Blackhawks vs. Kings Final Score: Chicago Tops Los Angeles in Game 1 to Take 1-0 Series Lead
By Josh Hill
The Chicago Blackhawks came into their series against the Los Angeles Kings under a guise that no one could figure out. THey had been the best team in hockey all season long and jumped out to a record start to their season but when they got to the postseason that veil fell. Chicago took care of the Minnesota Wild but the Detroit Red Wings took them to task and dragged them to the brink of elimination.
So naturally we weren’t sure what Blackhawks team we were going to get. Through the first period of play against the Kings in Game 1 of their Western Conference Finals it looked like we were going to get the Chicago team that dropped three quick games to the Red Wings but they snapped out of it and came barreling back at the Kings the rest of the way.
Justin Williams, who had a great final game against the San Jose Sharks last round, got the Kings on the board first with an early goal and it looked like the Blackhawks were in for some problems. But Jonathan Quick was blasted in the second period by Chicago who picked up goals by Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa to get the Blackhawks the lead back.
Going down a goal to the Kings creates problems due to the fact you have to score on the best netminder in the NHL, but the Blackhawks tapped into the special type of offense they had during their great regular season to get a leg up and take a 1-0 series lead.
Props go to Corey Crawford for the Blackhawks as he did exactly what he needed to do. There’s no denying that Quick is the better netminder in the series, and Crawford is nowhere near his level just yet but he overshadowed Quick in Game 1 with impressive saves and blocks when the Blackhawks needed them. All Jonathan Quick usually needs is a one goal lead and the book is closed, but that was the case for Crawford in Game 1 instead.
The series won’t be defined or probably even effected by the results of Game 1 until much later down the road. Both of these teams went to seven full games in their last series’ and it’s looking like they matchup well to make that happen again. Los Angeles doesn’t have a very potent offense but they have the best netminder in hockey, while the Blackhawks have a solid netminder but an outstanding offense.
It all comes down to timing in the playoffs and Quick just wasn’t on in Game 1. He’ll be back in Game 2 but the question now is whether or not the Blackhawks can maintain this high they’re still on from their thrilling Game 7 win over Detroit and if a goalie is really capable of crippling that momentum.