Ducks fall to Blackhawks, 3-2, in Game 2 triple overtime

Marcus Kruger’s chip shot gave the Chicago Blackhawks a 3-2 victory over the Ducks in the third overtime of Game 2 of the Western Conference finals at Honda Center on Tuesday.

Brent Seabrook sent a shot in from the blue line that hit Kruger’s stick. He recover to tap his second try into the net, ending the longest game in Blackhawks’ history 16 minutes and 12 seconds into the third OT period.

The victory evened the series at 1-1. Game 3 will be Thursday in Chicago.

The game lurched along through two overtimes.

A scramble in front of the net appeared to decide matters 8:47 into the second overtime. The puck fluttered high over Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen and Andrew Shaw headed it into the net. But referees ruled that Shaw deliberately headbutted the puck and waved off the goal.

Andersen made 53 saves.

The Ducks’ Corey Perry was the most dominant player in the second overtime, as he pestered goaltender Corey Crawford. Perry’s best chance glanced off the post seven minutes into the period.

Crawford made 60 saves.

The brisk play in the first overtime created opportunities for both teams. Perry nearly converted a chance on a rush up ice, but his shot hit the post midway through the overtime.

The Blackhawks also had to survive a Ducks’ power play after Niklas Hjalmarsson was sent off for tripping. Sami Vatanen hit the crossbar with a shot.

The Blackhawks had a two-man advantage for 1:12 early in the third period, but the Ducks were able to kill the two penalties. Chicago had only one shot during its power play.

The Ducks dominated play in the second period, but were denied until Perry perched in front of the net in the final minutes. Ryan Getzlaf sent a shot in from the blue line and Perry redirected the puck past goaltender Corey Crawford.

It was Perry’s eighth goal of the playoffs.

The Blackhawks took a 2-0 lead six minutes into the game on power play goals by Shaw and Marian Hossa. It was the first time during the playoffs that the Ducks have allowed more than one power-play goal in a game.

Andrew Cogliano cut the lead in half when he crashed the net and had the puck glance off his skate and into the net 9:14 into the first period. It was the fourth goal in two games of the series by the Ducks’ third line.

Ducks 2, Blackhawks 2 (end of second overtime)

This game is hinges more and more on the goaltenders. Both had strong a period in the second overtime.

A scramble in front of the net appeared to decide matters 8 minutes and 47 seconds into the second overtime. The puck fluttered high over goaltender Fredrerik Andersen and Andrew Shaw headed it into the net. But referees ruled that Shaw deliberately head-butted the puck and waved off the goal.

Shaw almost ended the game earlier in the period. He had the puck alone in front of the net, but Andersen stoned his try two minutes into the second overtime period. Andersen had 14 saves in the period. He made a diving save on two tries by Patrick Kane in the crease with a minute left in the period.

Chicago goaltender Corey Crawford matched him with 14 saves. He made a sprawling defection of a shot by Corey Perry from the slot 12 minutes into the period and denied Patrick Maroon’s point-blank one-timer three minutes later. Crawford also caught a break when a Perry shot hit the post seven minutes into the period.

Ducks 2, Blackhawks 2 (end of first overtime)

The brisk play in overtime created opportunities for both teams. The Ducks’ Corey Perry nearly converted a chance on a rush up ice, but his shot hit the post midway through the overtime.

The Blackhawks also had to survive a Ducks’ power play after Niklas Hjalmarsson was sent off for tripping. Sami Vatanen hit the crossbar with a shot.

Both goaltenders were on top of their game throughout the 20 minutes. Frederik Andersen made eight saves, including snagging a Patrick Kane shot out of the air with three minutes left. Corey Crawford had nine saves.

Ducks 2, Blackhawks 2 (end of regulation)

Neither team could capitalize on power plays in the third period, sending the game into overtime.

The Blackhawks had a two-man advantage for 1:12 early in the third period, but the Ducks killed the two penalties. Chicago had only one shot during its power play.

The Ducks were unable to convert on a power play in the last five minutes.

This is the fourth overtime game for the Ducks and the third for the Blackhawks during the playoffs.

Chicago goaltender Corey Crawford has made 32 saves. Frederik Andersen has made 26 saves for the Ducks.

