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Toews, Kane sensational for Blackhawks in Game 6 win

One year later and nothing's changed.

The Blackhawks are once again 1 victory away from the Stanley Cup Final, needing to prevail in a do-or-die Game 7 in the Western Conference finals.

One year after losing in overtime to the Kings, coach Joel Quenneville's squad forced that seventh and deciding game thanks to a convincing 5-2 victory Wednesday night at the United Center.

"I think as a hockey player you want to talk about the cliché of growing up as a kid, playing on the backyard rink, pretending you're playing that Game 7," Jonathan Toews said. "You think of that as the ultimate test for any player to see what you got, to see what you can bring in a high-pressure situation like that."

It will be the Hawks' fourth Game 7 in the last five seasons. They are 1-2, with their victory coming in the 2013 West semis vs. Detroit.

The Hawks got goals from Brandon Saad, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane to build a 3-0 lead, then got 2 huge third-period tallies from Andrew Shaw to pull away after the Ducks had clawed back into the game.

Quenneville knew there was no tomorrow if the Hawks lost, so he moved Kane up to the top line about 10 minutes into the first period, pairing him with Toews and Saad.

And the results were electric.

"When you have two amazing players like (Toews and Kane) playing together, good things can happen," Shaw said. "They're both competitive, they both work hard, and they both can make plays. … It's one of those duos you like to have on your side."

Saad, Hossa and Kane scored over a 3-minute, 45-second span of the second period to make it 3-0. The tireless Duncan Keith assisted on each of those goals, only increasing his Conn Smythe Trophy candidacy for playoff MVP if the Hawks go all the way.

Anaheim fought back, making it 3-2 early in the third period, but Shaw provided a huge insurance goal with 3:32 remaining after a nifty pass from Andrew Desjardins, and he added an empty-netter with 49 seconds on the clock.

"Massive goal by Shawzie," said Corey Crawford, who stopped 30 of 32 shots. "Great backhand, top corner there. It was, I would say, our biggest one of the year."

The Hawks have clearly figured out Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen, who allowed 5 goals in the first three games but has given up 13 in the last three.

On the Hawks' first goal, Keith threaded the needle to Kane, who tipped the puck to Saad, and the 22-year-old phenom was off to the races. He zipped the puck past Andersen for a 1-0 Hawks lead.

Kane's eyes were opened up on that play to something the Hawks may be able to take advantage of in Game 7.

"I think that's a play we can use a little bit," Kane said. "They like to step up in the neutral zone, so if we can hit that middle guy and maybe defer to someone with speed like Saader, he might have the chance to go in (and score)."

The Ducks admitted they didn't play nearly well enough to keep up with the desperate Hawks. But that doesn't mean they're not confident heading home. "It's why we play 82 games, so we can go home and take care of business," Ryan Kesler said.

The Hawks, however, might have something to say about that.

"It was do or die tonight," Saad said. "We knew we had to compete and it's going to be even tougher in their building. I think we're all looking forward to coming home with a win."

• Follow John's Hawks reports on Twitter @johndietzdh.

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