Game Thread: Game 3: Chicago Blackhawks @ Los Angeles Kings, 5/24 5:00 PM, NBC

[pete6835]

Kings live PT

 

[pete6835]

Where is that first goal wins guy now?

 

[Bluesince62]

 

[pete6835]

 

[oxnardkingsfan]

It's been a hectic day with the party and all but it turned out great in the end. The wife was completely surprised by the party. First time since our wedding that all 4 of her children have been together at the same time. Super surprise for her. Happy but a big shock. It was a great day topped off with a Kings win to put them up 2-1 in the series. Glad for Lagunadav that he got to see them win from the Ox Box.

Ox

 

[Psych3man]

Ox, would you ever have believed in the bad old days that the Kings would ever be this kind of team? I pinch myself at times to make sure I'm not dreaming.

Go Boys! Make it 3-1 on Monday!
I guarantee you, Kings fans--Hawks never thought it would be going like this. They are not used to losing like this. Take 'em out while they're reeling!

And keep hitting them. They HATE it!!

 

[ChicagoIrish]

Ox, would you ever have believed in the bad old days that the Kings would ever be this kind of team? I pinch myself at times to make sure I'm not dreaming.

Go Boys! Make it 3-1 on Monday!
I guarantee you, Kings fans--Hawks never thought it would be going like this. They are not used to losing like this. Take 'em out while they're reeling!

And keep hitting them. They HATE it!!

We were down 2-0 to St Louis

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Glad the day turned out well, Ox. Please tell Mrs. Ox the Puck clan says hello and hope she enjoyed her special day.

Believe it or not we were going to surprise you guys with a surprise visit (hence the "I'll get back to you later in the week" post last week) but guess who started coming down with the flu two days ago and yesterday was in full blown sick mode - 102º almost all day, soaked through 3 T-shirts, the couch, a heavy comforter and 2 blankets. Mrs. Puck said I looked gray and called my sister last night because she thought I was going to die (humorous but serious at the same time). Even put a deposit down on a beach rental off Sawtelle Avenue by Port Hueneme and the owner was nice enough to refund us our money when told I was pretty sick. Freaking figures.

Onto the game, the Kings played extremely well overall. Toews was a beast, he single handed tried to win this game. The key has been the PK but even then they have to stop giving the Hawks chances to either win the game or get back into the game; too much talent to play with fire like that.

The Kings systematically took this game over and earned the win. Would be awesome to continue this and get a win Monday night but you just have to think the Hawks are going to throw the kitchen sink at them to not go back to Chicago facing elimination.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

We were down 2-0 to St Louis

St. Louis is nothing. They have never been, and have unjustly been called contenders for the better part of 4 years. They lack a lot of stuff, mainly front line talent. I actually think making the move for Miller weakened that team, it didn't improve them. They bank on career second liners to be first liners - seen their dance too often the last few years.

I'm not speaking for you since you've been civil, but I can post a ton of links from all over the place where Hawks fans (and I'm one too - my second favorite team since the late 1980s. My jerseys are faded they are so old) where they thought this would be a cake walk. I just laughed because the Blues are overrated and Minnesota - Minnesota? - wasn't a real threat either.

The Kings are in their third straight WCF for a reason. As a Hawk poster said (was it you?) - "they're a whole different animal". And that's what the Kings are. They have the scoring St. Louis lacked, they have the physicality Minnesota lacked, and on top of that they have the best goalie in the league.

Last season they weren't jelling well enough by the time Chicago came around, and they didn't have Gaborik. Richards was hurt in Game 1 (his return in game 5 sent it to OT as you recall) and the defense was banged up, but regardless Chicago beat them handily last season. It's a bit of a different team this season, but the attitude is the same - they do not quit, they do not die.

I don't think this is over in 5 games or anything, I think this is going the distance. And whoever comes out of it I believe will be the eventual Cup winner because neither Montreal or NY can withstand LA or Chicago over 7 games - but I think some Hawk fans need to be humbled and I'm very happy the Kings are doing it.

This ain't no cake walk.

 

[lasportzphan]

We were down 2-0 to St Louis

We are a different animal, my friend.

 

[lasportzphan]

St. Louis is nothing. They have never been, and have unjustly been called contenders for the better part of 4 years. They lack a lot of stuff, mainly front line talent. I actually think making the move for Miller weakened that team, it didn't improve them. They bank on career second liners to be first liners - seen their dance too often the last few years.

