Frederik Andersen's save on Patrick Kane a game-changer
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Patrick Kane just doesn't miss shots like this.
Give the Hawks' winger a nearly wide-open net with time to wheel and deal, and he'll bury it 99 out of 100 times.
Unfortunately for Hawks fans, the one miss came when Anaheim goalie Frederik Andersen made a ridiculous, diving, please-let-the-puck-hit-my-stick save just over five minutes into Game 1 of the Western Conference finals Sunday afternoon.
It was by far the most spectacular of Andersen's 32 stops during the Ducks' 4-1 victory.
"He picked up a loose puck and I didn't really see how much time he had in the beginning," Andersen said. "I played aggressive, but he was patient and tried to get me moving laterally. I knew I had to throw my stick over and take away as much of the net as I could.
"Luckily, he hit the stick."
As the puck was flying toward the net, a group of about 15 Blackhawks fans seated in the front rows of the Honda Center leaped to their feet in what turned out to be a premature celebration. Kane had another excellent chance early in the second period, but he was thwarted when a diving Simon Despres poke-checked the puck away.
Andersen is easily the goalie with the least name recognition among the four netminders remaining in the playoffs. After allowing just 1 goal Sunday, he now sports a .930 save percentage in the postseason.
"I think he's getting more confidence," Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. "He's played through two rounds now and he's seen the pressure that comes with it. He's had a long time to get ready for this game. He was very good, I mean our goaltender was very good tonight."
The only goal by the Hawks came after Brad Richards stole a clearing attempt by defenseman Francois Beauchemin and beat Andersen with 40 seconds remaining in the second period to cut Anaheim's lead to 2-1.
"It seems like we've got a good chance to score and he gets a leg or stick on it," Kane said. "We knew that was the scouting report on him. We've just got to bear down a little bit more on those opportunities."