at , 8 p.m. ET, NBC, Game 4Ducks lead series 2-1This is the time of year where "must-win" gets thrown around a lot. It's only really true when a team is facing elimination. With the Chicago Blackhawks face the po sibility of falling behind in the Western Conference finals 3-1 to an Anaheim Ducks squad that has been mostly lights out on home ice, this is close. Without a win in Game 4, the Blackhawks would be required to win three straight, two of them at Honda Center. It wouldn't be impo sible, but it's not exactly a recipe for succe s.If you stop to think about it, the Ducks are a couple of posts and cro sbars Game 2 away from a 3-0 lead in this series. There's no doubt Anaheim can not only hang with Chicago, but you could also make an argument that they've been the better team for the bulk of this series through three Stanley Johnson Jersey games and not just because they've won two of three.However, in order to take a 3-1 series lead on the Blackhawks, the Ducks have to try to pull off back-to-back wins at the United Center. Saturday night, they should be seeing a much more desperate Blackhawks team lining up acro s from them, which is going to make accomplishing that goal tougher. In Game 3, the Ducks sat back a bit and committed to stopping Chicago's transition and clogging up the defensive zone. It was a strategy that ended up paying off, but it wouldn't be wise to expect that brand of hockey to work all the time. At least not against a team with as many offensive weapons as Chicago. That said, it has been a system that has put goaltender in a great position to close the door.A lot of the shots Chicago took in the third period Thursday with the Ducks clinging to a 2-1 lead came from the outside. When they did manage to break through and get some chances from in tight or from the slot, Andersen was there. Having a good goaltender as the last layer of your defense goes such a long way and Andersen has been outstanding in these playoffs.We'll have to see what kind of lineup changes the Blackhawks make. Their forward lines were thrown in a blender in Game 3 after Joel Quenneville decied to sit and in favor of and . It would seem prudent to expect another reshuffling in Game 4 after the forward lines looked a bit out of sorts. Chicago also recalled Trevor van Riemsdyk, who has been nursing injuries after a promising debut with the Blackhawks earlier in the season. He is not expected to play in Game 4, but if he becomes available in this series, the Blackhawks' depleted defense could get a nice boost in terms of depth. From one game to the next, you really never know what to expect in this series. That has only increased the entertainment value as two of the cla s teams in the West this season square off. From line matchups to momentum swings and everything in between, these games have been close to call. It's hard to imagine the Blackhawks losing two straight on United Center ice, even though we should know it's po sible given the Ducks' performance of late.Pick: Blackhawks 3, Ducks 2Three stars1. , Chicago Blackhawks: In the only game the Blackhawks won in this series, Crawford stood on his head. They'll need another big performance from their goaltender as they look to even the series. Crawford has a .939 save percentage in this series and .926 mark in the playoffs overall. With Chicago's defense in the shape it is in, Crawford is going to be tested. If he's sharp, the Blackhawks have a chance.2. , Chicago Brandon Ingram Jersey Blackhawks: Not a lot has been made about Toews having just one a sist in this series, but the Blackhawks clearly need more production from their captain. Coming into the series, Toews had 11 points in 10 games. Making plays when he gets more favorable matchups, considering how well has played him, is probably the best way for Toews to make an impact on the scoreboard. 3. , Anaheim Ducks: This series has been a breakout moment for Fowler, who has already played five years in the league even though he's only 23. The young defenseman has been playing well at both ends of the ice. Fowler has two a sists in the series and has averaged over 22 minutes per game in the postseason.
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