Live updates: Blackhawks defeat Ducks, 5-2, in Game 6

Back to Anaheim.

The Chicago Blackhawks held off elimination tonight in the Western Conference finals with a 5-2 victory over the Ducks at the United Center, sending the two teams west for a winner-moves-on game.

The Blackhawks survived an intense and, at times, chaotic final 10 minutes. Andrew Desjardins and Andrew Shaw out-worked the Ducks to earn a two-goal lead 16 minutes 28 seconds into the third period. Desjardins raced into the Ducks’ zone for the puck and flicked it cross ice where Shaw -- with the Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf on his back -- poked it past goaltender Frederik Andersen.

Brandon Saad’s empty-net goal was the final blow, but it was the play of defenseman Duncan Keith that got the Blackhawks’ into Game 7 on Saturday.

Keith assisted on Chicago’s first three goals. But it was his quick reactions on defense that saved the Blackhawks.

A goal by Matt Stoner cut the Chicago lead to 3-2 early in the third period.

Corey Perry was oh-so-close to tying the score on a power play four minutes into the third period. Perry, perched at the crease, slipped the puck past goaltender Corey Crawford. But Keith was there to clear the puck from the goal line at the last moment.

Keith’s other work got the Blackhawks the lead, as they scored three goals in a span of 3 minutes 45 seconds during the second period.

First, Keith fed Saad on a breakaway. Saad left defenseman Hampus Lindholm in his wake and flicked a wrist shot past Andersen at 8:23.

Keith got the puck in the high slot, faked a shot and waited, then faked another shot and waited again. He slipped a pass across the ice to Marian Hossa, whose shot into a wide-open net gave Chicago a 2-0 lead at 10:41.

Keith picked up his third assist by holding the puck in the Ducks’ zone, then getting it to Patrick Kane, who ice-danced his way through the Ducks. His shot hit Andersen, then trickled into the net.

Crawford made 30 saves for the Blackhawks.

Blackhawks 4, Ducks 2 (16:28 of third period)

A little hard work gives Chicago some breathing room.

Andrew Desjardins raced into the Ducks’ zone for the puck and flicked it cross ice where Andrew Shaw -- with the Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf on his back -- poked it past goaltender Frederik Andersen.

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The Ducks continue their aggressive play and have taken seven shots on goal in the third period, compared to only two for the Blackhawks.

In an 80-second span, Ryan Getzlaf and Jiri Sekac tested Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford, who now has 25 saves.

Blackhawks 3, Ducks 2 (1:57 of third period)

The Ducks are applying pressure.

Clayton Stoner bounced a shot off the post and into the net. Stoner got a little help from teammate Jakob Silfverberg, who skated in front of the net and tipped goaltender Corey Crawford’s glove as the shot came in.

Referees, though, ignored the goaltender interference.

Blackhawks 3, Ducks 1 (end of second period)

Chicago is 20 minutes from forcing a Game 7 on Saturday, and the Blackhawks have defenseman Duncan Keith to thank.

Keith unraveled the Ducks with three highlight-reel assists as the Blackhawks scored three goals in a span of 3 minutes 45 seconds.

First, Keith fed Brandon Saad on a breakaway. Saad left defenseman Hampus Lindholm in his wake and flicked a wrist shot past goaltender Frederik Andersen at 8:23.

Keith got the puck in the high slot, faked a shot and waited, then faked a shot and waited again. He slipped at pass across the ice to Marian Hossa, who shot into a wide-open net for a 2-0 lead at 10:41.

Keith picked up his third assist by holding the puck in the Ducks’ zone, then getting it to Patrick Kane, who ice-danced his way through the Ducks. His shot hit Andersen, then trickled into the net.

The Blackhawks dominated the period from the start, getting in more hits and getting off more shots.

The Ducks saved some face with a power-play goal. Patrick Maroon crashed the net after a face-off, where he was in position to tip a Cam Fowler shot past goaltender Corey Crawford at 14:13.

Crawford has made 18 saves.

Blackhawks 3, Ducks 1 (14:13 of second period)

The Ducks show some life with a power-play goal.

Patrick Maroon went to the net and tipped a Cam Fowler shot past goaltender Corey Crawford.

Blackhawks 3, Ducks 0 (12:08 of second period)

Patrick Kane ice-danced his way through the Ducks before firing a shot that hit goaltender Frederik Andersen and trickled into the net.

Once again, defenseman Duncan Keith was the catalyst, as he held the puck in the Ducks’ zone at the blue line, then passed it to Kane.

The Blackhawks have scored three goals in the last 3:45 of the second period.

Blackhawks 2, Ducks 0 (10:41 of second period)

Duncan Keith again as the playmaker.

Keith got the puck in the high slot, faked a shot and waited, then faked a shot and waited again. He finally slipped at pass across ice to Marian Hossa, who slipped a shot into a wide-open net.

Blackhawks 1, Ducks 0 (8:23 of second period)

Chicago breaks the ice on a breakaway.

Defenseman Duncan Keith sent a two-line pass to Brandon Saad, who left the Ducks’ Hampus Lindholm in his wake. Saad then flicked a wrist shot past goaltender Frederik Andersen .

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The Blackhawks are back on the power play after Ducks left wing Jiri Sekac was penalized for elbowing Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook at 4:57 of the second period.

Anaheim was able to kill the penalty without giving up a shot on goal.

Ducks 0, Blackhawks 0 (end of first period)

The Blackhawks, one loss from elimination, showed up with an edge tonight for Game 6. The Ducks answered during a scoreless first period.

There were big hits -- Chicago’s Bryan Bickell burying the Ducks’ Sami Vatanen -- and menacing looks when the puck got near the net. The Blackhawks didn’t have a shot on goal for the first 7 minutes 10 seconds, an improvement from the 16:20 they went in Game 5. The Ducks did not win a faceoff in the first 16 minutes.

Ducks goaltender Frederik Andersen made six saves, taking a skate on a jam try by Brandon Saad. Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford made 10 saves.

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The Blackhawks have their first power play of the game after Ducks winger Corey Perry is caught hooking Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith at 7:06 of the first period.

Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen is forced to make two saves early on the Blackhawks power play, handling shots by Patrick Kane and Brad Richards.

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The Ducks get the first power play of the game when the Blackhawks are penalized for having too many men on the ice at 1:59 of the first period.

Chicago is able to kill off the penalty, though, with the Ducks getting only one shot on goal, a backhander by defenseman Sami Vatanen that goalie Corey Crawford easily stops.

The Blackhawks have won all five faceoffs in the opening five minutes of the game.

Pregame

The Anaheim Ducks have a second change tonight to advance to the Western Conference finals when they take on the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 6 of their Stanley Cup playoff series.

The Ducks failed last postseason to put away the eventual champion Los Angeles Kings in the second round and to eliminate the Detroit Red Wings in the first round the previous season when leading each series, three games to two. Anaheim then fell in Game 7 in each series.

“I think we know how they’re going to play,” Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau said earlier today. “Hopefully, we can do what we do and it comes up successful.”

Winger Emerson Etem will return to the lineup after he was a scratch for Game 5. He’ll be on the fourth line with center Rickard Rakell and left wing Jiri Sekac. All three Ducks on the fourth line are 22 years old.

Etem, after deflecting in a goal with his upper body in Game 4, was made a healthy scratch for Game 5 with veteran Tomas Fleischmann playing 10 minutes 14 seconds without a shot or point.