Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 win over Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings have been above Chicago Blackhawks in the rankings for most of this season. But for the 2nd consecutive game, the Blackhawks used their strong defense and discipline to beat the Kings.
Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Fernando Pisani scored, rookie Corey Crawford stopped 26 shots and the rapidly focused Chicago held on to 3-2 win over the Kings at United Center on Sunday.
Chicago’s captain Toews helped to pick up some slack offensively as Blackhawks skated again without star forwards Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa. Toews added an assist and has 4 goals and 6 assists in Blackhawks’ last 7 games.
Kyle Clifford also scored while Wayne Simmonds recorded a goal and an assist for the Los Angeles, which has lost 3 of 5 games. Jonathan Quick made 21 saves. They lost in guideline for only the 2nd time in their last 8 matches (5-2-1).
"I thought we played a pretty good game, but a pretty good game against these guys is not good enough," Kings' forward Anze Kopitar said. "In this league you've got to play 60 minutes and that second period was not even close to what we need to play.
"In the third period we were all over them, I thought. We had chances. But when you're chasing down, it's not easy especially against these guys."
In the first period, Toews scored the only goal, connecting midway through the edge. He fired a shot from the exact circle through a screen and just beyond Quick's stretched left pad on the short side.
In the 2nd period, Clifford tied the game at 1:34, beating Crawford with a showy move. Clifford streaked in off left wing, got behind the defense and scored after faking to his forehand and shooting on his backhand.
"That was a real power forward play," Kings' coach Terry Murray said. "Taking it right to the hole, that's a brave thing to do and nice hands as he got close to the net."
After the Los Angeles tied the game early in the 2nd period, Chicago acted in response 25 seconds later to take the lead for good.
Keith re-established Blackhawks’ lead on a screened low shot from the left point as the two Kings assembled a screen in front of Quick and two Blackhawks in the front of the net.
With 7:35 remaining, Pisani made it 3-1 with his first goal since 20th of November. From a 3-on-2 rush, he rifled a tough shot in the slot and beat Quick.
At 1:32 of the third, Simmonds took a feed from Anze Kopitar down low and chopped a shot over Crawford into the net and brought the Los Angeles to 3-2.
Los Angeles pressured on Hawks late, 11-4 in the third period, but Crawford stopped 10 of them to maintain Blackhawks’ lead. Dustin Brown was called for a boarding penalty with 2:47 remaining, cutting into the Los Angeles' desperation attack time.
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