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Western Conference Final Kings (5) vs Blackhawks (1)

hockeyfan1

hockeyfan1

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Corey Crawford vs Jonathan Quick, Jonathan Toews vs Dustin Brown, Brent Seabrook vs Drew Doughty, etc.


This promises to be an interesting, hard-hitting, good goaltending type of series between two teams both known for their different styles and a plethora of talent as well as experience.  Experience? 


Firstly, these two teams are both former Stanley Cup champions (Chicago in 2010-11 and L.A. in 2011-12).  While not every player has remained for the Kings nor Hawks, there are plenty of key people with enough experience to make a difference for both clubs.  Chicago has Toews, Kane, Hossa, Keith, Seabrook, guys who've been there, done that.


Los Angeles has Brown, Carter, Penner, Doughty, Richards, plus a capable goaltender in Quick, Conn Smythe Trophy winner last season.


Notice that Corey Crawford's name wasn't inserted in the above paragraph.  Crawford has no Cup experience.  That is the difference between him and Quick.  Would it matter?  That depends on the performance of the opposition in front of him.  The Kings Quick has been known to start off sloppy then gets better and better as a series wears on.  Of course, Chicago's Crawford is no slouch either, having come up with the big saves when called upon, and having provided excellent goaltending throughout the season for the Hawks. 
Which goaltender will outplay each other?  Take your pick.


Both teams have had similar series (Detroit for Chicago 4 games to 3 series win for the Hawks and in Game 7 in OT) and (San Jose for Los Angeles 4 game to 3 series win for the Kings and in Game 7 in OT). 


L.A. sported the best home record in the regular season, while Chicago sported the best record overall.  Since the United Center has one of the loudest fans in the league, and since the Staples Center has been like gold for the Kings, how these teams fare on home ice may tell the tale of who will be more advantageous in this Conference Final.  Tune in.
 
It's interesting to note that while these final 4 teams are the last 4 to win the cup...Quick is the only returning goaltender.  That might be the difference maker.
 
Chicago 2  Los Angeles 1  Blackhawks lead series 1 game to 0.

Marian Hossa's deflection of a Duncan Keith slapshot proved to be the go-ahead goal the Hawks needed to win Game 1.

Both teams played a low-key game with the Kings proving a bit of a handle for the Hawks, but as the game wore on, Chicago got the hang of solving Kings netminder Jonathan Quick. 

With L.A. scoring first on a Justin Williams goal, Patrick Sharp tied it up for Chicago in the second period, with Hossa's eventual tie-breaker in the third.

Goaltenders Corey Crawford for the Hawks, and Jonathan Quick for the Kings, played well and were the reasons for the low-scoring game.

Suspension for Chicago's Mike Bolland for nailing Kings Mike Richards with a well-imposed but poorly intentioned check?  It looked as though Bolland partly caught Richards on the head, leaving him a little shaken.


Source:  Sportsnet
 
hearts.gif
  yay! the Blackhawks are up!
 
Quick's getting pulled. 4-0 Chicago halfway through the game. Not sure I would say any of the goals were weak, but the second and fourth were definitely more than stoppable.
 
Chicago 4  Los Angeles 2  Chicago leads series 2 games l
0.

The 'Hawks did exactly as they had to do, as Chicago executed a strategy of speed and skill, much like they had done in Game 1, only better,  and built up an early 4-0 lead, thus ending Quick's night.

L.A.'s defence couldn't solve the 'Hawks offensive thrust which left Quick vulnerable in net.  Of those four Chicago markers, two could be classified as in the 'weak' category --over to you, Jonathan.  No one may be surprised by L.A's two losses in their opponent's rink considering that the Kings sport a dreadful playoff road record.

Now that the series shifts to L.A. & the Staples Centre, where the Kings are the Kings home ice,  can Chicago break L.A.'s. dominance there?

Source:  Sportsnet,  THN
 
Thump. 2-0 in the series for the Hawks. They are looking good.

I think they split in LA. I think the Kings win the next one.
 
Los Angeles 3  Chicago 1  Chicago leads series 2 games to 1.

The Blackhawks discovered what many other opponents before them have in these playoffs -- that the Staples Centre serves like a magic potion for the L.A. Kings. 
Why, for Los Angeles is a perfect 15-0 at home in these playoffs and 22-0 when scoring first.

Once again, at home, not to much to anyone's surprise, the Kings played a sturdy, well-knit team game keeping up with the tempo and pace, and, going toe-to-toe with Chicago's forwards matching them at every turn, so to speak.  With excellent performances from Justin Williams, Jeff Carter, & Alex Voynov, Kings built up. 2-0 lead from which they never deviated from.  Chicago's Bryan Bickell took one back before L.A. closed ought the scoring.

Ah, yes, the game would not have been complete without another 'last-minute' spectacular save by Kings netminder Jonathan Quick, robbing the 'Hawks Bickell in up close, and thus robbing  Chicago of the opportunity to tie it.  It was probably the best in front open scoring chance the 'Hawks had all game long and Quick was there to stop it.

Suspension for Keith?  Careless slash to the side of Jeff Carter's face, with fortunately no serious consequences.  Could have been worse.  Keith's profuse apologizing to Carter may not get him off the hook.  He was assessed a double minor for the infraction.
 
Chicago 3  Los Angeles 2  Chicago leads series 3 games to 1.

No Duncan Keith for the 'Hawks?  No problem.  With Keith sitting out Game 4 on a suspension,  Niklas Hjalmarrson provided a solid performance in the backend for the 'Hawks, while Chicago's Bryan Bickell & company provided ample offence in defeating the Kings in their own rink.

It was a team effort by Chicago's forwards by the likes of Hossa, Kane, and Toews, along with another good outing by goaltender Corey Crawford in styming L.A.

What of L.A.?  Definitely a different team from Game 3 no doubt.  Is fatigue beginning to catch up to the Kings, courtesy of the two previous hitting series they won?  Or, were the 'Hawks simply the better team in this game?  Most likely, a combination of everything.

Back to the United Centre for Game 5 on the weekend, and an opportunity for the Chicago Blackhawks to win themselves a trip to the Stanley Cup Final.  Unless....

Source:  THN
 
Earlier this season during the 1963 reunion at one of the Leaf games, Dave Keon was being interviewed during the intermission and was asked who his current favorite player is (yes he still watches).

His answer: Jonathan Toews, calling him a "very special player".

You must be doing something right when a legend recognizes you.  :)
 
I wish my internet connection would stop dropping so I can watch the 3rd period instead of hearing about poor hapless Lucas every five minutes. >:(

Edit: and during the latest outage I missed the tying goal.
 
Wow, cross-check to the face.

Edit: and on the powerplay Hrudey: "Good hit, nice and clean" after Toews was hit in the numbers - only difference between that hit and the two dirty ones in the Pens / Bruins series is that he saw it coming and braced himself.

I think the Hawks will lose this one - they stopped pressing in the 2nd and let the Kings back in the game.
 
Kings complaining hard about that, but the replay didn't really show me how he took him down - I'd like to see that again, looked more like a weak hook than a trip.

Edit: yep, replay shows he lost his balance.
 
wow kings tie it with 20 sec left. 3-3.

was just going to post Leafs should learn from Hawks how to protect a lead and BOOM, Kings tie it up.
 
Wow. All it took was one ill advised icing when the Hawks had the game in complete control - Kings couldn't even get out of their own end - now we have OT!
 
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