutes gave the Blackhawks an early lead.
Shaw redirected Duncan Keith’s shot in front of the net for the first goal just over two minutes into the first period. It was Shaw’s second goal of the postseason. Jonathan Toews had the secondary assist.
The Hawks are now 10-0 in the postseason when Shaw scores.
Clayton Stoner cross-checked Kruger then gave Shaw a jab to the face, but was only assessed a two-minute minor penalty.
GIF: Then Stoner got away with this immediately after. Also yikes. pic.twitter.com/FoITonspAW
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 20, 2015
Marian Hossa was credited with his second goal of the postseason four minutes later. Bryan Bickell and Brad Richards had the assist on Hossa’s goal.
Andrew Cogliano made it 2-1 when he deflected the puck past Crawford with 9:46 left in the opening period. The puck appeared to bounce off Cogliano’s skate and the goal was upheld after a review.
Game 3 is Thursday night at the United Center in Chicago.
Follow Second City Hockey on Twitter at @2ndCityHockey and Like us on Facebook. You can follow Brandon Cain on Twitter at @