When the Ducks play the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Final, it will be the first playoff matchup between the Western Conference powers.

The Ducks, who have won straight three Pacific Division titles, are in their first conference final since 2007; Chicago is in its third straight and fifth in seven years. Anaheim won its only Cup in ’07 while Chicago, an Original Six team with five NHL titles, hoisted it in 2010 and 2013.

The Blackhawks took two of the three meetings between the teams in the regular season.

Oct. 28 at United Center, Chicago

Ducks 1, Blackhawks 0: John Gibson stopped 38 shots for his second career shutout and only one of the season while Devante Smith-Pelly scored the only goal on a shorthanded breakaway, beating Blackhawks rookie goalie Scott Darling midway through the third period. Gibson’s best save came on a diving stop of Chicago captain Jonathan Toews 90 seconds into the third. Smith-Pelly was later traded to Montreal for Jiri Sekac.

Nov. 28 at Honda Center, Anaheim

Blackhawks 4, Ducks 1: Frederik Andersen’s 34 saves were wasted as the Ducks were in a post-Thanksgiving stupor and easily fell in the Black Friday matinee. Brad Richards and Andrew Shaw scored goals in the first 13:30 for a 2-0 lead while Patrick Kane scored twice to back Corey Crawford’s 23-save outing. Hampus Lindholm got the only goal in the first as the Ducks were decimated on the blue line, playing without Francois Beauchemin (broken finger), Ben Lovejoy (broken finger) or Clayton Stoner (mumps).

Jan. 31 at Honda Center, Anaheim

Blackhawks 4, Ducks 1: Stinging from blowing a late third-period lead two nights earlier in Los Angeles, Chicago cruised behind two more goals by Kane while Patrick Sharp assisted on all four goals. Toews and Duncan Keith also had goals for the Blackhawks while rookie Rickard Rakell had the Ducks’ only score. It was the first time the Ducks lost consecutive games in regulation since Nov. 28-29, when they also dropped games to Chicago and San Jose.

TOP THREE THREATS

Ducks

Corey Perry – The NHL’s current points leader in these playoffs finished off Calgary in the second round with his first career overtime playoff goal. The winger scores goals with equal parts skill and grit. Perry opened series wins over Winnipeg and Calgary with four-point games.

Ryan Getzlaf – Getzlaf has only two goals but the big, playmaking center is dangerous every moment he’s on the ice because of his rare combination of size, vision and skill. His 10 assists top all playoff performers.

Ryan Kesler – The Ducks traded for him precisely for this time of the year, and Kesler hasn’t disappointed. Kesler has centered a wildly effective second line on which Matt Beleskey and Jakob Silfverberg have flourished while getting nine points and winning 63.7 of his faceoffs.

Chicago

Patrick Kane – The dazzling winger is on a roll with goals in his past five games, including five total in the Blackhawks’ four-game sweep of Minnesota in their West semifinal. The 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy winner has gone scoreless in only one of Chicago’s 10 playoff games.

Duncan Keith – Keith’s 10 points lead all defensemen in the postseason and the 2010 Norris Trophy winner has topped 28 minutes or more on five occasions, including 46:19 of ice time in a Game 4 triple-overtime win over Nashville during the first round.

Jonathan Toews – Many experts say they would take this 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy winner first if they were starting a new franchise. Toews already possesses two three-point games and long has had a knack of scoring huge goals. There’s no better two-way player in the NHL at the moment.

TRENDING

• The Ducks scored twice on the power play in the clinching Game 5 against Calgary and their nine goals with the man advantage lead all teams. It was ranked 28th during the regular season.

• Goaltender Frederik Andersen has an 8-1 record, 1.96 goals-against average and .925 save percentage. His save percentage improves to .962 when it comes to the third period, where he’s allowed only three goals in 78 shots he’s faced.

• No team is closing better. The Ducks have outscored opponents 16-3 in the third period and their plus-13 differential is far and away above the next best mark at plus-4. Chicago represents a big step up in competition but the Ducks have four wins when trailing after two periods.

Contact the writer: estephens@ocregister.com