The Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks are playing live on the NHL playoffs schedule on Tuesday night and the Game 2 matchup from the Honda Center is on the NBC Sports Network and NBCSN Live Extra website at 9 pm ET as the Ducks look to keep the lead after winning the first game and they are up 1-0 as Corey Perry, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane take the ice.
The Blackhawks come in looking to steal a game from the Ducks after losing 4-1 in the first matchup between the teams. The Blackhawks have been to the conference finals numerous times over the last five years and they are looking to get to the Stanley Cup once again after winning a couple years ago. The team fell to the Kings in the conference finals last year in seven games and now they are into the west finals again, this time with the Kings not even making the playoffs.
The Ducks were the top seed in the west and they are looking to make a deep run and they have the players for it. The team is getting great production from its stars with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf among the leaders in playoff scoring. Perry has 15 points and seven goals to lead his team, while Getzlaf has 11 assists in the postseason. The Blackhawks have been getting strong play from Kane, who is tops with 13 points and seven goals, while Duncan Keith has eight assists.
The Ducks have Ryan Kesler banged up after he missed practice to rest but he should be ready to go for the game on Tuesday. Brad Richards scored the lone goal for the Blackhawks in the first game and the Ducks were able to get things going without getting any goals from their top two players. The Ducks need the supporting cast to step up and that was one of the main issues for the team over the past few years.
On the other side of the playoffs bracket the Tampa Bay Lightning are tied 1-1 with the New York Rangers after a blowout win in Game 2. The Rangers were sloppy after winning game 1 by the score of 2-1 and now the series is tied 1-1 heading into Game 3 in Florida. The series has plenty of intrigue with former captains Martin St. Louis and Ryan Callahan facing their old teams following their trade last year.
These two teams are considered to be the best in the west. The Blackhawks penalty kill has been terrible and the Ducks power play has been great and that could be key for this series.
Check here for the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks live coverage.
