Game 6 prep sheet: Blackhawks vs. Ducks

The Blackhawks mounted a two-goal comeback late in the third but Anaheim's Matt Beleskey ended it in OT in just 45 seconds to get the Ducks a 5-4 win.

CHICAGO — The big story heading into Game 6 — far more than who will play on Chicago’s woeful third defensive pair — is Anaheim’s goaltending. Can Frederik Andersen rebound from his first truly bad outing of the playoffs?

“I played a great year and have a good playoffs so far,” Andersen said, addressing his shaky Game 5 performance. “I’m not getting down on myself because of two goals that I let in. I’m more of a pro than that. To get down on myself after that … I still got the win so I’m happy about that.”

We’ve seen Chicago goalie Corey Crawford turn in a bad effort, then bounce back and regain his form the next time out, but this is uncharted territory for Andersen. And you can bet the Blackhawks will be liberal with their shot selection, especially early in Game 6.

“I think in the last couple of games maybe I think we’ve been getting to him a little bit better,” said Chicago captain Jonathan Toews. “He’s made a lot of great saves and some of the goals that we’ve scored we really had to earn against him, but I think to a certain degree we want to feel that maybe we’ve broken through and opened the gates a little bit.”

You know Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau lost some sleep last night, considering backup John Gibson hasn’t played a game since April 3.

“It’s a completely new game. I don’t think I need to prove anything,” Andersen said. “I just know that I’ll be better and I’ll focus the way I need to. I don’t worry about you [media] guys. I just want to win. That’s what I’m here to do right now.”

Said Boudreau: “During the course of the season, if he’s had a bad game, the next game has been really good. I have no qualms about Freddie. I like the fact he’s going back in. We trust him. He’s going to play real good tonight.”


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Tire fire

By far the biggest disparity in this series has been depth on defence. Anaheim has plenty of it, while Chicago does not.

In Game 6, in a move that defines “shuffling the deck chair on the Titanic,” it appears Chicago will insert David Rundblad back into the lineup in place of Kimmo Timonen. This will only be the second start for Rundblad this spring.

“It could happen,” said the ever-revealing Quenneville.

It’s amazing how one deadline deal and a couple of injuries can leave a team weak at a crucial time like this. The Blackhawks chose Timonen over a few other defencemen at the trade deadline, and his game has just not rebounded from all that time missed with blood clots in his legs. Then Michael Rozsival goes down in Game 4 of their series versus Minnesota, they get a couple of injuries on the farm, and now the Blackhawks are perilously skinny on the back end.

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Bickell struggles

Bryan Bickell has been a huge disappointment for the Blackhawks in these playoffs, with zero goals through the first three rounds.

Where did his game go?

“He hasn’t had the finish he’s had other playoff years,” said Quenneville.

No kidding.

Remember the run Bickell had in the spring of 2013, with 9-8-17 in 23 games, helping Chicago to their second Stanley Cup this decade? He was a force; that big man with hands that every team craves.

Then he signed a four-year, $16 million deal. Now, the only big man he reminds anyone of is (gulp) Dustin Penner.

“I think physically he had some hits,” Quenneville said. “He’s got some pace to his game. The finish has been not where we’d like it, but at least he’s been involved.

All of that for an annual average value of $4 million.

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Notes and quotes

How good has Anaheim been this post-season? They haven’t lost in regulation time as of yet, and their 11-3 record ties the mark held by the 1979 Rangers, for whom Columbus Blue Jackets president John Davidson minded the nets … There are two days off scheduled between tonight and Saturday’s Game 7 in Anaheim, should it be required. The Blackhawks will fly into Anaheim Thursday afternoon, if need be … Johnny Oduya on an elimination game in Chitown tonight: “You have to like these games. I think everything is on the line. There’s nothing to save it for. There’s a lot of guys in here I think that step up and play their best hockey.”

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