Ducks are 0-3 in last three Game 7s in Stanley Cup playoffs

Game 7s were once an occasional form of advancement, not a stumbling block, for the Ducks.

Before the 2009 playoffs, they were 2-1 when it came to Game 7s. Not a great sample size, but the Ducks managed series victories in 2006 (Calgary) and 1997 (Phoenix), and lost the 2003 Stanley Cup Final to the New Jersey Devils.

Since then, the Ducks are 0-3 in series that extend to seven games. Last year, they lost to the Kings in the second round after holding a 3-2 series advantage. In 2013, the Ducks stumbled against the Detroit Red Wings in the first round after being ahead, 3-2. Detroit also knocked off Anaheim in 2009 in the second round.

A closer look at those three playoff rounds as the Ducks attempt to avoid exiting in the seventh game at home for the third straight season.

It is down to one game, winner-take all, as they play host to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday at 5 p.m.

2014: Kings 6, Ducks 2

Hero: “Mr. Game 7.” Who else but the Kings’ Justin Williams? He got matters rolling with the first goal in a rapid-fire start from the Kings, who scored three times in the first 10 minutes.

Turning point: An unsuccessful penalty shot in the first period. Ducks right wing Corey Perry had a chance to get them back into it — with Anaheim trailing by two goals — but was denied by Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick’s poke check.

Of note: It would be the final NHL game for Ducks legend Teemu Selanne, who would retire, along with teammate Saku Koivu. It also served as another reminder the Ducks desperately needed to get some more depth down the middle. In the off-season, they acquired center Ryan Kesler from the Vancouver Canucks.

2013: Detroit 3, Ducks 2

Hero: Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg, who had three goals in the final two games of the series. He scored the first goal of Game 7, less than two minutes into it, and set up the Red Wings’ third goal in the second period, putting them ahead, 3-1.

Turning point: It came late in the first period on a short-handed effort by Justin Abdelkader, who capitalized on an errant pass by Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin. Abdelkader scored on the breakaway against Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller to make it 2-1.

Of note: An Anaheim victory would have meant the first meeting between the Kings and the Ducks in the playoffs. That would have to wait another year.

2009: Detroit 4, Ducks 3

Hero: Dan Cleary erased the need for overtime when he scored the winner with three minutes remaining in the third period. “It was a biggest goal I scored, considering the situation and the time,” he said.

Turning point: Anaheim squandered an ideal opportunity to take the Detroit crowd out of it in the first period when the game was still scoreless, failing to do any damage on a five-on-three advantage.

Of note: The Blackhawks’ Marian Hossa, who scored the second goal Wednesday in Game 6, was playing for the Red Wings in 2009. That would be his final campaign in Detroit. The following July, he signed a 12-year, front-loaded contract worth $62.8 million with the Blackhawks.

lisa.dillman@latimes.com

Twitter: @reallisa