NHL Three Stars: Getzlaf assists Ducks in Game 3 win; Andersen continues calm play

No. 1 Star: Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks captain came up big in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final, notching two assists in 21:33 of action in the Ducks’ 2-1 win. Getzlaf also won 57 percent of his face-offs. His second assist was a beautiful feed to Simon Despres for the one-timer game-winner. Getzlaf has four points in the three games, all assists.

No. 2 Star, Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks goaltender is having quite the series for himself. He stopped 26 of 27 Chicago shots on goal in Anaheim’s Game 2 win. Andersen currently has a .957 save percentage against the powerful Blackhawks in the three games. For the playoffs he has a 1.75 goals against average and .935 save percentage.

No. 3. Star: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks

The scoring winger finally got himself on the scoresheet with the below beautiful spinning blind backhand goal. Kane also had a glorious chance at the end of regulation of Game 3, but just couldn’t convert. A score would have sent the game into overtime.

Honorable Mention: Anaheim defenseman Despres scored the game-winner at the 19:05 mark of the second period … Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith was a plus-1 in 28:04 of action … Blackhawks forward Brad Richards notched one assist … Ducks forward Patrick Maroon scored the opening goal of the game … Ducks defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Cam Fowler each picked up one assist. 

Did You Know?: Kane’s goal was his 45th of his playoff career. This tied Steve Larmer for fourth on the Blackhawks’ all-time list.  

Dishonorable Mention: Chicago’s power play was 0-for-5 … Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville’s subs of Joakim Nordstrom and Kris Versteeg for Antoine Vermette and Teuvo Teravainen didn’t work out. Both were held pointless and Nordstrom was a minus-1 … Not to keep piling on Quenneville, but his use of defensemen Kyle Cumiskey and Kimmo Timonen remained puzzling. Cumiskey played 8:51 and Timonen 6:50. 

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