Chicago's Marcus Kruger scored deep into the third period of overtime to secure a 3-2 win against Anaheim on Tuesday in the longest game in Blackhawks 89-year history, squaring their NHL Western Conference finals series at 1-1.
Kruger batted home Brent Seabrook's shot 16:12 into the third OT; a full 110 minutes after the second of their goals in regulation.
"I got lucky," Kruger said. "Happy to see that go in."
Andrew Shaw and Marian Hossa scored power-play goals in the opening minutes, but Chicago couldn't score again until Kruger got in front of the net and forced a ricochet past Ducks goaltender Frederik Andersen, who made a career-high 53 saves.
The Blackhawks celebrated with more relief than excitement, realising they only had about 42 hours until the puck drops for game three in Chicago on Thursday.
"I just hope we don't have any more like that," Shaw said. "This helps us, and showed us what can happen if we keep sticking to it and competing. We'll find a way to win."
The game was the 17th-longest in NHL history, and the longest since 2008.
Shaw attempted to end it during a power play 8:47 into the second overtime by knocking a high-arching rebound of Patrick Kane's shot into the net with his helmet in a stunning soccer-style play, but the goal was illegal.
The officials briefly conferred before waving it off; NHL rules prohibit players from deliberately knocking the puck into the net with anything except their sticks.
"I tried to sell it as much as I could," Shaw said. "I was just out there using my head."
Andrew Coligano and Corey Perry scored for the Ducks, who suffered their first home loss in seven games, missing numerous chances to end it.
"There were a few posts, a few crossbars," Perry said. "It's a tough one to swallow, but you get right back at it, put it behind you and get ready for the next one."
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