Overtime is winning time for Blackhawks

Postseason greetings from the Blackhawks usually haven't been received warmly by opponents, especially when it comes to overtime.

Antoine Vermette's goal in the second overtime of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals Saturday moved the Hawks to 4-0 in overtime games during the playoffs this season. The Blackhawks are the first team in NHL history to win four multiple-overtime playoff games in one year, per Elias Sports Bureau.

"We need to bypass the first three periods and just play OT, it seems," Blackhawks winger Bryan Bickell joked Sunday before the team left for Anaheim, Calif.

Twelve players on the roster have combined to score 20 overtime playoff goals in their careers. Patrick Kane leads the way with four, followed by Brent Seabrook (three), Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa and Bickell with two each.

Kane's goal, his ninth of the playoffs, tied the score 4-4 when Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen fell bottom-first on the puck, pushing it across the line in the third. This after the Blackhawks gave up three goals in 37 seconds to cough up a 3-1 lead.

The Blackhawks have made themselves at home on the edge and defied logic in the process. Five times they have allowed three unanswered goals in a period this postseason; three times they have won those games.

"We try not to live and die with every play, but play the same way no matter what the score and no matter what happens throughout a game," Kane said. "It seems like we've been in this situation a lot. We just try to stay calm and try to do whatever we can to get the next one."

If history is indicative of their story, the Blackhawks have the Ducks right where they want them tied 2-2.

The Hawks never have lost a postseason game under Joel Quenneville after being tied 2-2 in a playoff series, going 14-0 in such instances.

"Our mindset is staying with it (and) somebody will ... make a great play," Quenneville said. "But then again you don't want to be too in a hurry to make that play because sometimes that can bite you. Being patient."

Saturday's was the franchise's 30th home playoff victory in overtime, fourth all time in NHL history. That includes 17 at the United Center and 13 at Chicago Stadium.

The Ducks have not lost a playoff game in regulation this year as they head home to the Honda Center for Game 5 on Monday.

If it goes overtime, the Blackhawks likely will stick to their game plan.

"The talk is always pretty similar when we go into overtime, whether it's the first overtime, third overtime, whatever the situation we might find ourselves in," Toews said. "We just keep going. It's just a feeling we're eventually going to find that break. We've seen it so far. Hopefully we can continue to work for those bounces."

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