I'm not speaking for you since you've been civil, but I can post a ton of links from all over the place where Hawks fans (and I'm one too - my second favorite team since the late 1980s. My jerseys are faded they are so old) where they thought this would be a cake walk. I just laughed because the Blues are overrated and Minnesota - Minnesota? - wasn't a real threat either. The Kings are in their third straight WCF for a reason. As a Hawk poster said (was it you?) - "they're a whole different animal". And that's what the Kings are.

Last season they weren't jelling well enough by the time Chicago came around, and they didn't have Gaborik. Richards was hurt in Game 1 (his return in game 5 sent it to OT as you recall) and the defense was banged up. It's a bit of a different team this season, but the attitude is the same - they do not quit, they do not die.

I don't think this is over in 5 games or anything, I think this is going the distance. And whoever comes out of it I believe will be the eventual Cup winner because neither Montreal or NY can withstand LA or Chicago over 7 games - but I think some Hawk fans need to be humbled and I'm very happy the Kings are doing it.

This ain't no cake walk.

Hear, hear

 

[ChicagoIrish]

We are a different animal, my friend.

No doubt about it

 

[ChicagoIrish]

St. Louis is nothing. They have never been, and have unjustly been called contenders for the better part of 4 years. They lack a lot of stuff, mainly front line talent. I actually think making the move for Miller weakened that team, it didn't improve them. They bank on career second liners to be first liners - seen their dance too often the last few years.

I'm not speaking for you since you've been civil, but I can post a ton of links from all over the place where Hawks fans (and I'm one too - my second favorite team since the late 1980s. My jerseys are faded they are so old) where they thought this would be a cake walk. I just laughed because the Blues are overrated and Minnesota - Minnesota? - wasn't a real threat either.

The Kings are in their third straight WCF for a reason. As a Hawk poster said (was it you?) - "they're a whole different animal". And that's what the Kings are. They have the scoring St. Louis lacked, they have the physicality Minnesota lacked, and on top of that they have the best goalie in the league.

Last season they weren't jelling well enough by the time Chicago came around, and they didn't have Gaborik. Richards was hurt in Game 1 (his return in game 5 sent it to OT as you recall) and the defense was banged up, but regardless Chicago beat them handily last season. It's a bit of a different team this season, but the attitude is the same - they do not quit, they do not die.

I don't think this is over in 5 games or anything, I think this is going the distance. And whoever comes out of it I believe will be the eventual Cup winner because neither Montreal or NY can withstand LA or Chicago over 7 games - but I think some Hawk fans need to be humbled and I'm very happy the Kings are doing it.

This ain't no cake walk.

I wouldn't say the Kings are humbling the loud mouth fans just yet, we were down 3-1 against Detroit last season.

But I have said it all year, I don't want to play LA. Said it last year too.

One thing that separates LA from other teams is the depth at center. Hawks have Toews at center, and I wouldn't trade him for any other player, but, look at our 2nd line center. Handzus, Krueger? That's pathetic

LA's centers, Kopitar, Richards, Carter, Stoll. That's giving the Hawks a lot of issues, especially the Carter line.

But, I'm not worried yet. Hawks have been there and done that. I still believe we'll win the series. Homer? Probably

 

[oxnardkingsfan]

We were down 2-0 to St Louis

So what does that prove? The Kings were down 0-3 to San Jose but that series means nothing in regards to this series. The Kings swept St Louis in 2012 and were down 0-2 to the Blues last year and came back to win 4 in a row. So what? Means absolutely nothing except that maybe St Louis sucks come playoff time much like the Sharks. Kings still have to win 2 more but I like their chance more than the Blackhawks winning 3 out of the next 4. Not saying they can't but it'll be tougher than winning 2 out of the next 4. And if the Kings win Monday night, Katy bar the door.

Ox

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I wouldn't say the Kings are humbling the loud mouth fans just yet, we were down 3-1 against Detroit last season.

Detroit and LA are two entirely different teams. The Kings are built from the goaltender out, and that goaltender happens to be the best one in the league. Why he hasn't won a Vezina in the last 4 years is beyond me, it's a shame because his overall body of work is phenomenal.

