Chicago Blackhawks at Los Angeles Kings – LAK wins 4-3, LAK leads series 2-1
After splitting the first two games in Chicago to start the series, the second of a comeback variety for the Kings, the best in the West would be playing the next two games back in Los Angeles. Despite there not really being much of home ice advantage so far through these playoffs – just ask most teams that have played a Game 7 so far this year – there would be one distinct advantage for Los Angeles in this one and that was having the ability to get last change.
Through Game 1 and Game 2 of this series, the Chicago defense pairing of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook were on the ice for about 55-percent of the shifts that Jeff Carter was on the ice for. While there are power play goals mixed in here, the Carter line had five goals in the first two games. They also led the Kings forwards in Game 1 in possession and were all above 60-percent in Game 2. In other words, that Carter line was absolutely destroying the pairing of Keith and Seabrook. What’s more is that Chicago coach Joel Quenneville seemed to be actively pursuing that match-up. With Los Angeles now having last change, it would be a chance for Kings coach Darryl Sutter to get the match-ups he wanted, whatever they may be. The match-up of Carter et al. against Keith/Seabrook would be the focus for this game and likely for the rest of the series.
The story early on in the game was Jonathan Toews. With Chicago getting out of the first period with a 2-1 lead, they had their captain to thank for it. A great individual effort on a short-handed goal and a jammed rebound counted for his goals. In fact, he had a 69.2-percent CorsiFor in the first and he was on the ice for nine shot attempts for Chicago in just over four and a half minutes of 5-on-5 ice time in the first period.
After a slow first period from the Carter line, they really broke out in the second period. The line went from about 33-percent possession after 20 minutes to Pearson ending up even after 40 minutes with Carter and Toffoli at 47.6-percent and 43.5-percent respectively. A strong second period led to a pair of goals for that line, one from Carter and one from Toffoli. That trio, again, was shredding the Chicago defense and there didn’t seem to be any slowing them down.
The Kings did an excellent job of proverbially “stepping on the throat” of the Blackhawks in the third period of Game 3. While most teams will collapse to a defensive shell, the Kings kept attack the ‘Hawks defense and looking for more goals. Los Angeles outshot Chicago 18-7 in the final period and at no point did it really seem like their 3-2 lead would be threatened. The game finished 4-3 though for some reason, it didn’t seem like a one-goal game.
Toews had an excellent game. Not only did he score Chicago’s first two goals but his line dominated on the possession side of things. Marian Hossa led the way at 76-percent CorsiFor while Toews was at 62.1-percent (he was used alongside Patrick Kane for parts of the second and third period). This game, much like the last one, though, was about that second line from Los Angeles. Where Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik came up big in rounds one and two, Carter and the kids were coming up huge so far this series. Their speed and chemistry was too much again on this night, accounting for two even strength goals and Carter adding a power play assist. Chicago will need to come up with an answer to that line in order to win this series.
