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Blackhawks vs. Ducks Game 6 preview: David Rundblad in, Kimmo Timonen out

Blackhawks face elimination as they host Anaheim at the United Center.

By Brandon M. Cain

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Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

David Rundblad will replace Kimmo Timonen in the lineup when the Chicago Blackhawks host the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final on Wednesday at the United Center.

Rundblad left practice early indicating he will play as scratches normally stay out later.

Rundblad was a healthy scratch after playing in Game 1 of the series in favor of Kyle Cumiskey. In that game, he logged 10:47 of ice time over 17 shifts. It was his first game back on the ice since April 11. He had three goals and 11 assists in 49 regular-season games this year.

The Hawks enter the game with a 3-2 series deficit and they will play in their first elimination game in the 2015 playoffs. Since 2008-09, they are 9-4 in elimination games and 3-1 in Game 6s when trailing in the series. They've forced a Game 7 when trailing 3-2 in a series three times: 2014 vs. Kings, 2013 vs. Red Wings and 2011 vs. Canucks.

Exactly two years ago on this date, the Hawks overcame a third period deficit in Detroit to force a Game 7. If Chicago wins, they'll force a decisive Game 7 for Saturday in Anaheim.

Here are the lines:

Saad Toews Hossa
Bickell Richards Kane
Sharp Vermette Teravainen
Desjardins Kruger Shaw

Defensive Pairings

Keith Rundblad
Seabrook Hjalmarsson
Oduya Cumiskey

Opponent Breakdown: Anaheim Ducks

A win for Anaheim will have them in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2007 when they won the Cup.

Second-year goaltender Frederick Andersen was strong in net the first three games, allowing just one goal in Game 1 and Game 3. But the 25-year-old Andersen has allowed nine goals over the past two games, including two goals in 72 seconds from Jonathan Toews to send Game 5 to overtime.

The Ducks are 2-4 all time in Game 7s, having dropped their last two in the last two seasons.

Coach Bruce Boudreau's teams are 1-5 in Game 7 at home -- the lone victory in the first round with the Washington Capitals in 2009.

Here are the lines from last time out:

Maroon Getzlaf Perry
Beleskey Kelser Silfverberg
Colgliano Thompson Palmieri
Etem Fleischmann Wagner

Defensive Pairings

Beauchemin Lindholm
Fowler Despres
Stoner Vatanen

Injury Report

Chicago: Michal Rozsival (8-12 weeks, fractured ankle)

Anaheim:Sheldon Souray (IR, torn wrist ligament)

Game Information

When: 7 p.m. CT

Where: United Center

TV: NBCSN

Radio: WGN-720

For Chicago Blackhawks tickets, check out Ticketmaster. Follow Second City Hockey on Twitter at @2ndCityHockey and Like us on Facebook. You can follow Brandon Cain on Twitter at @BrandonMCain.