Corey Perry and Andrew Cogliano have goals for the Ducks. Andrew Shaw and Marian Hossa have scored for the Blackhawks.

Ducks 2, Blackhawks 2 (end of second period)

The Ducks dominated play in the period, but were denied until Corey Perry perched in front of the net in the final minutes. Ryan Getzlaf sent a shot in from the blue line and Perry redirected the puck past goaltender Corey Crawford.

Crawford, until then, had protected the Blackhawks’ one-goal lead. The Ducks had 19 shots in the second period. Crawford made a handful of quality saves, including denying Emerson Etem, who had crashed in alone with the puck.

The Ducks, though, were relentless and had the Blackhawks scrambling throughout the second half of the period.

The Blackhawks took a 2-1 lead into the first period on goals by Andrew Shaw and Marian Hossa. Andrew Cogliano scored a first-period goal for the Ducks.

Goaltender Frederik Andersen was beaten twice in the first six minutes, but has handled everything since. He has 17 saves.

Ducks 2, Blackhawks 2 (17:30 second period)

Corey Perry gets the Ducks even with slick stick work in front of the net.

Ryan Getzlaf fired a shot from the blue line. Perry, who was untouched camped in front of the net, flicked it past goaltender Corey Crawford.

The Ducks have controlled much of the play in the period.

Blackhawks 2, Ducks 1 (end of first period)

The go-to cliché after a team loses a game in the Stanley Cup playoffs is the vow to get more traffic in front of the net.

The Chicago Blackhawks got more traffic in front of the net and took an early lead in Game 2 of the Western Conference final. The Ducks aided and abetted with penalties that led to the goals.

The game was a little more than six minutes old and the Blackhawks had a 2-0 lead. Ducks’ defenseman Clayton Stoner had a big hand in both.

With the Ducks’ Patrick Maroon in the penalty box for boarding, the Blackhawks’ Andrew Shaw out-fought Stoner in front of the net. When Stoner backed off, Shaw was in perfect position to redirect a Jonathan Toews shot from the blue line for a 1-0 lead 1 minute and 32 seconds into the game.

Stoner was then sent off for cross-checking and the Blackhawks’ power play cashed in, winning another scramble at the net. Marian Hossa got credit for the goal with some help from the Ducks’ Simon Despres, who knocked the puck into the net after Hossa touched it.

It’s the first time in the Stanley Cup playoffs that the Ducks have allowed more than one power play goal.

The Ducks’ third line soon generated more momentum. Nate Thompson carried the puck up ice and battled through two Blackhawks, then managed to get off a shot. Andrew Cogliano crashed the net and had the puck go off his skate and past goaltender Corey Crawford.

Cogliano’s goal was the fourth by the Ducks’ third line in the series.

The Blackhawks had 12 shots in the period. The Ducks had seven.

Blackhawks 2, Ducks 1 (9:14 first period)

The Ducks get a break with a bounce, but worked hard to get it.

Nate Thompson carried the puck up ice and battled through two Blackhawks, then managed to get a shot off. Andrew Cogliano crashed the net and had the puck go off his skate and past goaltender Corey Crawford.

Blackhawks 2, Ducks 0 (6:19 first period)

The Ducks might want to stay out of the penalty box. Two Chicago power plays, two Chicago goals.

Marian Hossa gets credit for the goal with the Ducks’ Clayton Stoner in the box for cross-checking. An assist to the Ducks’ Simon Despres who knocked the puck into the net after Hossa touched it.

Stoner has made two gaffes. He was out-worked in front of the net on the Blackhawks’ first goal and was a spectator from the box on the second.

It’s the first time in the Stanley Cup playoffs that the Ducks have allowed more than one power play goal.

Blackhawks 1, Ducks 0 (2:14 first period)

The Blackhawks wasted little time.

With the Ducks’ Patrick Maroon in the penalty box for boarding, the Blackhawks power play converted. Jonathan Toews let loose a shot from the blue line and Andrew Shaw redirected past goaltender Frederik Andersen. Shaw out-battled the Ducks’ Clayton Stoner at the goal crease to get to the puck.