The Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks take the ice for their first-ever meeting in the playoffs on Sunday after combining for only three losses in two rounds of postseason action.
The Blackhawks have been off since May 7, while the Ducks haven't played since May 10, so both teams are rested and raring to go.
| Game | Time |
|---|---|
| Blackhawks @ Ducks | 3 p.m. ET |
Here's what you need to know before the puck drops:
Perry is feeling great
In the final game of Round 2 between the Ducks and the Calgary Flames, forward Corey Perry suffered a lower-body injury. Despite coming back to score the series-clinching overtime goal in Game 5, rumors surrounding his health swirled.
Perry addressed the media Saturday and put all those rumors to rest.
"I feel great. I feel fine on the ice," Perry said. "Everything went well the last couple days. I got no injuries."
That is not the news Blackhawks fans were hoping to hear, as the 30-year-old leads the NHL in playoff scoring with seven goals and 15 points in nine games.
Special teams could benefit Ducks
The Ducks are rocking the best power play this postseason at an impressive 31 percent success rate. Although the Blackhawks have the second best power play of the remaining four teams - fifth including eliminated teams - they're firing at a rate of just 20 percent.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks' penalty kill ranks as the 12th best this postseason, but the worst among remaining teams at 72.7 percent.
If the Blackhawks want to push through to the next round, these are two parts of their game they are going to need to improve.
Kane and Sharp, Duck hunters
The Blackhawks edged the Ducks in the season series, taking two of the three games and outscoring the Ducks 8-3.
In those games, forward Patrick Kane had four goals and an assist, while Patrick Sharp had four assists despite playing in only two games.
Kane scored two goals in each of the Blackhawks' 4-1 wins and Sharp had four assists in the team's Jan. 30 game.
The Ducks will have to keep an eye on these two names, especially Kane, who sits just two points behind Perry for top spot in playoff scoring, while Sharp has four goals and nine points in 10 games during this postseason.
