Blackhawks vs. Ducks: Game 7 Score and Twitter Reaction from 2015 NHL Playoffs

Jonathan Toews' playoff legend continues to grow as the 27-year-old scored two goals Saturday night, propelling the Chicago Blackhawks to a 5-3 road win over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 7 of the Western Conference Final.

The Blackhawks are the closest team approaching a dynasty in today's NHL. They'll now look to win their third Stanley Cup in six seasons following the victory. ESPN's John Buccigross didn't beat around the bush when analyzing where this Chicago team sits in the grand scheme of things:

Toews will get a lot of credit for the win, but Duncan Keith is someone who can't be overlooked for the Blackhawks. The veteran defenseman has been one of Chicago's best players, and he picked up two more assists in Game 7. NHL on NBC posted the numbers from his incredible postseason to date:

Saturday's game offered the Ducks a chance to advance to their third Stanley Cup Final in franchise history. Although Anaheim last won a title in 2007, success hasn't come easy for the Ducks over the years. Since entering the league in 1993, they've made the playoffs 11 times. In seven of those appearances—including its previous five trips—Anaheim exited in the first or second round.

Anaheim center Ryan Kesler knew exactly what was on the line and how opportunities like this don't come along often.

"I know this team can win," he said before the game, per Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register. "You know, obviously when you get a taste of the Stanley Cup Final (and) you get that close, you want to be back. I think we all know careers don't last forever. You only get a kick at the can a couple times. That's why." 

The defeat will be a bitter pill to swallow for Kesler, his teammates and every Ducks fan. You can't ask for much more than having a Game 7 at home in the conference final. However, ESPN Stats & Info highlighted how playing at home in a series-decider has been the kiss of death for Anaheim lately:

What will make the loss even tougher is how thoroughly Anaheim was outclassed right from the start of the game. The Ducks enjoyed all of two minutes and 23 seconds before they were looking at a 1-0 deficit.

Toews poked home a rebound off a shot from Niklas Hjalmarsson for the opener. Patrick Kane did well to move the puck up the ice, attract the defense's attention and open up space for Toews in front of goal.

NHL Network's Andi Petrillo felt Hjalmarsson played the biggest role in the goal:

A little over nine minutes later, Toews doubled Chicago's lead. With the Ducks down a man on the penalty kill, the Blackhawks exposed the Anaheim defense with pinpoint passing and great spacing. Eventually, Toews was left alone for too long, and he ripped a slap shot past Frederik Andersen.

According to the NHL, Toews made history with the goal:

With Anaheim reeling, Chicago went in for the kill in the second period.

Goals from Brandon Saad and Marian Hossa made it a 4-0 game 13:45 into the period.

The buildup to Saad's goal was much better than the goal itself. Johnny Oduya made a great play to chip the puck out to Kane, who found Saad for the tap-in.

There was some question as to whether Hossa's goal should've actually counted. The puck went in off of the Slovakian's skate, and the video goal judge looked at the replays to determine whether Hossa made a distinct kicking motion to guide the puck into the net.

Ultimately, the goal stood, leading Sportsnet's Mark Spector to quip that there was only one "distinct kicking motion" that mattered:

The efficient nature with which the Blackhawks carved open the Ducks was something to behold. Chicago needed just 13 shots to score the opening four goals. Its attacking moves were incisive and deadly, and when the Blackhawks play like that, they're nearly impossible to beat.

Kesler got a goal back for Anaheim with 1:09 left in the second period to breathe some life into the Ducks.

Corey Perry scored to make it a 4-2 game with 8:24 remaining in the third, but Brent Seabrook canceled out the tally roughly two minutes later to put the final nail in the coffin for Anaheim.

Matt Beleskey scored for the Ducks with under a minute to play, but Chicago still held a 5-3 advantage. It proved to be nothing more than a consolation goal.

One of the more impressive aspects of Chicago's performance was how it looked wholly unaffected by all the punishment it suffered throughout the series. The Ducks weren't afraid to get physical in the first six games, and after a while, you would've expected that to have some sort of impact on the Blackhawks players.

Instead, as the Chicago Sun-Times' Mark Lazerus joked, the team looks to be comprised of the undead:

Even Gordon Bombay himself grudgingly accepted that Chicago was the better team:

"

Well played, Hawks! Good luck in The Cup! @AnaheimDucks @NHL #CoachBombay

— Emilio Estevez (@EMILIOTHEWAY) May 31, 2015"

The best thing for the Blackhawks right now is that they get a few days off. The Stanley Cup Final begins on June 3, so Chicago will have a little bit of time to rest and recuperate before it faces off against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The two teams split their two regular-season meetings and match up very evenly.

One of the top tasks on the Blackhawks' to-do list will be shutting down Tampa Bay's second line of Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov. Those three have wreaked havoc on opponents during the postseason. If Chicago can neutralize that trio, the Stanley Cup will be well within reach.