Chicago Blackhawks top Anaheim Ducks after triple overtime
It was only fitting that the Blackhawks would win the longest game in the storied 84-year history of the franchise.
Marcus Kruger deflected in a shot by Brent Seabrook in the third overtime to give the Blackhawks victory and tie the Western Conference finals at 1-1.
Chicago now hold home-ice advantage for the next two games on Thursday and Saturday.
The Blackhawks were at times overmatched by the Ducks, getting pounded into the boards early and often.
The Ducks out-hit the Blackhawks 71 to 45 in the game, matching their hard-hitting intensity of their game one victory.
Yet in the end, the Blackhawks had goalie Corey Crawford, and that is all they needed.
Crawford stepped up time and time again to save the day, collecting 60 saves.
Anaheim goaltender Frederik Andersen was equally impressive, posting 53 saves.
The Blackhawks came out firing in game two.
Chicago had three shots on goal in the first minute, then netted the first goal just two minutes, 14 seconds in when Andrew Shaw redirected a shot by Duncan Keith past Andersen on a power-play.
Chicago added another power-play score four minutes later on a goal by Marian Hossa, who got a little help when the Ducks' Simon Despres inadvertently nudged the puck into his own goal as he went to slap it away.
The Ducks took charge after that, scoring their first goal midway through the first period on a deflection by Andrew Cogliano.
The Ducks carried the momentum into the second, outshooting the Blackhawks 19-7.
Corey Perry tied the game when he deflected the puck into the net with 2:30 remaining in the second period. It was his eighth goal of the play-offs.
The Blackhawks rebounded to outshoot the Ducks 9-7 in the scoreless third period, but missed a golden opportunity when Anaheim killed a five-on-three power-play.
Chicago appeared to score the game winner at 11:13 of the second overtime, when Shaw deflected a shot by Patrick Kane into the goal.
But officials waved the goal off after a replay showed Shaw headed the puck into the goal.
Finally Kruger deflected in the game winner at 16:12 of the third overtime.