Chicago Blackhawks vs. Anaheim Ducks: Preview and Prediction for Game 7

It’s hard to believe the winner of this series isn’t getting handed the Stanley Cup. Instead, the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl will have to do—for now.

The Blackhawks are the star-laden veterans, winners of two of the past five NHL titles. The Ducks are the Kings of California, taking over for the Los Angeles Kings as the Blackhawks’ conference nemesis. They’re deep down the middle. Big. Bruising. Talented.

Three times the Ducks have led the series, but the Blackhawks responded each time to force a winner-take-all scenario.

Hockey doesn't get much better than this.

Blackhawks’ Top Storylines

Duncan Keith does it all

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The defenseman is logging massive minutes because of a serious lack of depth on Chicago's blue line. While doing so, he's absorbing a huge amount of punishment from the aggressive Ducks forecheckers. Still, he seems to be getting better as the series goes on.

Keith contributed three assists while facing elimination in Game 6, helping the Hawks get out to a 3-0 lead. He made a big save to bail out goalie Corey Crawford at the goal line as well with the team clinging to a one-goal lead.

When talking about Conn Smythe candidates as playoff MVP, Keith's name has jumped to the top of the list.

"He's kind of a freak as far as his metabolism and conditioning level," Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville said after Game 6, per NHL.com's Brian Hedger. "I think the more he plays, the more efficient [he gets], [and] the more he gets going. [It's] just certain guys, genetically, aerobically, anaerobically, they can sustain it. He keeps doing it."

Andrew Shaw doesn't play like a fourth-liner

The gritty winger/center was part of the second line with Patrick Kane last season. The team made moves that pushed him down to the third and fourth lines this spring, and the result is bliss for the Blackhawks matchup-wise.

The highly competitive and talented player scored two critical goals in Game 6 and has three goals in the series. He's also earned nine points in the playoffs—four against the Ducks in six games so far.

In Game 6, he gave the Blackhawks some breathing room with the Ducks pressing for the tying goal, outdueling Ryan Getzlaf with the puck and getting off a great backhand shot to make the lead 4-2. Shaw also added an empty-netter to round out the scoring.

He's becoming a difference-maker again at crunch time.

Patrick Sharp's streak in jeopardy

Patrick Sharp has scored a goal in 19 straight best-of-seven playoff series, going back to his rookie year with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2004. But he has yet to record one against the Ducks in the conference final.

He has three assists in six games so far but has just one more shot at extending his impressive streak.

His 52 shots are good for fifth in the playoffs, but his shooting percentage sits at 7.7, which is the second-lowest in his eight springs of postseason hockey.

Ducks’ Top Storylines

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Ryan Getzlaf can't afford another bad game

The Ducks captain was quick to fall on the sword after a brutal Game 6 in which he and his linemates each finished minus-three on the night. Yes, that's one more goal than the Ducks were able to produce in total.

"It started with me," Getzlaf said postgame, as reported by NHL.com's Corey Masisak. "I was terrible tonight and that's on me. I've got to be better and calm our group down as we go.

"I got a little carried away trying to make plays every time I was on the ice instead of just making the right play and I think it carried over to our group somewhat."

Getzlaf is having a career postseason in terms of points with 19 in 15 games—the most points per game of anyone in these playoffs—but was held without a goal or assist for the first time in the series and had a negative plus/minus rating for the first time in the 2015 playoffs.

Ryan Kesler is confident the hits will pay off

The Ducks center sees the physical play throughout the series as an investment in this final game. He's hoping the long-term effects will include fatigue or fear, or both.

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The Ducks have out-hit the Blackhawks 304-209 over the first six games, with the closest physical battle coming in Game 6 with only a 43-38 edge on the hit count.

"Yeah, they're elite players over there. They make plays, they take hits," Kesler said, according to Postmedia News columnist Cam Cole (via the Vancouver Sun). "Saying that, we invested in them the whole series physically for this Game 7, and every hit that we've had—I'm sure you guys will count 'em—it's all going to add up for Game 7."

So far, the Hawks seem to have been able to withstand the punishment without missing a beat.

Game 7s haven't been kind to the Ducks

Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2007, the Ducks have been in three Game 7s. They've lost them all, with two of them coming on home ice.

Last year, they lost to the Los Angeles Kings in the second round. In 2013, the favored Ducks dropped the winner-take-all game against the Detroit Red Wings at the Honda Center in the opening round.

Back in 2009, they also were bounced by the Red Wings in the second round, but that one took place at Joe Louis Arena.

They're staring at a possible playoff exit after winning the pivotal Game 5 of a series and having two cracks to eliminate their competition.

Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau hopes his players had their stinker in Game 6 and will be more focused for Saturday's game.

"I think last year's Game 7, we were a bunch of nervous nellies," Boudreau told reporters following Game 6, per ProHockeyTalk's Jason Brough. "Hopefully that happened in Game 6 and won't carry over to Game 7."

Prediction

Given how great both these teams have been all spring, it's hard to imagine this one not coming down to another epic overtime thriller. The Blackhawks might feel a little more confident, having staved off elimination once already, but the Ducks will focus on regrouping for a much better start in response to probably their worst game of the spring—their only regulation loss since the regular season. The alternating of victories continues.

Ducks 3, Blackhawks 2 (OT)

All statistics via NHL.com

Steve Macfarlane has covered the NHL for more than a decade, including seven seasons following the Calgary Flames for the Calgary Sun. Follow him on Twitter at @macfarlaneHKY.