NHL Playoffs 2015: Latest Stanley Cup Standings, Predictions and Key Storylines

This time, the Anaheim Ducks did not fall short in overtime.

After losing in triple overtime in Game 2 and double overtime in Game 4, the Ducks took advantage of an early turnover in overtime by the Chicago Blackhawks and won the pivotal Game 5 when Matt Beleskey converted a Ryan Kesler rebound and scored 45 seconds into the extra session.

"It looked like they were in the middle of a change, and we caught them off guard," Kesler told NHL.com reporter Corey Masisak. "It was a pad pass right to [Beleskey], and he buried it. It's a big goal for this team."

The Ducks have a chance to clinch the Western Conference Final in Chicago on Wednesday night. That's the same situation the Tampa Bay Lightning find themselves in against the New York Rangers Tuesday night as they return home for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final.

The Rangers are not going to go quietly. They have proven their resiliency in the past two playoff seasons, and they have a sensational goaltender in Henrik Lundqvist who will not let adversity stand in his way.

Matchup	Series Standings	Last Game
New York Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning	Tampa Bay, 3-2	Tampa Bay 2, N.Y. Rangers 0
Anaheim Ducks vs. Chicago Blackhawks	Anaheim, 3-2	Anaheim 5, Chicago 4 (OT)

Game 6: New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning, May 26

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

The Lightning played a sensational road game in beating the Rangers 2-0 in Game 5 Sunday night. The loss hurt the Rangers badly, but they have shown they can come back after falling behind.

New York overcame 3-1 deficits against Pittsburgh in last year's playoffs and this year against the Capitals. They have proven that they can play well when their backs are against the wall.

Even though Ben Bishop recorded a shutout in Game 5, he has looked quite shaky at times throughout the series. The Rangers scored 10 goals against him in the two earlier games in Tampa, so they should feel confident against him.

Rangers forward Carl Hagelin told NHL.com's Dan Rosen that Bishop is "hopefully filled with doubt right now."

Look for Derek Stepan and Chris Kreider to lead the New York attack, but head coach Alain Vigneault would like to see Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis get back on the scoreboard. Both scored in Game 4, and if either one or both can score here, it would help the Rangers' cause.

While Steven Stamkos is hot for the Lightning with four goals in his last four playoff games, look for Lundqvist to come up with a huge game here as the Rangers stay alive.

Prediction: New York Rangers 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 2

Game 6: Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks, May 27

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

The Ducks were in danger of falling into a deep funk after blowing a two-goal lead late in the third period in Game 5 that allowed the Blackhawks to send the game into overtime.

The Blackhawks had won all four of their previous overtime games during the postseason, but the Ducks emerged with the win when Matt Beleskey banged home a Ryan Kesler rebound at the 45-second mark of the extra session.

That goal has put the Ducks in a position to win the series Wednesday night. While the Ducks will have nothing but good feelings until they take the ice at the United Center, don't think for a second that the Blackhawks are going to die easily.

Not with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith and Corey Crawford on their side. The Blackhawks have been through too many difficult situations, and they will be ready to play a must-win game at home.

The Ducks are the bigger, stronger and healthier team, but if they give the Blackhawks the first goal, they will lose. 

Look for the Ducks to play a sensational road game, but the Blackhawks will survive and send this series to a decisive seventh game.

Prediction: Chicago Blackhawks 3, Anaheim Ducks 2 

Key Storylines

Will the Rangers bounce back from a lackluster Game 5 and play with desperation in Tampa?

While the Lightning played well in all aspects of the game in New York, the Rangers could not match their urgency. Head coach Alain Vigneault cannot allow that to happen in Game 6. With New York's season on the line, the Rangers should come up with their best effort here.

Is Anaheim's size and strength too much for Chicago at this point?

The Ducks continue to outhit the Blackhawks in every game (41-23 in Game 5), and that is a key factor that has helped the Ducks gain a 3-2 advantage to this point in the series. The analysts have been pointing at Chicago's lack of depth on defense as a decisive factor in the series, but the Blackhawks are an overtime goal away from holding a 3-2 lead. The Ducks' physical play gives them an advantage, but the Blackhawks have too much talent and resolve for it to be the decisive factor.

How will Lundqvist play for the Rangers?

Lundqvist is often considered to be the best goalie in the league, and the Rangers certainly have confidence in him. However, he gave up six goals in back-to-back games earlier in the series, and he has struggled against the Lightning. Still, he knows how to perform in the biggest games, and he should be ready to play his best game of the series.

Will the first goal prove to be decisive in Game 6 between the Ducks and the Blackhawks?

While three of the first five games in the Western Conference Final have gone into overtime, the team that scored the first goal has gone on to win each game of the series. The team that has gotten out in front has played with confidence throughout, and while the trailing team has been able to come back, the early momentum has proved decisive. Look for that trend to hold in Game 6.