Tuesday, June 10, 2014

2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Review: (C3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (P3) Los Angeles Kings

Series Summary

Game 1 started with low shot counts by both teams. Brandon Saad would get credited with the opening goal, tipping in a Nick Leddy point shot to give the Blackhawks the lead. The Kings would dominate the second, ultimately tying the game up  minutes into the period. The Blackhawks would retaliate though, as Duncan Keith beat Jonathan Quick to put the Blackhawks ahead. Jonathan Toews would add an insurance goal in the third, as the Blackhawks take the 1-0 series lead. Just like in Game 1, Chicago would open the scoring in Game 2. Leddy would roof a backhand over Quick to give Chicago the lead. Ben Smith would score early in the second to extend the Blackhawks lead. Justin Williams would break the shutout late in the period as the puck bounced off him and slid into the net. The third period was all Kings. A 5-goal period was more than enough for the Kings to come back and win the game. Chicago's special teams would once again open the scoring, as Toews scored shorthanded 5 minutes into Game 3. Slava Voynov would tie the game just under a minute later. Toews would get his second of the game minutes later, as the Blackhawks end the first up a goal. While Chicago had the shot advantage in the second, it was Los Angeles who found the back of the net. Jeff Carter and Tyler Toffoli would beat Corey Crawford to give the Kings the lead heading into the third period. Drew Doughty would score midway through the third to put the Kings up 2. Patrick Sharp would tip in a shot with seconds left in the game, but it was too little too late. The Kings would take the series lead. Game 4 saw the Kings dominate the scoreboard in the first. Goals by Jake Muzzin, Marian Gaborik, and Dustin Brown would give the Kings a 3-0 lead after one period. Drew Doughty would score midway through the second to extend the Kings lead. Brandon Saad would score minutes later to break the shutout and get the Blackhawks on the board. Bryan Bickell would add one more for the Blackhawks, but that was as close as they would get. The Kings would add an empty netter, icing the game and pushing the Blackhawks to the brink of elimination. Chicago would strike early in Game 5, as Brent Seabrook and Johnny Oduya scored under 4 minutes in to give the Blackhawks a 2-0 lead. Jarret Stoll would cut the lead midway though the period, but Saad would restore Chicago's lead soon after. Gaborik would again pull the Kings with one 2 minutes later. After a goal-filled first, the second period would be a bit more subdued. Goals by Brown and Tanner Pearson would put the Kings ahead. Ben Smith would score early in the third to tie the game. While both teams had chances, neither could end the game in the third or after one overtime period. In double overtime, Saad would find an open Michal Handzus, who proceeded to beat Quick with a backhand shot. Chicago would stay alive for another game after that goal. Game 6 didn't start out as high scoring, as only Dwight King would find the back of the net in the first, giving the Kings the lead. Kane and Smith would strike early in the second to give the Blackhawks the lead. Goals by Doughty and Alec Martinez in the first half of the third gave the Kings the lead again. The second half of the period would belong to Kane. First, Kane would dish a backhand pass to Keith, who would find the back of the net to tie the game. Kane would score the winner with under four minutes left, beating Quick on a distanced shot. The Blackhawks would beat the Kings again, and forced a Game 7. Chicago would kick off the scoring in Game 7, as Saad and Toews scored to give them a 2-0 lead. The Kings would tie it later in the period thanks to Carter and Williams. The tie only lasted seconds though, as Patrick Sharp scored to restore the Blackhawks' lead. Tyler Toffoli would score midway though the second to tie the game up once again. And once again, it was Sharp who would put the Blackhawks up one late in the period. Gaborik would tie the game in the third, which would eventually lead to overtime. It didn't take too long for a winning goal. A Martinez point shot would be deflected and lob over Crawford and into the net. The Kings would win Game 7 and move on to the Stanley Cup Final. The Kings eliminate the Blackhawks in 7 games.

Games

Los Angeles Kings 1
Chicago Blackhawks 3

Los Angeles Kings 6
Chicago Blackhawks 2

Chicago Blackhawks 3
Los Angeles Kings 4

Chicago Blackhawks 2
Los Angeles Kings 5

Los Angeles Kings 4
Chicago Blackhawks 5 (2OT)

Chicago Blackhawks 4
Los Angeles Kings 3

Los Angeles Kings 5 (OT)
Chicago Blackhawks 4

Three Thoughts on the Series
  1. Dustin Brown goes in for the kill against Marian Hossa, and ends up being killed (metaphorically).
  2. The Stanley Cup should be awarded to the winner of this series. My god what a series.
  3. Game 4 was the last NHL game TSN will air for at least the next 12 years. Hockey broadcasting just died a little.
Picture of the Series

Quick: "I was bad this series."
Crawford: "Not as bad as I was."

(Image via senshot.com)

Highlight of the Series

There have been so many highlights that can justifiably be put here. So I'm going to throw a curveball, and have an off-ice highlight. The most Sutter press conference that Sutter ever Sutter'd.

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