Preview/Game Thread: Blackhawks at Kings

  

Los Angeles Kings (23–33–8) vs Chicago Blackhawks (27–28–9)

3:00pm CST

STAPLES Center

TV/Radio: NBCSCH/WGN

PROJECTED STARTERS

ChicagoCam Ward (14–10–4, SV%: .893, GAA: 3.71)

Los Angeles Jonathan Quick (11–17–6, SV%: .891, GAA: 3.31)

TEAM STATISTICS

Power Play

Chicago (22.3%, 7th)

Los Angeles (14.8%, 29th)

Penalty Kill

Chicago (73.3%, 31st)

Los Angeles (74.7%, 30th)

Shorts for/against

Chicago (32.1, 13th; 35.1, 30th)

Los Angeles (28.6, 29th; 31.3, 14th)

Shooting %

Chicago (10.4%, 8th)

Los Angeles (8.2%, 30th)

Faceoff %

Chicago (49.7%, 19th)

Los Angeles (50.2%, T14th)

Avg. height/weight

Chicago 6’1”, 195lbs

Los Angeles 6’2” 206lbs

PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS

Chicago Blackhawks

Drake CaggiulaJonathan ToewsPatrick Kane

Alex DeBrincatDylan StromeDominik Kahun

Brandon SaadArtem AnisimovDylan Sikura

Chris KunitzMarcus KrugerJohn Hayden

Duncan KeithBrent Seabrook

Carl DahlstromConnor Murphy

Slater KoekkoekErik Gustafsson

Los Angeles Kings

Alex IafalloAnze KopitarDustin Brown

Ilya KovalchukJeff CarterTyler Toffoli

Bredan LeipsicAdrian KempeJonny Brodzinski

Kyle CliffordTrevor LewisAustin Wagner

Derek ForbortDrew Doughty

Dion PhaneufMatt Roy

Sean WalkerPaul Ladue

 

Analysis

Following their thrilling victory on Wednesday night, the Blackhawks travel slightly north to take on the Los Angeles Kings. Wednesday night’s Ducks/Blackhawks battle saw the Blackhawks playing a more offensively-challenged Anaheim team. In today’s action, the Blackhawks will square off against a Los Angeles Kings’ team that, in many categories, is only a little better than the Ducks. Today presents a great opportunity for the Blackhawks, versus an opponent that is far less potent offensively than they are.

A few big positives from Wednesday included Patrick Kane further extending his incredible point streak, as well as the return of Corey Crawford. Overall, Crawford played well, but he is still re-gaining his feet after missing significant time. 

The Kings, for the most part, stood pat at the trade deadline earlier in the week. Instead of trying to sell assets such as Jonathan Quick and Jeff Carter, the Kings held on to their prized possessions and continued to ride it out. 

LA comes into today’s game losers of 10 straight games, setting themselves up for a nice pick in June’s draft, potentially landing either Kappo Kakko or Jack Hughes. The Kings are an aging team with potentially greater cap issues than those facing the Blackhawks.

Any slip-up could prove fatal to the Hawks’ fading playoff chances (5 points out, with 3 teams in the way). So, this is essentially a must-win game for Chicago.

 

Comment below in our live game thread this afternoon!

And look for the internet’s most robust recap of the game tomorrow morning on the-rink.com.

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Center Ice Forums Preview/Game Thread: Blackhawks at Kings

Viewing 20 posts - 1 through 20 (of 39 total)
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    Posts
  • #12121
    Ron Luce
    Participant

    Los Angeles Kings (23–33–8) vs Chicago Blackhawks (27–28–9) 3:00pm CST STAPLES Center TV/Radio: NBCSCH/WGN PROJECTED STARTERS Chicago – Cam Ward (14–1
    [To continue reading full article, click here: Preview/Game Thread: Blackhawks at Kings]

    #12127
    John Jaeckel
    Participant

    [quote quote=12121]Los Angeles Kings (23–33–8) vs Chicago Blackhawks (27–28–9) 3:00pm CST STAPLES Center TV/Radio: NBCSCH/WGN PROJECTED STARTERS Chicago – Cam Ward (14–1[To continue reading full article, click here: Preview/Game Thread: Blackhawks at Kings]

    [/quote] Let’s get this thing started.

    #12128
    John Jaeckel
    Participant

    LA looking like the Hawks in their own end early on.

    #12129
    John Jaeckel
    Participant

    Welp. 1-0 #gokingsgo

    #12130
    John Jaeckel
    Participant

    Two bad penalties. 2 goals. Ugh.

     

    #12131
    Ron Luce
    Participant

    Yikes this is bad….

    #12132
    Aaron Goldschmidt
    Participant

    I can see this game getting out of control and the Hawks losing their cool.  I’m hoping for a rare Jonathan Toews fight.

    #12133
    John Jaeckel
    Participant

    Man, I thought there was an echo in here, welcome boys

    #12135
    Jeff Osborn
    Keymaster

    Nice PK, boys!

    #12136
    Jeff Osborn
    Keymaster

    [quote quote=12133]Man, I thought there was an echo in here, welcome boys

    [/quote]

    #12137
    Ron Luce
    Participant

    [quote quote=12132]I can see this game getting out of control and the Hawks losing their cool. I’m hoping for a rare Jonathan Toews fight.

    [/quote] I would actually really enjoy that haha

    #12138
    John Jaeckel
    Participant

    Hawks should have a good chance here vs. LA PK, which is almost as bad as the Hawks

    #12142
    Jeff Osborn
    Keymaster

    This would be fun against a good PP like SJ or WIN.

    #12143
    John Jaeckel
    Participant

    Damn, Hawks could use some Adrian Kempe

    #12144
    John Jaeckel
    Participant

    Kovy. 3-0 #gokingsgo

    #12145
    Ray Napientek
    Keymaster

    Nothing like turning on a 3-0 game…

    #12146
    John Jaeckel
    Participant

    [quote quote=12145]Nothing like turning on a 3-0 game…

    [/quote] Between two of the worst teams in the worst conference

    #12147
    John Jaeckel
    Participant

    I guess I picked a bad day to stop sniffing glue

    #12148
    Jeff Osborn
    Keymaster

    3-0

    #WorstLeadInHockey

    #12149
    John Jaeckel
    Participant

    Brendan Perlini sighting: 3-1.

Viewing 20 posts - 1 through 20 (of 39 total)
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