Blackhawks are embracing the pressure of a Game 7 against the Ducks

Sunglasses on and bags slung over their shoulders, Chicago Blackhawks players made their way Thursday toward the charter plane that was to take them from O’Hare to California for a date with history.

The four-hour flight provided an opportunity to rest after a grueling schedule that included Wednesday’s 5-2 victory over the Ducks that kept the season alive. More important is that Friday will provide an extra day to relax before the teams take the ice Saturday night at Honda Center to determine the Western Conference champion.

The Blackhawks and Ducks have played every other day since the series began May 17.

“You take the rest as you can get it,” Blackhawks winger Patrick Sharp said. “We had a lot of travel this series back and forth for both teams. But [we’ve] got a big game coming up. We’ll take the extra day, get focused and be physically ready.”

The Ducks have not been shy about their determination to wear down the Blackhawks physically — especially top-four defensemen Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Brent Seabrook and Johnny Oduya — by finishing their checks.

Anaheim players have hit everything that moves during the series for a 304-219 hit advantage.

“Every hit that we’ve had … it’s all for this Game 7,” Ducks center Ryan Kesler said. “That’s why we invested physically, and it’s all going to add up for Game 7.”

The flaw in the plan is that the Ducks are expending energy to make those hits. And then there is the fact the NHL conveniently — for the Blackhawks’ sake, at least — added an extra day between the final two games. All that investment by the Ducks might not pay dividends.

“We’re healthy,” Sharp said. “We have a defense core that wants to be on the ice ... they’re fighting to jump over the boards, want to play the heavy minutes. Up front, we’re feeling pretty good.

“Whether it’s a physical game or a wide-open game, we like that style of play. We’ll be ready for whatever they throw at us.”

Added center Antoine Vermette: “We’re confident with our group, the way we can approach games. If it’s a physical game, we don’t shy away from that. Speed, we like to play that type of game.”

The Blackhawks also maintain they are on top of their game mentally. The series has been intense from the moment the teams took warmups in Game 1. It has featured three overtime games, including triple- and double-overtime affairs.

Throw in the do-or-die aspect of Game 7, and the pressure is on — something the Blackhawks embrace.

“We all love playing hockey,” center Marcus Kruger said. “We love playing big games, just to get a chance to do that. You never get tired of hockey. We play for these big games.”

The Ducks will play in a Game 7 for the third consecutive season — they lost the previous two at home — while the Blackhawks will play in their fourth Game 7 in the last five seasons. The previous three went to overtime, including a crushing home loss to the Kings in the conference finals last year.

Sharp said Game 7s are different from any regular-season or postseason game.

“It’s very similar to just playing overtime,” Sharp said. “Right from the drop of the puck in the first period, every shift is important. It’s magnified that much more in a Game 7. Our group has played plenty of overtimes, also Game 7s, to draw experience from.”

Coach Joel Quenneville loves the approach from his players.

“I credit the guys, their focus, their preparation, their will to want to win; finding ways to win,” Quenneville said. “They love the journey. They’re competitive beyond what you could want it to be.”

ckuc@tribpub.com

Twitter: @ChrisKuc