Three times in the overtime session, the Anaheim Ducks hit the post or crossbar. They were that close from winning Game 2 and taking a 2-0 series lead against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Final.
Unlucky in that sense, the Ducks were also met with a terrific bounce-back goaltending performance from Corey Crawford, who had to make 28 saves combined over three extra periods in Chicago’s Game 2 win that ties this series.
“These are the tough ones, but you shake it off and keep going. I had a few I should have buried,” said Corey Perry, as per the Ducks’ Twitter account.
“That’s hockey. Sometimes those go in and sometimes they don’t. Maybe I’ll change my stick and those will go in,” added Sami Vatanen, who hit the post on two occasions in OT.
But will a loss like this have a psychological impact on the Ducks going forward in this series? NBC’s Keith Jones and Mike Milbury discuss if that could be the case.