One thing that separates LA from other teams is the depth at center. Hawks have Toews at center, and I wouldn't trade him for any other player, but, look at our 2nd line center. Handzus, Krueger? That's pathetic

LA's centers, Kopitar, Richards, Carter, Stoll. That's giving the Hawks a lot of issues, especially the Carter line.

That's second thing Dumbo set out to build when he was developing this team - strength down the middle. Start at goal (Quick - although at the beginning it was supposed to be Bernier. Quick took that away), an anchor on defense (Doughty) and then 4 solid centers. The year the Kings won the Cup, Stoll and Richards interchanged the 2C/3C slot. Stoll is not meant to be that, he isn't skilled enough so when the trade was made for Carter later in the season, it solidified the center positions and everyone was where they needed to be. Carter played wing that season and through the playoffs.

This 70s line is brand new, Toffoli didn't play this well all season long and Pearson played well in spot duty but was sent down, recalled, etc. He is finally developing into a solid player and for whatever reason all three of guys have some unreal chemistry together. Pretty sad when Carter is "the old guy" and he just turned 29 in January.

Handzus was a great role model for the young Kings when he was here, but he lost a step his final year before moving on to SJ. I'm not quite sure why the Hawks went after him, his lack of speed has been seriously exposed. Richards hasn't made a lot of impact but he has made some key plays at big times for LA, that's just what he seems to do. Would like to see more production out of him however.

Chicago's speed is scary, but so far the Kings have been able to handle that and push it to the outside. It's the turnovers and such that have killed the Kings, they've tightened that up but I'm always worried it'll happen, especially when a certain defender is out there. Too much talent to just hand the puck over like that.

But, I'm not worried yet. Hawks have been there and done that. I still believe we'll win the series. Homer? Probably

I wouldn't be either, it's only 1 game. If the Hawks win Game 4, it's best 2 out of 3. If the Kings win, I'd start to worry.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

[MEDIA=twitter]470396405073199104[/MEDIA]

Maybe it's just me, but whenever I see Hjalmarsson on TV or in pictures, he looks like his baby sized dome is photoshopped onto a big dude's body.

 

[davnlaguna]

Toews got the first two Blackhawk goals but not a shot for the rest of the game. I think Kopitar and Toews are playing a little more even than Toews goal count indicates. After that the Kings are winning the battles. Carter is having a great time vs the Hawks second line. As far as the Kings third line, TT is becoming a Hawk killer.
Even after the first period, I thought the Kings could win the game. Not the best game the Kings have played but good enough.
Somewhere in the game Brown leveled Toews. He may not be scoring but when he is hitting, good things happen. Greene was better than the last few games. Voynov plays better with Mitchell than he plays with Shultz.
Once again happy birthday Rosemarie and thanks Ox for the seat.
Two very quiet Hawks fans near us and several loud Kings fans.
Need to win Monday to keep this home ice advantage.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Toews got the first two Blackhawk goals but not a shot for the rest of the game. I think Kopitar and Toews are playing a little more even than Toews goal count indicates.

Kopitar is on every level just as good as Toews. It's about time the guy got formally recognized for it (Selke), it's long overdue. He's been playing this way for years.

Carter is having a great time vs the Hawks second line. As far as the Kings third line, TT is becoming a Hawk killer.

Carter and Toffoli are on the second line together - or as Sutter likes to say "the Carter line" without assigning it a number.

As for the Hawks' second line, if you have found one, please show it to me because I haven't. Not that I'm complaining, but putting Handzus with Kane is a god awful idea. Explains why Kane hasn't been a major factor in this series yet, and Sharpe, who is generally a King killer, has been silent too. Hopefully the trend continues although I think we will see some lineup changes for the Hawks in Game 4.

 

[davnlaguna]

Yeah late night posting.
For some reason I was thinking TT was with Richards
If the Hawks can't figure out the second line without forgetting about Kopitar/Gaborik, they won't win the series. As long as the Kings can play Stoll vs the Zues/Kane line and play Carter and the kids in protected places(late in games when the other team is taking chances), it could be a happy series for the Kings. Chicago is a good team but this year the Kings are causing match up problems for them.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Chicago is a good team but this year the Kings are causing match up problems for them.

Bingo. With Richards being hurt last season, it didn't allow that for LA.