Mike Richards gets shootout game-winner lifting Los Angeles Kings past Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 –NHL
It was like Mike Richards as Jeff Carter were back together playing as a top offensive Philadelphia Flyers duo with both players lifting Los Angeles Kings over Chicago Blackhawks, 3-2, in a shootout on Sunday night, March 11, 2012, at the sold-out United
Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Carter got the lifeline goal for Los Angeles to keep them alive for an overtime extension after Kings failed to get any in round-three while Richards persuaded towards the victory with his shootout game-winner.
Jonathan Quick might have faced a tough time in regulation but the young goalie was not going to let his hard work go to waste in the shootout as he blocked six straight Chicago attempts until Mike Richards finally scored the only one.
"He (Quick) brings out confidence in the whole team, the whole game, the way he plays," Carter said. "Especially, when you get down to a shootout, 1-on-1, he's going to be ready so it's pretty nice."
Ray Emery also performed well in the Blackhawks net but fell short on the deciding shot in the SO for a total of 27 saves in regulation.
"I got fortunate there (in the shootout). I had a couple of guys mishandle the puck," said Quick. "We got two points, that's all it means. It doesn't matter how we do it as long as we get it."
Los Angeles’ win against Chicago gave them two crucial points that have now allowed them to level it with eight place Calgary Flames for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference along with Colorado Avalanche. Each and every single point will count
in deciding who goes and who stays in the upcoming days.
"Especially on the road, it's just win our games and maybe we'll worry about scoreboard watching later," Richards said. "Right now, we've just got to win hockey games."
Slava Voynov got the opening goal 1:17 into the first, followed by Marcus Kruger to equalise it a little over midway through the next.
Jeff Carter made the tie-breaker 17:25 in but Patrick Kane got a lucky goal 7:36 through the final period to cap off the match and force the uncertain overtime extension.
Kings snapped their two-game losing streak and are hopeful of winning when they get to host Detroit on Tuesday in their second matchup with the Red Wings in three games.
Blackhawks on the other hand, will be going up against a hot St. Louis Blues team on the same day, which just might be too hard for them to tackle.
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