Get ready for tonight’s Game 7 between the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks with this pregame stats primer, courtesy of our friends at NHL.com.
It’s an in-depth look at each team’s Game 7 records, with some fascinating stats mixed in.
Enjoy!
STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS: | Broadcast Schedule
Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE | Stanley Cup Playoffs Fantasy Hockey
New Sportsnet app: iTunes | Google Play
Ducks vs. Blackhawks
– Both Anaheim and Chicago are contesting their first Game 7 since being eliminated (at home) by the Stanley Cup champion Kings last year – the Ducks in Game 7 of the Second Round (6-2 L) and the Blackhawks in Game 7 of the Western Conference Final (5-4 OT L).
– The Ducks are playing their third Game 7 in as many seasons; they also lost (at home) to the Red Wings in the 2013 Western Conference Quarterfinals (3-2 L). The Blackhawks are playing their fourth Game 7 in the past five seasons; each of the past three has required overtime – also in the 2013 Western Conference Semifinals vs. DET (2-1 OT W) and the 2011 Western Conference Quarterfinals at VAN (2-1 OT L).
– Blackhawks forward Brad Richards owns a perfect 7-0 record in seven career Game 7s (5 w/ NYR, 2 w/ TBL). In the 2014 Second Round at PIT (w/ NYR), his last such appearance, Richards scored the decisive goal to become the second player in NHL history to win seven consecutive Game 7s (at any point in a career). The other to do so: Red Kelly, who posted a perfect 7-0 record in seven career Game 7s (and is now joined by Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman at 7-0). The only players who have earned more career Game 7 victories: Glenn Anderson and Ray Bourque, each with eight.
– The Ducks are 2-4 in six all-time Game 7s (1-2 at home). Three of those contests have featured a shutout: in the 1997 Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. PHX (3-0 W), the 2003 Stanley Cup Final at NJD (3-0 L) and the 2006 Western Conference Quarterfinals at CGY (3-0 W).
– The Blackhawks are 6-6 in 12 all-time Game 7s (1-3 on the road). Their lone such win on the road was in the 1965 Semifinals, when they beat the Red Wings 4-2 before ultimately losing to the Canadiens in seven games in the Stanley Cup Final (4-0 L at MTL in Game 7).
Game 7 experience
– The Ducks have a combined 36 games of Game 7 experience; the Blackhawks have a combined 64 games of Game 7 experience.
– Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa leads all participating players with eight career Game 7 appearances (2-6). Hossa (0-5—5) and teammate Brad Richards (2-3—5 in 7 GP) also pace all participating players with five career points in Game 7s.
– Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford has played in three career Game 7s – all of which have gone to overtime. He owns a 1-2 record with a 2.47 goals-against average and .918 save percentage in those contests.
– Ducks goaltender Frederik Andersen will be making his Game 7 debut. His backup, John Gibson, stopped 14 shots in the team’s Game 7 loss in the 2014 Second Round vs. LAK.
– Bruce Boudreau (ANA) will be coaching his seventh career Game 7 (1-5), while Joel Quenneville (CHI) also will be making his seventh such appearance behind the bench (2-4) – four of those games have required overtime (2-2).
Game 7 trends
– Home teams are 94-66 (.588) in 160 all-time Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a 3-1 record this year.
– The club that scores first is 118-42 (.738) in Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a 3-1 clip this year.
– Forty Game 7s in Stanley Cup Playoffs history have required overtime (40-of-160, 25.0%). Home and road teams both have 20 wins in those contests. The Ducks have never gone to overtime in any of their six all-time Game 7 appearances; the Blackhawks have needed overtime in three straight Game 7s (1-2) after not playing one such contest in their first nine all-time Game 7s.
