The Anaheim Ducks surrendered two goals in the final 1:50 of regulation, but Matt Beleskey scored 45 seconds into overtime to lift the Ducks to a 3-2 series lead against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Final.
* The Ducks are one win away from reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in their history (also 2003 and 2007). In Anaheim’s most recent appearance, the Ducks defeated the Ottawa Senators in five games to win their first Stanley Cup. * Beleskey’s goal was his first career NHL playoff overtime goal and his Ducks-leading third game-winning goal in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He has scored in back-to-back games and has seven goals and an assist in 14 games this postseason, including a Ducks’ single-postseason record five-game goal streak from April 30-May 10 (5-0—5). * According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Beleskey’s goal was the second-fastest goal to begin a playoff overtime period in Ducks history. Steve Thomas scored the fastest such goal 39 seconds into overtime on June 2, 2003, in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final vs. the New Jersey Devils (1-0 OT W). * Cam Fowler and Ryan Kesler (1-1—2) scored in a span of 32 seconds during the first period. * The quick goals continued a recent trend for the Ducks. In the third period of Game 4, Anaheim scored three times in 37 seconds on goals by Kesler, Beleskey and Corey Perry; it was the second fastest three-goal spurt by an NHL team in Stanley Cup Playoffs history. * Fowler opened the scoring at 5:10 of the first period with his second goal of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Fowler has two goals and six assists in the postseason (14 GP). * Kesler scored 32 seconds later at 5:42 of the first period with his sixth goal of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He added the primary assist on Beleskey’s overtime goal to record his third multipoint game of the playoffs. Kesler has six goals and six assists in the postseason (14 GP). * Elias notes that Anaheim’s two goals in the opening 5:42 of Game 5 were the second-fastest two goals to begin a playoff game in franchise history. The fastest two goals were on April 20, 2011, when Fowler scored at 4:41 of the first period and Saku Koivu scored 33 seconds later at 5:14 in Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals at the Nashville Predators (6-3 W). * Sami Vatanen (1-1—2) scored his third goal of the postseason and had an assist for his third multipoint game of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He has three goals and seven assists in the postseason (14 GP). * Ryan Getzlaf (0-2—2) had two assists and extended his point streak to five games (0-7—7). Getzlaf also extended his Ducks’ single-postseason record with his sixth multi-assist game of the playoffs. Elias notes that Vancouver Canucks forward Henrik Sedin was the most recent player to accomplish that feat for any team, also doing so six times in 2011 (25 GP). * Getzlaf established a new Ducks single-postseason playoff record with 19 points (2-17—19 in 14 GP), eclipsing the record he had set in 2009 (4-14—18 in 13 GP). Getzlaf extended his Ducks record for assists in a playoff year with 17 and leads the League in assists and points in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. * Jakob Silfverberg (0-2—2) had two assists and has four goals and 12 assists in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs (14 GP). His 12 assists are second in the playoffs, trailing only Getzlaf. * Patrick Maroon scored his sixth goal of the postseason. * Frederik Andersen made 24 saves to improve to 11-3 in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 2.06 goals-against average and .925 save percentage. Andersen also improved to 10-1 in his playoff career at Honda Center. * Andersen has not lost consecutive games since March 6-9, 2015 (regular season and playoffs). * Anaheim improved to 11-3 in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs – all three losses came in overtime – marked the second-most wins through 14 games to begin a postseason in Ducks history. Anaheim posted a record of 12-2 through the first 14 games of the 2003 playoffs. * With 11 wins and three overtime losses, the Ducks matched a Stanley Cup Playoffs record by playing 14 games to start the postseason without losing in regulation. The New York Rangers also began the postseason with 11 wins and three overtime losses in 1979. LOOSE PUCKS The Ducks improved to 3-3 in six overtime games during the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs... The team that has scored first has won each game of the Western Conference Final. Overall, the Blackhawks (7-1) and Ducks (7-0) are a combined 14-1 when scoring the first goal this postseason... The past four games of the series have all been decided by a one-goal margin, with Game 2 (3OT), Game 4 (2OT) and Game 5 (OT) requiring overtime to decide a winner... Chicago fell to 4-1 in five overtime games this postseason... Chicago center Jonathan Toews (2-0—2) scored twice in the final 1:50 of regulation to send the game to overtime. The performance was his first multigoal and sixth multipoint game of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Toews leads Chicago with 16 points in the postseason (7-9—16)... Chicago forward Teuvo Teravainen (1-1—2) had his first career multipoint game in the playoffs... Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook (1-1—2) had his first multipoint game of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He also established a new career high for goals in a single postseason with five... Chicago forward Patrick Sharp (0-2—2) had two assists... Chicago’s Duncan Keith (0-1—1) leads all defensemen with 11 assists and 13 points (2-11—13) in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs... Chicago goaltender Corey Crawford made 23 saves but fell to 7-4 in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 2.57 goals-against average and .917 save percentage... The Toronto Maple Leafs signed forward Sam Carrick to a one-year contract... Courtney Mathewson, a 2012 United States women's water polo Olympic gold medalist, was in attendance at Honda Center to show her support for the Ducks. |
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