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ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — After 17 grueling periods crammed into just four games over the previous week, the Anaheim Ducks have no doubt they can play at hockey's highest level with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Heading into a pivotal Game 5 on Monday in the Western Conference finals, the Ducks also realize their two gut-wrenching overtime losses were missed opportunities to take out their veteran, playoff-tested opponents — and they can't afford two more.
Chicago evened the series at two games apiece on Saturday night with Antoine Vermette's goal in double overtime. The 5-4 win was the Blackhawks' fourth OT victory of an increasingly charmed postseason.
Anaheim still hasn't lost in regulation in the entire Stanley Cup playoffs, but Chicago has a knack for big moments that the Ducks haven't matched in this series.
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