Saturday, June 8, 2013

Western Conference Final: 1) Chicago Blackhawks VS. 5) Los Angeles Kings

Welcome to the post for the Western Conference Final between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. This post will act as a reference for the entire series.

Game 1: United Center, Chicago, Illinois. In goal: Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles and Corey Crawford for Chicago. Los Angeles opened in the first period with an unassisted goal by Justin Williams, his fifth of the postseason. Chicago tied it in the second period as Patrick Sharp scored his eighth of the playoffs, assisted by Johnny Oduya and Michal Handzus. The Blackhawks took the lead on a Marian Hossa goal, his sixth of the postseason, passed from Duncan Keith and Bryan Bickell. This was good for a 2-1 final score, with the three stars going to Sharp, Quick (34 for 36 in saves), and Hossa. The Blackhawks begin with a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2: United Center, Chicago, Illinois. In goal: Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles and Corey Crawford for Chicago. Chicago started in the first period on an Andrew Shaw goal, his fourth of the postseason, coming off of Viktor Stalberg and Brandon Saad. The Blackhawks added on as Brent Seabrook scored his second of the playoffs, via Marian Hossa and Jonathan Toews. Chicago extended the lead with a second period power play goal by Bryan Bickell, his sixth of the postseason, powered by Patrick Sharp and Saad. The Blackhawks chased Quick on a Michal Handzus goal, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Sharp and Patrick Kane. Jonathan Bernier came on in relief of Quick. Los Angeles got on the board as Jeff Carter scored his sixth of the postseason, thanks to Tyler Toffoli and Slava Voynov. The Kings pulled closer in the third period with a Toffoli power play goal, his second of the playoffs, set up by Dustin Penner and Voynov. This only made it 4-2, the final, with the three stars being Sharp, Saad, and Crawford (29 for 31k in saves), while Toffoli and Voynov get the honorable mentions. The Blackhawks will head west with a 2-0 series lead.

Game 3: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California. In goal: Corey Crawford for Chicago and Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles. Los Angeles was first to score in the first period as Justin Williams netted his sixth of the postseason, thanks to Slava Voynov and Rob Scuderi. The Kings added on in the second period as Voynov scored his fifth of the playoffs, coming off of Tyler Toffoli and Jeff Carter. Chicago got on the board on a Bryan Bickell goal, his seventh of the postseason, an unassisted goal. Los Angeles iced it at 3-1 in the third period with a Dwight King empty net goal, set up by Carter and Matt Greene. The three stars belonged to Voynov, Williams, and Carter. The Blackhawks still lead the series 2-1.

Game 4: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California. In goal: Corey Crawford for Chicago and Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles. Los Angeles struck first in the first period with a Slava Voynov goal, his sixth of the postseason, assisted by Kyle Clifford and Colin Fraser. Chicago tied it on a Bryan Bickell goal, his eighth of the playoffs, guided in by Michael Frolik and Niklas Hjalmarsson. The Kings took the lead back in the second period on a Dustin Penner goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Jeff Carter and Tyler Toffoli. The Blackhawks tied it as Patrick Kane deposited his third of the playoffs, with helpers provided by Bickell and Hjalmarsson. Chicago took the lead with a third period goal by Marian Hossa, his seventh of the postseason, set up by Michal Handzus and Johnny Oduya. This made it 3-2, which was the final, with the three stars handed to Hossa, Kane, and Penner, while Bickell and Hjalmarsson get the honorable mentions. The Blackhawks will return home with a 3-1 series lead. 

Game 5: United Center, Chicago, Illinois. In goal: Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles and Corey Crawford for Chicago. Chicago began in the first period with a Duncan Keith goal, his second of the postseason, via Michal Rozsival. The Blackhawks added on with a Patrick Kane goal, his fourth of the playoffs, coming off of Jonathan Toews and Bryan Bickell. Los Angeles got one back in the second period with a shorthanded goal by Dwight King, his second of the postseason, set up by Justin Williams and the goalie Quick. The Kings tied it in the third period on an Anze Kopitar goal, his third of the playoffs coming on the power play with assists provided by Jeff Carter and Mike Richards. Chicago took the lead back as Kane scored his second of the night and fifth of the postseason, thanks to Bickell. Los Angeles tied it with ten seconds left in regulation on a Richards goal, his third of the playoffs, assisted by Kopitar and Slava Voynov. The Blackhawks knocked the Kings out with Kane's third goal of the night and sixth of the postseason in the second overtime, guided in by Toews. The three stars of the 4-3 game were Kane, Keith, and Kopitar, while Richards, Toews, and Bickell get the honorable mentions. The Blackhawks advance to the Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins after winning 4-1 in this series.

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