Kings vs Blackhawks Game 2: 6 Goals, 22 Minutes

Those Kings are looking pretty good right now.

This game wasn’t all sunshine and daisies for the Kings though. In fact, the Blackhawks dominated the play for the first period and the majority of the second period, but the Kings were still able to come out on top. The Blackhawks came out strong with a couple of real pretty goals. Nick Leddy plain outskates Matt Greene (of course he did) and backhands one past Quick. Later, a couple of minutes into the second, Ben Smith receives a great stretch ice pass and beats Quick. I will admit to feeling pretty down after that second goal, but who cares about that now because I’m so happy I was wrong!

The Kings’ first goal isn’t pretty, but it does the job just fine. Justin Williams opens up the scoring with a gentle deflection between Corey Crawford’s legs to cut the Kings’ deficit in half before the 2nd period closes. Little did we know, that this would just be the beginning, the start of one of the Kings’ best periods of hockey this postseason.

A little over a minute into the third, Brandon Bollig takes a penalty, and that’s exactly what the Kings needed. Doughty takes a shot from the point and Jeff Carter’s in front to tip it in to tie up the game. The Brandon penalty train continues to be great for the Kings because not too long later, Saad heads to the box, and Jake Muzzin scores the Kings another power play goal to give them the lead.

 
Muzzin’s screaming goal face forever!

A 3-2 lead is swell, but why not make it 4-2? Carter uses his speed to break into the zone and shoots one towards Crawford who deflects it high into the air. It didn’t touch the netting at all, but the Blackhawks sure thought it did because they seemed to just stop playing. Pearson knew better and passed it to a waiting Toffoli who surprises Crawford.

 
While the Blackhawks took their foot off the gas after those 2 goals, the Kings weren’t going to make the same mistake. Jeff Carter skates hard to the net, fires off one of his wristers, which deflects off of Oduya’s stick and past Crawford yet again. Listen to deafening silence in the United Center. It’s so sweet.

 
After delivering that 5th goal dagger to the Hawks, Jeff Carter just rubs it in even more with an empty net goal, from the red line no less, to complete his playoff hat trick.

And with that, the Kings break the Blackhawks’ postseason home win streak with a commanding 6-2 win. That 3rd period was so satisfying. Don’t count the Kings out. It sure is a series now.