Los Angeles 6, Chicago 2
When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Referees:
Dave Jackson, Dan O'Rourke
Linesmen:
Shane Heyer, Jonny Murray
Attendance:
22019
By SportsDirect Inc.
Kings 6, Blackhawks 2: Jeff Carter collected three goals and an assist in the third period as Los Angeles scored five times in the session to even its Western Conference final with host Chicago at one game apiece.
Tyler Toffoli tallied for the second straight contest while Justin Williams and defenseman Jake Muzzin also scored as the Kings won for the first time when trailing after two periods this postseason (1-6). Rookie Tanner Pearson notched two assists and Jonathan Quick finished with 23 saves for Los Angeles, which handed the reigning Stanley Cup-champion Blackhawks their first home loss of the playoffs (7-1) as the series shifts to Staples Center for Game 3 on Saturday.
With Chicago nursing a 2-1 lead, Carter deflected blue-liner Drew Doughty's soft wrist shot from the point past Corey Crawford (25 saves) during a power play at 1:37 of the third to tie the game. The Blackhawks were whistled for a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty shortly thereafter and Muzzin again made them pay at 4:04. The defenseman settled the puck in the left faceoff circle and looked toward the slot before wiring a shot that sailed over Crawford's right arm and under the crossbar to give the Kings a 3-2 advantage.
Los Angeles doubled its lead nearly five minutes later as Carter skated up the left wing and unleashed a wrist shot that was denied by Crawford. As the Chicago players appeared uncertain if the puck had sailed into the netting, Pearson alertly grabbed it behind the net and fed a trailing Toffoli, who beat Crawford from the slot. Carter's sharp wrist shot at 14:44 completed a 2-on-1 rush before he capped the scoring with an empty-net goal.
After thwarting a 3-on-2 rush, Chicago quickly turned the tables as Nick Leddy reeled in fellow defenseman Duncan Keith's lead pass before backhanding a shot past Quick during a power play with 5:44 remaining in the first period to open the scoring. The Blackhawks doubled the advantage 1:40 into the second as Brandon Bollig deftly deflected defenseman Johnny Oduya's stretch pass to Ben Smith, who skated in from the blue line and wristed a shot past Quick. Mike Richards' centering feed went off Williams' skate and between the pads of Crawford with 1:46 left in the session to halve the deficit.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Chicago nearly drew first blood at 13:08 of the first period. RW Patrick Kane's backhand shot was denied by Quick, but the puck popped into the air and headed toward the net. Los Angeles D Willie Mitchell cross-checked C Peter Regin, who inadvertently cost his team the goal as his stick prevented the puck from crossing the goal line. Leddy scored on the ensuing power play, however. ... Los Angeles' Matt Greene, who sat out Game 1 of the conference final, replaced fellow D Jeff Schultz in the lineup. ... The Kings entered the contest 0-7 in playoff games at Chicago. ... Hall-of-Famers Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Tony Esposito and Denis Savard were in attendance at United Center.
Top Game Performances
Los Angeles |
|
Chicago |
Jeff Carter 4 |
Points |
Nick Leddy 1 |
Jeff Carter 3 |
Goals |
Nick Leddy 1 |
Tanner Pearson 2 |
Assists |
Brandon Bollig 1 |
Jeff Carter 1 |
Power Play Goals |
Nick Leddy 1 |
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
Jonathan Quick .920 |
Save Percentage |
Corey Crawford .833 |
Jonathan Quick 23 |
Saves |
Corey Crawford 25 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
Los Angeles
|
31 |
6 |
2-4 |
3-4 |
10 |
43 |
Chicago
|
25 |
2 |
1-4 |
2-4 |
10 |
27 |
Upcoming Games
-
Chicago will play their next game on the road against Los Angeles. The Blackhawks have a W/L % of .532 after a win and .600 after a loss.
-
Los Angeles will play their next game at home against Chicago. The Kings have a W/L % of .609 after a win and .500 after a loss.