The Chicago Blackhawks will play the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday in Game 1 of their NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2015 series. Both teams will know how important it is for them to claim the win in Game 1 and get their noses out in front, and both will be giving their all as a place in the Stanley Cup Final is up for grabs for the winner of this series.
Today's game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Anaheim Ducks has a scheduled start time of 3 p.m. ET and takes place from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
The game will be broadcast on TV on the NBC network, but can also be watched online through live stream via the link provided below.
Even though these two teams are among the most successful NHL sides over the past decade, this will be the first time they have met in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and it should be an intriguing affair.
Game 1 of this Western Conference Final will see both teams come back after extended breaks. Chicago managed to get nine days off without playing, after sweeping the Minnesota Wild in the second round. The Ducks, meanwhile, managed to win their series against the Calgary Flames in just five games and have had six days since they last played.
It may seem strange for teams to complain at having longer breaks at this stage of the season, however, when the time off extends to about a week or longer, there is a certain amount of anxiety that can set in that rust can set in, and any momentum the team has built up could be lost.
Anaheim right wing Corey Perry has said, "It's great to have a rest, but the boys are anxious. I think everybody's ready to just get going again. I know the crowd [Sunday] is going to be exciting. We love playing there and we love being in front of our fans, and they do give us a boost."
Ryan Getzlaf, the Ducks' captain, added, "It's been a long time coming. Obviously we've had breaks toward the end of the year [and] during each of the playoffs. It's much-needed.
"You have time to rest your body, but we've done two of the last three days, preparation, and now we're just waiting for [Sunday]."
Meanwhile, Chicago's forward Patrick Kane has said, "It's a great opportunity for us to go up against a great team. I think it's a new challenge for us -- we've never faced [them] in the playoffs, so that's exciting for us too.
"I think after these 10 days, or whatever it's been, it's going to be exciting to play a game that means so much."
Today's big Game 1 between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Anaheim Ducks will start at 3 p.m. ET and can be watched on TV on the NBC network or online through live stream by clicking here.
