Anaheim Ducks Stumble at United Center: Chicago Blackhawks Capitalize on Powerplay
The Anaheim Ducks, with a record of 24-35, faced off against the Chicago Blackhawks, who held a 30-28 record. The final score reflected the dominance of the home team, with the Blackhawks securing a 7-2 victory over the Ducks.
From the initial puck drop at United Center in front of an attendance of 18,017 fans, it was clear that both teams were eager to assert their presence on the ice. The Anaheim Ducks opened their account early in the game by netting a goal during even strength play in the first period. However, this initial surge was met with an equalizing effort from the Chicago Blackhawks who also scored during even strength.
As play progressed into the second period, it became evident that penalties would have a significant impact on this matchup. The Ducks found themselves struggling to maintain discipline as they incurred nine minor penalties and one major penalty throughout the game. This led to six powerplay opportunities for Chicago which they capitalized on by scoring four goals while having an advantage on ice.
Despite being shorthanded multiple times, Anaheim managed to score one shorthanded goal out of their single shot while down a player. Their efforts at even strength yielded one goal from twenty-four shots taken but ultimately fell short against Chicago's defense and goaltending.
The statistics painted a challenging picture for Anaheim as they ended up with only eleven hits compared to fifteen by Chicago and won just eighteen faceoffs out of fifty-two attempts resulting in a faceoff win percentage of thirty-five percent. Additionally, their shooting accuracy stood at seven percent as they made twenty-nine shots but only two found their way past Chicago's goaltender who saved twenty-seven shots throughout sixty minutes.
On defense, Anaheim blocked fourteen attempted shots while giving away possession once and taking away four times from their opponents. Their goaltender faced thirty-one shots and made twenty-four saves; however seven goals conceded reflected difficulties encountered throughout periods where they played without full strength due to penalties.
Looking ahead for fans of Anaheim Ducks is another challenge as they prepare to visit Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul on March 15th. This upcoming game will be available for viewing across various networks including ESPN+ online and BSN or BSWIX or BSW television broadcasts starting from midnight according to Eastern Time Zone schedules.