Bad habits doom Ducks in Game 6 loss to Blackhawks

The Western Conference Final is tied 3-3 after the Anaheim Ducks fell 5-2 to the Blackhawks on Wednesday night at the United Center in Chicago.

But here's the good news: After each loss in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Anaheim Ducks have won the games that followed. So, recent history would indicate that they will, in fact, win Game 7 in Anaheim. Though, past history might not indicate that same outcome because Ducks cach Bruce Boudreau has never won a Game 7.

The Ducks have been rewriting history throughout the entire postseason. They have one more game to finish up this chapter, and the way they see it, they're the ones doing the writing -- not the Blackhawks.

"It's one game for the Stanley Cup. I'm excited about it," Boudreau told reporters in Chicago. "I mean, I'd rather have done it in six. I think when you sit down and think that you've got one chance to go play for the Stanley Cup, and it's one game in your home building, with your fans, I got to believe that both teams are going to play their best game of the series."

Still, there's that tinge of "what if?"

The Ducks gave up three quick goals in a second period that ultimately doomed their efforts. A bad habit from the regular season came back to haunt them, they struggled to get the puck out of their own zone during the long change and were sloppy through the neutral zone.

"With the long change, we got to realize and take care of each other when we do have the chance to get it deep," Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen said. "We can make sure to get a change and get fresh people in there. We didn't do that. But we came back. We still believed. With that great goal by (Patrick Maroon) there, we still had a chance. We were close but not close enough."

The Ducks let the game get away from them. Although they've been masterful at comebacks in the past, they were gripping their sticks a little too tight.

"I thought the tension was there a little bit," Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf said. "It started with me. I was terrible tonight. That's on me. I've got to be better. I've got to calm our group down as we go."

The Anaheim leadership core, led by Getzlaf, has been influential throughout the entire postseason run in keeping the group together. But when the leader is tense, it spreads to the rest of the group.

"It doesn't matter what I say in here if I go out there and play like that," Getzlaf said. "That's on me, to be ready to play and make better plays with the puck."

The rest of the team, however, didn't think it was fair for Getzlaf to shoulder the blame.

This deep into the postseason, your opponent will capitalize on any mistakes. While the Blackhawks may have had a few themselves, their effort was more complete. It takes each man in the lineup to complete the effort, not just the captain.

"It's going to take every guy in the room," said forward Kyle Palmieri. "We just need to go out there and outwork them. It's going to be on our home ice in front of our fans. It's a Game 7 to go to the Stanley Cup Final, so if you don't bring your game then I don't know what to say."

Whatever feelings of tension or nervousness that undid the Ducks in Game 6 are likely to dissipate back on their home ice of the Honda Center. They still believe, and to them, that's the most important factor.

"You play 82 games plus playoffs to get to this point. It's a fun time of year. This group's ready for it. We're ready for the challenge," said center Ryan Kesler. "Resilient group in here. There's a reason why I came to this team. I think they can win. I believe in this team. We're going to give it everything for this Game 7."