2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Western Conference Finals Game #3
#1 Chicago Blackhawks at #5 Los Angeles Kings
Blackhawks lead Best of Seven Series 2-0
Tuesday, June 4, 2013, 9:05 pm Eastern, TV: NBC Sports Network
Staples Center – Los Angeles, California
Opening Line: Kings -135 / Blackhawks +115
Current Line: Kings -130 / Blackhawks +110
Opening Total: under 4 1/2 -110 / over 4 1/2 -110
Current Total: under 4 1/2 -140 / over 4 1/2 +120
The last 4 teams left in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs have all won the Cup in the last 4 years. Early in both conference final series it looks like the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins are going to have a chance to win another. Both teams have 2-0 series leads but now the series switch to Los Angeles and Boston respectively. Boston won both games in Pittsburgh against the Penguins. Chicago beat the defending Stanley Cup champion LA Kings 2-1 in game one Saturday and won game two 4-2.
Going into game two, Kings’ goalie Jonathan Quick had not given up more than 3 goals in 34 straight playoff games. He single handedly kept the Kings in game one with 34 saves. However, in game two the Blackhawks were relentess and kept attacking. Even the great Quick could do nothing against the Chicago attack. He allowed 4 goals in 17 shots and was benched midway through the second. Back-up Jonathan Bernier didn’t allow a goal for the rest of the game but faced only 9 shots. The Kings would score a goal late in the second and another late in the third but were never in the game. Chicago goalie Corey Crawford made 29 saves in 31 shots.
Chicago’s goals were scored by center Andrew Shaw, left wing Brian Bickell, center Michal Handzus, and defenseman Brian Seabrook. Left wing Brian Saad and center Patrick Sharp each had 2 assists. Right wings Marion Hossa and Patrick Kane, left wing Viktor Stalberg and center Jonathan Toews each had an assist. Centers Jeff Carter and Tyler Toffoli scored the two goals for the Kings. Toffoli also had an assist on the Carter goal. Defenseman Slava Voynov had 2 assists. Dustin Penner also had an assist. The Blackhawks were 1 for 2 on the power play. The Kings were 1 for 4 on the power play. It was only the second power play goal allowed by Chicago in the playoffs, but happened late in the third when the game was already decided. Now the series switches to LA where the Kings have won 14 straight games dating back to the regular season.
Chicago is coached by Joel Quenneville. In the playoffs the Blackhawks are scoring 2.79 goals per game and allowing 1.79. Chicago is averaging 34 shots per game and is allowing 28 per game. Chicago has struggled on the power play in the playoffs converting only 7 out of 43 chances. Chicago has only allowed two power play goals in 47 times shorthanded. The Blackhawks have one shorthanded goal in the playoffs. Chicago has won 47.7% of their face-offs. Chicago is averaging 10 penalty minutes per game.
Chicago goalie Corey Crawford is 10-4 in the playoffs with a 1.68 goals against average. He has a save percentage of .938 and has one shutout. He has allowed 24 goals with 390 shots faced.
Center Patrick Sharp has 8 goals and 6 assists. Right wing Marian Hossa has 6 goals and 7 assists. Defenseman Duncan Keith leads the Blackhawks in assists with 9, and also has a goal. Right wing Patrick Kane has 2 goals and 8 assists. Center Michal Handzus and left wing Bryan Bickell both have 8 points. Centers Andrew Shaw and Jonathan Toews both have 7 points. Center Michael Frolik has 3 goals and 2 assists. Defenseman Steve Montador is out for the season with a concussion but he hasn’t played since early March.
Los Angeles is coached by Darryl Sutter. The Kings are scoring 1.93 goals a game in the playoffs but allowing only 1.73 per game. LA is averaging 25 shots per game and allowing 30. The Kings are 8 for 41 on the power play, and have allowed one short handed goal in the playoffs. LA has allowed 7 power play goals on 49 times shorthanded. The Kings are 46.4% on faceoffs. Los Angeles averages 8.3 penalty minutes per game.
Kings goalie Jonathan Quick won the Conn Smythe award last season for playoffs MVP. He could repeat if the Kings keep advancing. Quick is 8-7 in the postseason with a 1.76 goals against average. Quick has a save percentage of .940 and has 3 shutouts in the postseason. Quick has allowed 26 goals in 435 shots faced.
Center Mike Richards has 8 assists and 2 goals. He is questionable with an upper body injury. Center Jeff Carter has 6 goals and 3 assists. Center Anze Kopitar has 2 goals and 5 assists. Defenseman Slava Voynov has 4 goals and 5 assists. Right wing Justin Williams has 5 goals and 2 assists. Defenseman Drew Doughty has 2 goals and 3 assists. Right wing Dustin Brown has 3 goals and an assist. Defenseman Willie Mitchell is out for the season with a knee injury.
Chicago is 6-0 ATS in Tuesday games and in conference final games, 5-0 against teams with winning records, 39-12 after the opponent scores 2 goals or less, 46-16 overall, and against Western Conference teams, 38-14 after allowing 2 goals or less, 40-15 after a win, 22-9 in road games, 12-5 against Pacific Division teams, and 36-16 on one day rest. The Blackhawks are 4-1 ATS against the Kings recently and 5-1 in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles is 41-12 ATS at home, 13-6 after scoring 2 goals or less, 21-10 against Central Division teams, 37-18 on one day rest, 2-5 overall, and against Western Conference teams, and 2-6 in Tuesday games. The under is 34-16-7 in this series recently, and 5-2 in Los Angeles.
The Kings won the Stanley Cup last year and have advanced to the Conference Finals this year because of their defense and the excellent net work of Quick. They can’t outscore the high powered Blackhawks and must win a low scoring game like 1-0 or 2-1. LA is much better at home, so I think the Kings win to get back in the series.
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